The National Pulse

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) says beneficiaries of the COVID-19, 350 relief grants can now receive their grants at the Post Office or via a bank account of their choice. This follows challenges that have been reported, including the fact that funds run out at the Post Office. On Tuesday one of our regular listeners, Mrs Naidoo from Durban phoned in to outline her own challenges...

Yesterday we received a call from one of our Durban listener Thobeka, who called in to say UNISA is not doing enough to accommodate students who are visually impaired. We promised Thobeka that we would Invite UNISA to respond to her concerns, and as promised we will be speaking to UNISA shortly. Guest: Mavis Sibanda, Acting Director for Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students With Disabilities a...

We hear from Dr Fiona Kritzinger about why South African paediatricians are against government’s decision to close public schools. According to her, government’s decision is not based on scientific evidence, and the benefits to children of attending school outweigh the risks to both children and the broader community Guest: Dr Fiona Kritzinger, Paediatric pulmonologist at the Christiaan Barnard Me...

The South African government, which has been largely accused of being quite on the human rights violations currently underway in Zimbabwe, has today broken its silence. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has officially released a statement saying that the South African government will do what it can to assist our neighbours Guest: Lunga Ngqengelele, Spokesperson for the Mini...

On Both Sides of the Story today we will speak to some opposition parties about pressing issues plaguing South Africa. In particular, Covid-19 related corruption and on the International Monetary Fund's decision to approve South Africa's R70 billion loan, among other issues... Guest: DA Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen Guest: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP MP and National spokesperson

The Labour Court in Johannesburg has ordered DENEL to pay its workers their outstanding salaries by Friday. It's not immediately clear where state defence firm DENEL will find the money to pay its workers' salaries, given its cashflow constraints. The salaries are for the months of May, June and July. Two trade unions Solidarity and UASA brought the case against DENEL on behalf of their members. T...

The ANC's national executive committee says it is "embarrassed and outraged" at the Covid-19 procurement corruption claims leveled against some of its members. The allegations of corruption in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs, to combat the Covid-19 pandemic topped the agenda of the party's recent NEC meeting. Amongst those implicated in corruption allegations is Presidential...

In two weeks’ time, the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will be holding virtual public hearings on the upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Amendment Bill - whose provisions were found to unconstitutionally discriminate against black African women when tenure rights are converted to ownership. Joining us to explain the process that Parliament will embark on is…. Gu...

On World News today – we look at whether or not talks that are aimed at resolving a simmering dispute over Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam will yield substantial results. Tensions have been rising since June when Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew posted a tweet that included the phrase “the Nile is ours!” following record rains that began filling the dam’s reservoir. Andargachew’s comments we...

Earlier on today, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize revealed that five percent of healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19, translating into 24 104 as of August 2. Mkhize was giving an update regarding the country's battle against Covid-19. On the other hand, health workers are living in constant fear of infections as they watch day-after-day colleagues succumb to the pandemic. Given this...

In August last year, Samsung South Africa announced that they have achieved a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Level 1 Contribution Status for the second consecutive year. Following this achievement the organisation said they are aligned with the aim, which is to increase the meaningful participation of black people in the management, ownership and control of South Africa’s economy....

BSS: SAFTU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi yesterday disputed claims made by Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha, that Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer, was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation following a series of allegations against him. Oberholzer was accused of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of power for his alleged links to construction company Stefanutti Stock...

The Compensation Fund has seen a surge in claims for compensation by employees who have been exposed to Covid-19 at work. The social security fund which compensates workers for occupational diseases and injuries sustained at work, say they are likely to see more Covid-19 related claims, since the resumption of economic sectors. So what is the Compensation Fund and how does it work? Guest: Ms Milly...

The EFF recently opened a case of corruption against Eskom COO Jan Oberlhozer and called for his immediate removal from the power utility. The case was opened by party Deputy President Floyd Shivambu and Treasure General Omphile Maotwe. The EFF says its action is motivated by what the party says are the damning revelations of Oberholzer's nepotism, bullying and compromising of Eskom's finances for...

With the latest crime statistics showing that children are getting involved in serious crime. We hear from Naptosa who are suggesting that perhaps South Africa needs to change its approach and recognise the importance of specialised services such as counsellors and psychologists – allow them to play a more meaningful role in schools in order to reduce the elements of criminal act Guest: Basil Manu...

We outline the objectives of the recently established Special Tribunal on Corruption, Fraud and Illicit Money Flows. The special tribunal has a statutory mandate to recover public funds syphoned from the fiscus through corruption, fraud and illicit money flows Guest: Adv Selby Makgotho, Spokesperson of the Special Tribunal

World News: Reports coming from Cameroon suggest that suspected militants from extremist group Boko Haram killed at least 16 people and wounded seven this past weekend in a grenade attack on a camp for displaced people in northern part of the country. But what’s really behind this attack and how complex are Boko Haram covert operations? Guest: Dr Akinola Olojo, Senior Researcher at the Institute f...

BSS: The South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation (SASAPO) is threatening to take Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, to court for violation of human rights over the delay in the release of 19-thousand prisoners. In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 19- thousand prisoners were set to be freed in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19 in...

Eskom and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is initiating steps to recover funds from the utility's former executives lost to State Capture corruption. The SIU and Eskom are investigating and reviewing some of the major contracts awarded over the years, this includes the acquisition of Optimum Coal Guest: Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha

The director of Wise4 Africa Brenda Madumiso says they are going to write a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking why the police's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, arrested a women who is facing charges of malicious damage to property and crimen injuria. Madumiso attended the brief court appearance of the 40 year old, Norma Gigaba, at the Hatfield Magistrates Court in...

Former finance minister, Malusi Gigaba's wife, Norma, appeared briefly in the Hatfield Community Court in Pretoria this morning (Monday 3 August). Gigaba seemed relaxed and her five-thousand rand bail was extended to 14 September, when she must appear in court again. She was arrested in Waterkloof in Pretoria by the Hawks on Friday and released on bail on Saturday. She faces charges of malicious d...

The Office of the Public Protector has over the last four months seen a rapid surge in the number of complaints of conduct and service failure relating to the Covid19 pandemic. Social failure allegations account for a lion’s share of the grievances with as many as 450 people having approached the office to complain about what they deem unreasonable grounds for declining their applications for the...

What is the political situation in Zimbabwe? Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda discusses African Diaspora Global Network’s open letter about Zimbabwean situation. This is an open letter to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. It is also addressed similarly to the Heads of the regional bodies that have some authority or are expected to intervene Guest: Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, Pre...

In conversation with Alex Mashilo about the 99th Anniversary of the South African Communist Party – looking at the party’s significant achievements in the last 98 years. The key issue here is - how will they describe their path to socialism, given numerous challenges facing our country right now and the implications these have for party building? Guest: Dr Alex Mashilo, National spokesperson of th...

Today on Beyond Innovation we talk about water treatment. We focus specifically on the increase of fluorescent Natural Organic Matter fractions during drinking water treatment that leads to an increased coagulant dose and filter clogging. What am I talking about - I am not sure myself but I think we want to understand what is the Natural Organic Matter - what is its impact on drinks king water and...