The National Pulse

Today on Both Sides of the Story, we look at the relations between the ANC and IFP. It has emerged that the two political parties are engaged in high level talks to end animosity between them. Relations between the ANC and IFP broke down in early 1980s after they differed on the strategy to fight apartheid. But what informs these reconciliation talks and why now? Guests: Mike Mabuyakhulu and Mkhul...

Eskom says no loadshedding is expected today, but the possibility of loadshedding has increased. This after some generation units tripped unexpectedly overnight, further reducing available capacity. For the latest update we are now joined on the line by the power utility's spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha... Guest: Sikhonathi Mantshantsha, Eskom spokesperson

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is launching a court application against the Beloftebos wedding venue at the Western Cape High Court. Recently a same-sex couple were denied the right to get married as the Stanford venue. Beloftebos says it has only been informed via the media that the SAHRC intends taking this matter to the Equality Court. This afternoon we will look at the right...

The Eastern Cape Health Department says two helicopters and more ambulances have been dispatched to the area between Centane and Butterworth where 21 people mostly pensioners have been killed in a bus crash. The bus crashed near Thafalofefe Hospital in the early hours of this morning. It's believed 79 passengers were on board when the crash occurred. They were on their way to shop in Butterworth....

Parliament has agreed to the DA's request for a debate of national importance on the Coronavirus. The party says the debate will afford the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, an opportunity to address Parliament and the nation on the readiness of the Department of Health to deal with this global pandemic. Guest: DA Member of Parliament and shadow minister of Health, Siviwe Gwarube

Why is President Cyril Ramaphosa dragging his heels to sign the Performers' Protection Amendment Bill into law? We find out from SA’s veteran actress Florence Masebe who lobbied for changes to the Performers' Protection Amendment Bill. In case you have not been closely following the story, the bill seeks to regulate the performance industry and protect actors from exploitation. Guest: Florence Mas...

We outline the objectives of an African conference that is currently underway. The conference will focus on safeguarding electoral integrity in the digital age and therefore it will look at different strategies that are aimed at combatting digital disinformation. Guest: Kate Bapela

The US and Taliban signed a historic peace agreement on Saturday. The "Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan" outlines a series of commitments from the US and the Taliban related to troop levels, counterterrorism, and the intra-Afghan dialogue aimed at bringing about "a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire." To explain what this means, Guest: Brooks Spector - Associate Editor at ‎The Daily...

The Democratic Alliance’s Johannesburg caucus chairperson Funzela Ngobeni has resigned from the party. It is reported that Ngobeni announced his resignation in a letter to the party's Johannesburg structures and staff earlier on today, saying he was going to join former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba's People's Dialogue. Guest: Funzela Ngobeni, former DA member

Traditional leaders are losing patience over what they perceive as government dragging its feet in finalising the framework to facilitate the recognition of their powers and functions. On Thursday, traditional leaders had the opportunity to debate the speech delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, during his annual address to the National House of Traditional Leaders. Leaders have told R...

Experts have warned the public to be cautious that online interactions can have real-world consequences. This comes after a marked increase in sextortion cases - scams where conmen make use of a fake profile with photographs lifted from blogs and pornographic websites to solicit nude photos from their victims, which are then used for blackmail. One woman says she was assisting a friend whose fathe...

The Department of Health says authorities are taking precautionary measures to ensure those potentially exposed to the coronavirus are quarantined and cleared of it. This after two South Africans tested positive for Covid19, after working on a Japanese cruise ship. Ten others are still on board the Diamond Princess ship, docked in the port of Yokohama. There have been 700 cases and four deaths on...

We look at the state of municipalities and how they can be rescued so they can be profitable. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced that his department together with the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs have agreed that municipal officials will find ways to use the allocations made through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to ensure that municipalities...

Convicted racist Adam Catzavelos has been sentenced to a fine of R50, 000 by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court or face a wholly suspended two-year jail term, suspended for five years, which will kick in immediately if he commits another crime. Catzavelos pleaded guilty to crimen injuria last year after using the k-word in a viral video clip. Guest: Seth Mazibuko, Director of June 16 Development Foun...

Following the recall of canned pilchards. The department of basic education has instructed all provinces to communicate with their respective suppliers to stop supplying canned pilchards as part the national school nutrition programme (NSNP) menu with immediate effect. Guest: Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education

The Democratic Alliance says the collapse of yet another council meeting in the Tshwane metro is part of the oppositions tactics to eventually have the municipality placed under administration. This morning's meeting where a new mayor, Randall Williams was expected to be elected was collapsed after the EFF and the ANC staged a walk out. Williams was supposed to take over Stevens Mokgalapa who resi...

The Tshwane council has collapsed after the ANC and EFF staged a walkout at a meeting in which new mayor Randal Williams, was expected to be elected. The opposition parties have told the speaker of the council Katlego Mathebe, that they will only take part in the council if she resigns. This means the City of Tshwane remains without a mayor. Guest: Phumzile Mlangeni, SABC reporter in Tshwane

South African labour unions are set to go head to head with government, following the announcement by Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni to cut the public sector wage bill. Mboweni tabled the 2020 budget In Parliament yesterday. Economists mostly welcomed this move, saying it could help in dealing with the 18-year high budget deficit. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU, is among those...

In reaction to yesterday’s Budget Speech, the South African Federation of Trade Unions has issued a statement warning workers that they regard this year and next year as a declaration of war on the working class and the poorest of the poor. Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions

In response to yesterday’s Budget Speech, Amnesty International South Africa says the government must urgently improve its reporting on school infrastructure expenditure and progress, arguing that this will increase the bang for very buck. Guest: Mienke Steytler, Media Officer @ Amnesty International South Africa

We outline the objectives of the Sixth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development that is currently underway in Zimbabwe. The Regional Forum intends to review progress, share experiences and lessons learned, and build consensus on recommendations in the form of key messages to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the A...

Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama says electricity is a right and therefore South Africans must not pay for it. He made these comments in reaction to recent protest that was spearheaded by the Soweto residents. Yesterday Sowetans were protesting over what they call abnormal loadshedding and they called for Eskom to implement a R150 electricity flat rate for all households. Guest: Andi...

There has been a mixed reaction from politicians, Unions and other commentators to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's budget speech. Earlier on in national assembly Minister Mboweni delivered what many called a crucial budget speech for South Africa's economy. But did the Finance Minister present a budget that offers the best solutions under the current difficult economic situation? GUEST: Wouter Wes...

There has been a mixed reaction from politicians, Unions and other commentators to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's budget speech. Earlier on in national assembly Minister Mboweni delivered what many called a crucial budget speech for South Africa's economy. But did the Finance Minister present a budget that offers the best solutions under the current difficult economic situation? GUEST: Pule Mabe,...

Budget Speech: What needs to be done to turn our economy around and what are the conditions under which we must implement our economic growth plan? In 2020, global economic growth is expected to strengthen to 3.3 percent. With a growth of 3.5 percent, sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to be the second-fastest-growing region in the world. Mboweni announced that against this backdrop “we forecast that...