The National Pulse

250 academics and scientists have come out in support of Professor Glenda Gray, the advisory panel member who went public with her criticism of government's lockdown strategy, and claimed that it was not based on scientific fact. The 250 experts are throwing their weight behind Professor Grey and 'academic freedom' after Acting Director-General of the Health Department, Anban Pillay, called for in...

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is calling on government to set up a COVID-19 corruption tribunal. They say this will ensure that funds dedicated to the social and economic relief reach those that need them the most. Joining us to elaborate further on this is Guest: Nishan Bolton – Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

On World News today we focus on French politics: The party of French President Emmanuel Macron has lost its outright majority in parliament, after a group of MPs broke away to form a new party. Their decision leaves Macron's party with 288 seats, one short of a majority in the 577-seat lower house. One other worrying issue for President Macron is that his ratings have dipped during France's corona...

Today being Africa Day we speak to Ebrahim Rasool, founder of OneAfrica – an organisation founded on the idea that peace and collaboration among the people of Africa will help unlock the continent’s prosperity. As part of their Covid-19 response, OneAfrica has launched a platform on its website to allow individuals and corporates to play their part in equipping those who are most vulnerable with t...

In conversation with Dr Sello Galane about the role of music in promoting peace on the African continent. On Monday, Africans will be celebrating Africa Day under the theme “Let the drums roll and the guns be silenced”. This year’s theme encourages everybody from anywhere in Africa and the world to grab their drum or any percussion instrument on Africa Day to join the chorus for peace and to stop...

What’s happening in the Tech world? Today we focus on Innovations and Inventions. According to Mic Mann “Innovation holds the key to the exponential solutions that can solve our education, energy, health, poverty, food and water challenges” Guest: Mic Mann, Ceo of Singularity-U South Africa And Director Of Mann-Made

The United Kingdom says they will work with the African Union to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Africa. The UK will also invest R450 million to the AU's coronavirus response fund. Another key announcement is an additional 10 charter flights to get British Travellers home. To elaborate further on the two Initiatives, we are now joined on the line by Mr Nigel Casey, the British High Commissio...

The CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, Professor Glenda Gray, has sought to explain her comments over government's Risk-Adjusted Strategy for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Gray has come under fire for labelling the strategy "unscientific". Gray says she merely suggested that all regulations be solely focused on prevention as well as minimizing transmission of the disease....

We dissect the outcomes of the survey that was recently conducted by AskAfrika. The results show that as lockdown restrictions ease, many people do not feel safe to return to work. The survey also unpacks the significant social changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the results show that the sense of “managing” with the lockdown has significantly dropped from 52% in week one to 23% curren...

As the race to develop a vaccine for Covid19 continues across the globe. Some people believe that China still faces the big challenge of a potential second wave of Covid-19 infections. Currently, three Chinese vaccines are under clinical trials in the country and so far the country has reported more than 82,000 coronavirus cases, with at least 4,633 deaths. However it must be mentioned that China’...

Thousands of informal traders across Gauteng are deeply concerned that Government has not consulted them to understand the impact of the lockdown on their livelihoods. Guest: Ntakuseni Tshikosi, Public Relations for Johannesburg Informal Traders Platform

Minister Sisulu updates us on her clean-up campaign in the ministry of human settlements, water and sanitation. You may recall that recently she appointed Terry Motau to lead lawyers in reviewing all fraud, corruption and irregular expenditure reports in her department. Guest: Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation

The Standing Committee on Appropriations yesterday received a briefing from the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) and the National Treasury regarding the recent liquidity challenges facing the entity. We now speak to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Sfiso Buthelezi, who says the Bank is too important to fail Guest: Sfiso Buthelezi, Chair...

Nine Eastern Cape healthcare workers, including five nurses, have been suspended for allegedly refusing to attend a Covid-19 patient. The health workers claim they did not have personal protective equipment to attend to the patient Guest: Eastern Cape health department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo

We are now in conversation with Political analyst, Moeletsi Mbeki, who was part of a panel that was discussing the relevance of BBB-EE during the lock down. The development of an inclusive economy that benefits all South Africans is an imperative that cannot be overestimated. However there are some who think that some of the measures required for the implementation of BBB-EE are onerous and may fo...

Professor Jonathan Jansen shares thoughts on the reopening of SA schools. He says the biggest problem faced by Minister Angie Motshekga with the reopening decision is one of trust and he is predicting that there will be spikes of infections in school hot spots around the country. Several schools will be closed and the academic year lost for many children. He joins us now to elaborate further Guest...

We hear from trade union Samwu on why they want their members to be paid a Covid-19 allowance for working under the threat of contracting the virus. The union wants all the workers at the forefront of rendering essential services to be paid for the risk they take every day Guest: Koena Ramatlou, General Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union

The Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by 50 basis points. Post the Reserve Bank Governor’s announcement on repo rates - we get the economist’s view and in this case we speak to Mike Schussler” Guest: Mike Schussler, Economist

Teacher union SADTU says only two of the nine provinces are ready for the reopening of schools on the first of next month. SADTU says they, together with other unions including NAPTOSA, conducted a survey with principals at the weekend to determine the readiness of schools. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced last night that Grades 12 and Seven will return to class as part of a phas...

BSS: Equal Education has raised concern over the state of readiness of rural and township schools for the phased reopening of schools next month. NGOs and teacher unions have called on the Department to ensure that learners are not at risk when going back to school. Some of the issues raised centre around poor Infrastructure, the lack of water and sanitation in schools Guest: Athenkosi Sopitshi, H...

Cash-strapped Land Bank is seeking a R3 billion urgent loan from some of its creditors to cover its operational expenses and to also pay out some of the loans it had approved to farmers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. So how will the Land Bank's financial woes affect some of the country's farmers? And will the ripple effects move towards our food security? Guest: Omri van Zyl, the CEO at Agri SA

The Municipal Demarcation Board will commence with the ward delimitation public consultation process which was postponed due to Covid-19. The process was to conclude in April. The Demarcation Board is encouraging members of the public to make inputs on how their wards should be configured ahead of next year's local government election Guest: Aluwani Ramagadza, Chief Operating officer of the Munici...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with leaders of political parties represented in Parliament today, to discuss the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and matters relating to the lockdown. The virtual meeting was the President's third consultative meeting with leaders of political parties to discuss the pandemic. Guest: Dr Pieter Groenewald, Leader of the Freedom Front Plus Guest: Vuyo Zun...

The new US export controls – what do they hope to achieve and why is Huawei in the middle of it? On Monday, the United States announced that they will impose new restrictions on exports to China to keep semiconductor production equipment and other technology away from Beijing’s military. On the other hand, China’s largest tech firm Huawei has warned that the latest US curbs will inflict a terrible...

On World News today we ask, How will Burundi look like post Pierre Nkurunziza era? Voting in Burundi is currently underway where more than five million people are eligible to cast ballots in race to succeed long-time President Pierre Nkurunziza. Seven candidates are vying to succeed Nkurunziza who is stepping down after 15 years in power. Guest: Liesl Louw-Vraudan, Senior Researcher at the Institu...