The National Pulse

World News: While the 2014-2016 deadly Ebola outbreaks in West Africa devastated lives and wrecked health services, it also offered pivotal lessons in outbreak control. This is the view of the World Health Organization. When the virus re-erupted in Guinea in mid-February this year, neighbouring countries were quick to ramp up readiness to tackle potential cross-border infection. WHO has since help...

World News: On World News today we ask, How bad is Zimbabwe’s economic situation? We look at the World Bank’s economic and social update report which suggests that almost half of Zimbabwe’s population fell into extreme poverty between 2011 and 2020. Guest: Godfrey Kanyeze, Director of Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe

The National Ports Authority is to become an independent subsidiary of Transnet with its own board. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa this morning. He says the creation of the entity will allow the port authority to make its own investment decisions and ensure that it treats all terminal operators fairly and equally. He says this is part of government’s efforts to accelerate economic...

Working on Fire teams together with Sarah Baartman District Municipality and other relevant stakeholders are still trying to combat the Tsitsikamma fire in the Eastern Cape that started yesterday. To give us the latest in terms of what’s happening now is… Guest: Nthabiseng Mokone, Working on Fire (WoF) Communications Manager

Dr Angelique Coetzee explains why SAMA is calling for stricter lockdown measures. Coetzee believes that things are getting out of hand and the NCCC may have waited too long to implement stringent lockdown measures. She joins us now to elaborate further… Guest: Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association

Personnel from military health services have been deployed at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospital in Soweto today to assist with the treatment of Covid-19 patients. For more on the operations we're joined on the line by... GUEST: General Mafi Mgobhozi, Spokesperson of the South African National Defence Force, SANDF

The HAWKS say they will not comment on speculations that Malawian self-proclaimed prophet, Chipiloro Gama - commonly known as Shepherd Bushiri was in the country and has once again evaded arrest. Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled South Africa shortly after they were released on R200,000 bail each in their money laundering and fraud case. The City Press reported that South Africa's security agencies...

Meanwhile, the department of basic education has responded to this by asking teachers to ignore EUSA’s call, saying they should instead focus on getting vaccinated ahead of daily classes. Joining us to elaborate further on this is… Guest: Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the department of basic education

The Educators Union of South Africa has called on all teachers not to report for work today and tomorrow. The union has also threatened to close down schools next week if the department of basic education is not prepared to listen to them. Joining us to explain this call is… Guest: Kabelo Mahlobogwane, National spokesperson of the Educators Union of SA (EUSA)

World News: Ethiopians are voting today in national and regional elections taking place against the backdrop of war and famine in the northern Tigray region. It is the first electoral test for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who rose to power in 2018 championing a democratic revival in Africa's second-most populous country, and a break from its authoritarian past. Joining us to discuss the significance...

Yesterday we were inundated with calls complaining about how Black South Africans are being pushed out of the township economy by foreign nationals - particularly Somali nationals who are seen as the dominate role players when it comes to township spaza shops. Somalia migrants, who arrive in the country as refugees have been able to establish enterprises and thrive in the township economy despite...

World News: As we continue to pay tribute to Zambia's founding president and liberation icon, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. We are now joined by Kaweche Kaunda who’s going to discuss his father’s legacy Guest on the line (Zambia): Kaweche Kaunda, “KK’s son”

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union has condemned the killing of the principal of Buyani Primary School. The union is also calling for the country’s law enforcement authorities to get to the bottom of this senseless murder. Joining us now to elaborate more is… Guest: Tseliso Ledimo, Sadtu Gauteng Provincial Secretary

Understanding WHO’s stance on alcohol and women of child-bearing age. It is reported that the organisation is proposing that women of child-bearing age should be prevented against drinking alcohol. GUEST: Professor Sue Goldstein, Board Member of the Southern African Of The Alcohol Policy Alliance

Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda has died. Kaunda was admitted to hospital after feeling "unwell", according to a government statement. The 97-year-old became Zambia's first president in 1964 and is one of the last surviving figures from the anti-colonial struggle of the 1950s. GUEST: Izak Khomo, a producer at Channel Africa

A stepmom and step-grandma are due to appear in court today for allegedly trying to sell their step-daughter to human traffickers for R40m. The two women were caught during a sting operation in Gauteng. For the latest we're joined on the line by… GUEST: Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase, Spokesperson for the Gauteng Hawks

Residents of Intabazwe in the Free State have vowed to continue with their protests until President Cyril Ramaphosa comes to the area and addresses their concerns. The residents say their merger into Maluti-a-Phofung municipality has not benefited them. The community members are complaining about lack of services in the area. GUEST: SABC senior reporter in the Free State, Ishmael Modiba

Yesterday, the community of Diepkloof in Soweto took to the streets to protest about various issues that they are not happy about in the area. They also made it clear that they want illegal immigrants to vacate the area as they believe that foreign nationals have been negatively impacting the business of local spaza shops. Guest: Zandile Dabula, General Secretary of Operation Dudula in Diepkloof

On World News today, we give you more analysis on Biden-Putin Meeting, asking – What came out of it and how important was this meeting? US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first face to face meeting in Geneva yesterday. Post the meeting, Biden said the tone of the talks was positive and Putin described the meeting as constructive. Guest: Scott Lucas, Professor of...

EFF leader Julius Malema says they won't listen to nor comply with Covid regulations outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa from today onwards. Last night Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will once again return to alert level 3 lockdown due to a surge COVID-19 infections across the country. In his address Ramaphosa said gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 peopl...

There are allegations that some taxi commuters refuse to wear masks, even when in taxis as required. Some taxi drivers are reluctant to enforce compliance. Guest: Thabisho Molelekwa, national spokesperson of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO)

A Soweto teacher has been dismissed and principal placed on suspension for allegedly raping a pupil over a period of two years. The principal and the teacher allegedly took turns raping the learner in the principal's office. The learner was 13 when the alleged rapes started. Another shocking allegation from this horrific story is that the teacher and principal allegedly took videos and pictures wh...

The Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education has launched a campaign called "Share the good times - not the virus" promoting the importance of drinking responsibly as we're approaching the third wave Guest: Ingrid Louw, CEO of Aware

President Ramaphosa has launched the National Pathway Management Network to assist in reducing high youth unemployment. The initiative brings together eight government departments to form a network of support for the country's youth to find ways into the economy. Speaking at government’s Youth Day event, Ramaphosa says the network which is available on a platform called SA YOUTH DOT MOBI will comp...

ANC's Treasurer-General, Paul Mashatile, has admitted that the governing party is facing financial constraints which are exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic. Earlier today ANC staff members embarked on a nationwide picket over the party's failure to pay their salaries on time. The ANC has been experiencing financial problems with reports that it owes the Revenue Service 80 million rand in Pay As...