The National Pulse

Dr Nic Spaull explains why he thinks the lockdown is bad for the wellbeing of young children. Once the official announcement is made, Spaull is of the view that children should be the first to return to school as they are the least at risk. Guest: Dr Nic Spaull - Founder of Funda Wande and Senior Researcher at Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEPgroup) at Stellenbosch University's Department o...

The legal battle for the political control of the Tshwane metro is set to continue as the Democratic Alliance says it intends to approach the High Court in Pretoria this week. The party says it will file an application to enforce the High Court judgment that nullified the dissolution of the council. The DA says it will also oppose an appeal application that the Gauteng government and the EFF filed...

Fast food outlets and restaurants are allowed to open during alert Level-4 of the national lockdown, but only for the delivery of food. According to the Restaurant Association of SA, its members are doing 20% of their pre-lockdown trade doing delivery-only during Level 4. KFC says its open restaurants are at 20% capacity. So how has this lockdown affected KFC's franchises? Guest: Akhona Qengqe, Ch...

AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has reportedly disowned his son, acting king Azenathi Dalindyebo and demanded a DNA test to prove that he is his son Guest: Prince Mthunzi Ngonyama, Spokesperson for King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo

Bonang Mohale shares thoughts on what needs to be done to keep the economy going during Covid19. He says we need to lay the foundations for a strong, sustained and socially inclusive recovery. According to him, keeping markets open and predictable, as well as fostering a more generally favourable business environment will be critical to spur the renewed investment we will need moving forward. Gues...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected political systems of multiple countries causing suspensions of various political activities. Here at home the ruling African National Congress, ANC had to postponed its much anticipated National General Council (NGC) and all provincial conferences. So how will the party Innovate itself in terms of host some of its crucial events, should this pandemic persist? Gue...

Yesterday, Eskom announced that modifications at Medupi Unit 3 have gone smoothly, with the unit reaching its full generation capacity of around 800 megawatts (MW) after returning to service. When making the announcement, the power utility said the unit had undergone a range of boiler plant modifications and similar work is being conducted on Unit 6, which is currently on outage. This will be foll...

As the global community continues to battle the novel coronavirus – on World News today, we discuss the effectiveness of the herd immunity strategy – looking at how it works but most importantly assessing as to whether or not it can be used as a weapon against Covid19? On Monday, Dr Michael Ryan, head of the World Health Organisation's emergencies programme warned countries that have lifted restri...

Yesterday, government published new proposed safety guidelines for mines operating during the coronavirus pandemic, which would require that mineworkers be screened, tested, kept further apart and provided with protective gear. The new mandatory regulations proposed by the Mines Ministry would require companies to keep workers further apart, supply them with protective equipment, disinfect their t...

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the latest national coronavirus cases include 580 health workers such as nurses and doctors. This as South Africa has seen yet another big jump in new coronavirus cases. Mkhize has announced that the confirmed number of infections have risen to 11-thousand-350 after a 698 jump. There are 206 deaths and four-thousand-357 recoveries. Speaking during the commemoratin...

We now commemorate the 90th birthday of a Poet, academic and founder of the and-apartheid movement in Britain, Professor Mazisi Raymond Kunene. Professor Kunene who was also a great freedom fighter, literary icon and a talented writer, whose inspiration was the history of Zulu people, the liberation of Africans everywhere, championed the inherent value of African literature written in African lang...

A recent African Union study suggests that the continent may lose up to 20 million jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. But what is the current stats on Job loses here in South Africa? GUEST: Statistician-General of Stats SA, Risenga Maluleka

Now to the Western Cape, where the province has emerged as a hotspot for the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa. The Western Cape accounts for 51% of the confirmed number of deaths in the country after 12 people died. So what is the province doing to tackle hotspot areas and ensure that citizens are actively following the rules? Guest: Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo

As the World Celebrates the International Nurses Day, health workers from different health facilities in the Eastern Cape and Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town have embarked on protests over Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). We now speak to the president of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, Lerato Madumo-Gova about the plight of nurses... Guest: The president of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade...

As we are slowly approaching next year’s municipal elections, we are joined by Sy Mamabolo to discuss the IEC’s state of readiness. At this stage, it is still unclear whether the Covid-19 pandemic will delay next year's local government elections or not. So far, thirty-seven by-elections have been postponed due to lockdown restrictions, social distancing and hygiene concerns. The question we are a...

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation’s plans to ease congestion as part of the fight against the spread of COVID-19 will soon reach another milestone. Efforts to ease congestion at the Mamelodi hostels are at an advanced stage. This will see 1000 units built to reduce the number of occupants in the currently overcrowded hostels. Guest: McIntsoh Polela, Spokesperson of the Minist...

World News today: The parliament of Lesotho has declared an end to the current ruling coalition of four parties, thereby rendering the Prime Minister Thomas Thabane now remaining as a 'caretaker Prime Minister' until His Majesty King Letsie 111 receives the name of a new duly nominated Prime Minister. Guest: Professor Hoolo Nyane, Professor of Public Law and head of public law department at the Un...

Is the National Coronavirus Command Council Constitutional? The legal fight between President Cyril Ramaphosa and three prominent lawyers over the legality of his national coronavirus command council (NCCC) continues. In response to a letter from Ramaphosa’s office – Advocates Nazeer Cassim SC, Vuyani Ngalwana SC, and Erin Richards have rejected his explanation, accusing him of avoiding accountabi...

The DA says the nationwide lockdown is doing more harm than the coronavirus itself in South Africa. That's according to DA Interim Leader John Steenhuisen. Mr Steenhuisen says the extended lockdown isn't working, it's crippling the economy and that it's time for the coronavirus lockdown to be phased out. Guest: DA interim leader, John Steenhuisen Guest: ANC National Spokesperson, Pule MabeGuest: A...

Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Bongani Bongo says the contracts of under-performing service providers at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg will be cancelled. This follows the escape of 37 foreign nationals at the facility, whilst waiting to be deported to their countries of origin last week. Guest: Chairperson of Parliament's Por...

The Black Power Civil Rights Movement says it will approach the CCMA to challenge the suspension of employees at the Lindela Repatriation Centre near Krugersdorp in Gauteng. Last week 37 foreign nationals escaped from the facility while waiting to be deported to their countries of origin. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has labelled the escape an inside job which he alleges to have been fac...

How will Covid19 affect South Africa’s local government elections next year? Currently we are told that more than 47 states (worldwide) and jurisdictions have had their elections postponed as a result of the Covid19 pandemic, something that should worry us as South Africa as we are due to hold municipal elections next year. Guest: Terry Tselane, Executive Chairperson at the Institute of Election M...

What is artemesia used for – is Africa jumping the gun on its efficacy – can it really cure Covid19? Madagascar has been giving away thousands of bottles of Covid-19 Organics developed by the state-run Malagasy Institute of Applied Research. This despite warnings from the World Health Organization that the tonic is not yet proven. Our Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize recently commented on the remed...

World News today: Yesterday, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans for a phased reopening of Britain's economy, citing decreasing coronavirus hospitalisations and deaths, and asked anyone who cannot perform their jobs from home, such as construction and factory workers, to return to work. About a week ago, it was reported that Britain has overtaken Italy to record the highest official d...

Coronavirus infections in South Africa continue to rise with the death toll as of yesterday jumping to 194. Three of the eight new deaths are from the Western Cape, four from Gauteng and one from the Eastern Cape. The total number of cases has now risen to 10 015 – what can this increase be attributed to? Guest: Professor Thumbi Ndung'u, Deputy Director, Africa Health Research Institute and Profes...