The National Pulse

There has been rioting at Boikhutso in Lichtenburg in the North West after a police vehicle allegedly ran over - and killed - a child. Two police vans and an ambulance have reportedly been torched Guest: Oshebeng Koonyaditse, spokesperson for the Transport Department in North West

We continue yesterday's discussion with the Gauteng department of community safety. One of our listeners called in yesterday to complain about not being able to open a case with a local police station in Soweto. In the same breath Energy Analyst, Chris Yelland tweeted yesterday about how his wife tried to report a car accident she was involved in on the way home from Craighall Pick n Pay. Chris Ye...

Initiations have been suspended until next winter due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Guest: Kgoshi Mathibela Mokoena, President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, CONTRALESA

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has put in place a Covid-19 relief fund for young people whose businesses have been affected by the national lockdown. Guest: Sifiso Mtsweni- NYDA Executive Chairperson

Sechaba Motsieloa tells us about what his organisation is doing to tackle the upsurge of passive and active violence which is predominantly perpetrated by men during the national lockdown. Empowa-Men is currently driving an initiative which encourages frank conversations that enable men to engage and come face-to-face with behavior patterns and thought processes that have caused great damage to in...

Health NGO Right to Care, which is supporting the Department of Health with its coronavirus response, is calling on all South Africans to wear masks when leaving home. They say “South African citizens must wear cloth masks, not only because we have to comply, but also because it could protect other people if you are infected but not aware of it”. Guest: Dr Eula Mothibi, Executive director at Right...

Reports coming from the mountain kingdom suggest that Lesotho's government has agreed that Prime Minister Tom Thabane, who is accused of murdering his estranged wife, will immediately resign. Guest: Prof Hoolo Nyane, a Professor of Public Law and head of public law department at the University of Limpopo

Professor Shabir Madhi of Wits University warns that up to 45,000 South Africans are expected to die from Covid-19 over the next two to three years. He joins us now to discuss the devastating effects of Covid19. Guest: Professor Shabir Madhi –Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University

BSS: Prisoners across the country have threatened to embark on a massive hunger strike as of today in a bid for an early release from prison and also to try to avoid contacting the Covid-19 coronavirus in overcrowded jails. The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (Sapohr) released a statement demanding that the correctional services department announce a strategy on how it would...

In responding to the dire impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, The One Voice One Prayer campaign aims to encourage spiritual leaders across various forms of faith to unite in prayer and to participate in an online Prayer Conference to ask for Supernatural intervention from God to Stop the Coronavirus. Guest: Constance Netshifhefhe- Spokesperson for the One Voice One Prayer Campaign

Yesterday, Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, visited the community members of Empolweni in Cape Town who were recently evicted by the City of Cape Town. This follows her visit to the area on Friday where she made an undertaking that temporary shelters will be organised for the community and that basic services such as water and ablution facilities will also be provi...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have rejected a draft settlement agreement offer open to all of SAA’s 4 708 employees that would see the termination of their employment contracts by April 30 in exchange for unguaranteed severance packages. This proposal was made by the airline’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs). Guest:...

We learn more about “Feed the Monster”, an app which addresses the basic building blocks of reading. It teaches people to read in all of South Africa’s 11 official languages, using an engaging gaming format. Guest: Alison Scott – The headmistress of Bellavista School

Two suspects have been arrested in Protea Glen, Soweto for allegedly selling fake essential services permits to informal traders. This after the City of Johannesburg's process of issuing permits to informal traders for the lockdown was suspended until further notice. Guest: City of Johannesburg spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane

The Red Ants have demolished dozens of shacks in Lawley in Johannesburg south. The City of Johannesburg accused the people living there for illegally invading the land. The move is in contravention with the updated COVID-19 lockdown regulations which state no evictions should take place during this time Guest: Nthatisi Modingoane, Spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in Sedibeng say Harmony Gold is trying to bully workers into returning to work despite the lockdown. This follows the government's announcement that South African Mines will reopen at 50% Capacity as the Lockdown eases. Numsa says they condemn Harmony Gold's management for taking it upon themselves to make pronouncements about when product...

Several political figures are calling for the African Union, AU to investigate allegations of Africans being targeted in China and subjected to forced evictions. The politicians have written to the AU Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa asking the Union to establish a full investigation into the treatment of African nationals residing in China during the global Covid-19 lockdown Guest: Mmusi Ma...

Franchise Association of South Africa is appealing to government for urgent intervention in the sector amid the lockdown. The appeal follows government's announcement of a phasing in approach to opening some services. The Association says they are concerned about the future of the sector due to the Impact caused by Covid-19 Guest: Vera Valasis, Executive Director of the Franchise Association of So...

According to the Managing-Director of Business Against Crime South Africa, Tebele Luthuli, the ban on the sale of cigarettes during lockdown remains unclear and should be open for discussion and review. She further states that the illicit trade of tobacco goods has long been a problem in South Africa and while it needs more attention from lawmakers, we need to question how much more profitable thi...

We now get the latest regarding the case of the people of Empolweni in Cape Town, whose homes were demolished by the City of Cape Town last week. The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) is representing this community and were in court today. Guest: Khensani Motileni- litigation attorney at the Cape Town Regional Office of the Legal Resources Centre

The National Consumer Commission says they are concerned that post the declaration of the National State of Disaster by the President of the Republic - many suppliers increased prices of goods and services essential to curbing Covid-19. As a result, the commission has filed a matter against a supplier to the Consumer Tribunal for prosecution. Guest: Ms Thezi Mabuza, Acting Commissioner of the Nati...

To get some insight into how South Africans are coping in terms of their work and home lives, their views on the handling of the Covid-19 lockdown by the Government, and their understanding of the disease, Consulta surveyed more than 1 000 South Africans who are part of its online research community - known as ConsultaPanel - between 6 - 10 April 2020. Guest: Charlene van Niekerk, Project Director...

Exco Board Members say the muteness by the National Department of Health over funding for the NGOs' sector to support the fight against Covid-19, HIV and AIDS remains a distress. Exco say they want the nationally funded NGOs to assist the Department in community screening and testing but due to a lack of funding the NGO's sector is unable to help. Guest: Oupa Dlamini, Spokesperson for Exco

Corruption Watch is questioning Eskom’s media statement of 15 April 2020 on the chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer and they are arguing that a full forensic investigation did not take place in this matter and Eskom’s rush to clear its COO is both curious and concerning. They are also of the view that the release of the media statement before affording the whistle-blower an opportunity to revi...

Community Safety in Limpopo says law enforcement officers have the right to turn away and impose fines on people who attempt to access shopping malls The Department of Community Safety in Limpopo says law enforcement officers have the right to turn away and impose fines on people who attempt to access shopping malls and complexes far from their areas, during the lockdown. Some residents complain t...