The National Pulse

About a couple of days ago, Police Minister General Bheki Cele raised a concern that some South Africans are not obeying lockdown regulations and warned Level 4 regulations could be reversed as Covid-19 has the potential of wiping off humankind. In the Eastern Cape for instance some worrying pictures were doing the rounds on social media where people were flooding different areas as if it was busi...

We are now in conversation with United Democratic Movement, UDM deputy president and Chief Whip, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa who has accused the Eastern Cape health department and its employees of negligence, following his aunt's death. Mr Kwankwa's aunt was reportedly discharged from hospital despite being suspected of having Covid-19. Guest: United Democratic Movement, UDM deputy president and Chief Whip...

In conversation with BMF on why they want the South African Reserve Bank to buy government bonds directly. They say this will fund South Africa’s fiscal deficit as it is public knowledge that the recent economic downgrades by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s to junk status have worsened the country’s economic woes. Guest: Andile Nomlala, President of the Black Management Forum

World News today: A new study by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that if containment measures in African countries fail, between 83,000 and 190,000 people across the continent could die in the first 12 months of the coronavirus pandemic. Guest: Professor Olive Shisana, Special Advisor to the President on Social Policy

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the parole of selected categories of sentenced offenders as part of the country’s coronavirus lockdown. The President has taken this decision in terms of Section 82(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act of 1998 which empowers the President to authorise at any time the placement on correctional supervision or parole of any sentenced prisoner, subject to con...

Golden Arrow Bus drivers were protesting outside the company's depot in Montana, Cape Town, earlier this morning. The drivers say they are concerned about their safety, this after 20 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. They allege that procedures which need to be followed regarding the coronavirus, are not being implemented. Guest: Golden Arrow spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer

We now speak to Professor Steven Friedman to unravel why some democracies - but not all - are better at fighting pandemics. Professor Friedman in a very interesting article argues that when Covid-19 is contained and we have final figures, research may show that some countries did better than others for reasons which have nothing to do with how they fought the pandemic. So what does he mean by this...

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise, says she has reservations on the use of the Zoom platform for virtual meetings. This, after pornographic images were used to hack the National Assembly Programming Committee meeting this morning. A similar incident happened a few weeks ago during a virtual meeting of the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. In the meeting of t...

In case you didn’t know. The N3 Toll Route is a key transport node linking largest port, the Durban Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal to South Africa's economic hub, Gauteng. The Route transects numerous deep rural and agricultural communities as well as small towns and villages. It meanders through four of South Africa’s provinces, namely Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. guest: Bonginkos...

Today marks the end of the grace period that permitted any person who was not at their place of residence, or work before the lockdown period and who could not travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas during the lockdown: Guest: Eric Lubusi – SABC Reporter, Mpumalanga

The Global Drug Survey which is the largest independent drug survey in the world focusing on those who use drugs has launched a survey to look at the use of alcohol and drugs during the Covid 19 lock down. The main thrust of the survey is to determine how the dependence on alcohol and drugs has shifted while people are social distancing and the social meeting places not accessible. Guest: Dr. Keit...

In conversation with former mayor of Tshwane Solly Msimanga, about the state of affairs in the City of Tshwane. Msimanga questions Gauteng government’s decision to seek an appeal against the recent court judgment ruling that said “the dissolution of the Tshwane council was unlawful”. He says this proves that the ANC no longer cares about justice and the constitution. Guest: Solly Msimanga, former...

BSS: Equal Education says the Department of Basic Education has not convincingly demonstrated that all schools will be provided with the necessary resources and support to reopen. Last week Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revised the provisional date for Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners to return to school, from 6 May to 1 June. Equal Education says testimonies of their members (like learner...

Tito Mboweni – Is he being misunderstood or he’s simply not a team player? Those who know him well always argue that Mboweni sually shies away from the limelight except when he makes important announcements about the economy. But lately he has really been making controversial statements that put him at odds with his own political party. For example his views on the nationalisation of the Reserve B...

DA federal council chair Helen Zille says the government's level 4 lockdown regulations is about "control" and "authoritarianism". This after the government announced a curfew and limited time allowed for South Africans to exercise outside their house. Zille has also criticised the Disaster Management Act, which allowed for the creation of the national coronavirus command council. Guest: DA federa...

Should South Africans be concerned by the high number of daily coronavirus cases being reported? In recent days South Africa has seen a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases, with 148 deaths due to the pandemic. But what Impact will the easing of the national lockdown have on the number of Infections? To answer this we're joined on the line by... Guest: Professor Salim Abdool-Karim, Epidemiolo...

Satawu responds to Prasa’s proposed voluntary severance packages: As financial woes continue to batter the state owned company due to coronavirus pandemic - voluntary severance packages have been proposed to union members at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Trade union Satawu is in a state of shock with the attitude that has been adopted by Prasa executives and joining us to elaborate fu...

World News today: “The United States government through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committing funds to support South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic” Guest: Lana Marks, US Ambassador to South Africa

How is Limpopo doing in the fight against Covid19? About seven days ago, the province was reported to have screened 2.7m people for COVID-19. Also the Health MEC in the province revealed that her department has deployed a team of more than 10,000 people to conduct household screening. Guest: Dr Phophi Ramathuba, MEC for Health in Limpopo

BSS: There has been a surge in reports pertaining to the politicization of distribution of food amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In different parts of the country political parties have accused each other of trying to score political points through food distribution and depriving the most vulnerable who are not affiliated to the party. In KZN the IFP have accused the ANC of preventing them from distrib...

A 61-year- old life serving prisoner has died from COVID-19 related complications at the West Bank Female Prison in East London this week. According to the president of the South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation, Phindile Zweni, the Butterworth woman was arrested in 2000 for murder and culpable homicide and was sentenced for life in 2008. Guest: Phindile Zweni, President...

Comair today announced the group will enter business rescue to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the Covid-19 crisis disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan. GUEST: Guy Leitch, editor of SA Flyer Magazine

a day used to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities, thus protecting health care workers and patients from infections. As the world continues to battle Covid19 - the main goal of the Global Hand Hygiene Day campaign is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective actions you can take to prevent infections. Guest: Dr Kgosi Let...

About 4.5 million Italians returned to work Yesterday. Italy as you may recall is one of the countries that were hardest hit by Covid19. Currently, more than 210,000 people in the country have been infected and the government imposed strict lockdown policies on March 9 in its efforts to flatten the curve. Guest on the line (Sweden) Vito Laterza, Associate Professor in Development Studies at the Un...

The British American Tobacco South Africa has given Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma an ultimatum to amend regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products by today or face legal action. Earlier President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of cigarettes would be allowed under Level 4 regulations. However, last week Dlamini-Zuma reversed Ramaphosa's announcement wh...