The National Pulse

Sars Commissioner reacts to Tito Mboweni’s Budget Speech. Finance Minister announced that the country’s tax revenue shortfall for 2019/20 stood at R63.3 billion, much higher than the R52.5 billion projected in the 2019 medium term budget policy statements (MTBPS). This was due to weaker-than-expected 0.3% economic growth and the sluggish employment and wage growth which affected personal income ta...

Unions want Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba to be removed from her position. Nursing unions have raised concerns over staff shortages, vacant posts, poor healthcare infrastructure, among other challenges facing nurses. Calls for the Health MEC's removal have since sparked the hashtag #PhophiMustFall. On Both Sides of the Story we are asking you: Is there a crisis in Limpopo's public healthc...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) will approach the courts again to compel SAA to consult workers over retrenchments. Few weeks ago the Labour Court rejected the unions' joint application to halt expected jobs cuts at the ailing airline. The Unions have since written a letter to the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) a...

The Timothy Omotoso court case continued at the Port Elizabeth high court today. The first witness, Andisiwe Dike took the stand yesterday. The 30-year old witness gave chilling details on how she was allegedly sexually abused by controversial Pastor Omotoso. Guest: SABC reporter in Port Elizabeth

Budget Speech Preview: Professor Andre Roux says that minister Mboweni’s budget speech will probably come in for a great deal of criticism from both friend and foe. He joins us now to elaborate further….. Guest: Prof Andre Roux, Economist at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB)

World News Today: Unathi Sonwabile Henama joins us to discuss the significance of Meetings Africa that commenced yesterday. The event showcases Africa’s diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals can partner to help transform our continent. Guest: Unathi Sonwabile Henama - Lecturer, Department of Tourism Management at Tshwane Un...

Soweto shutdown – how did it go? We are told that the protest action will continue tomorrow. Cape Town residents are expected to join the protest with the Unemployment Movement expected to picket outside Parliament tomorrow where finance minister Tito Mboweni is expected to deliver the Budget Speech. Guest: Seth Mazibuko, Soweto community leader

A warrant of arrest has been issued for EFF leader Julius Malema for failing to appear in court. The arrest warrant has stayed until his next court appearance. Malema and co-accused Adrian Snyman were due to appear on five counts of discharging a firearm in public. Malema allegedly discharged a rifle during the EFF's fifth anniversary celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane in 2018....

Soweto residents are planning to shut down the township over the high cost of electricity and pre-paid meters. The Soweto electricity crisis committee says the shutdown will take place during the national Budget Speech this week. Eskom is owed billions of rand by defaulting municipalities and Soweto accounts for 18 billion rands of this electricity bill. Guest: Dr Trevor Ngwane, a member of the So...

The Progressive Student Movement has condemned the brutal and violent attacks on learners which occurred at the 19th Congress of Cosas. They are also calling upon the department of basic education to issue strong sanctions against the so called 19th administration of COSAS over the senseless and bruatal attacks on learners. Guest: Kabelo Nthekiso, President General of the Progressive Student Movem...

Several organisations including dozens of individual activists, actors, artists and other creatives held a picket outside the United States Embassy today. They are demanding that the US Government must conclude the Generalised System of Preferences benefits review in favour of South Africa and condemn the corrupt lobbying by American Corporations through the International Intellectual Property All...

Following this past weekend’s attack on well-known Free State farmer, Mimi Jacobs. The African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) has expressed concern about the ongoing attacks on farmers in the country. Guest: Nakana Masoka, Secretary General of the African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA)

Police fired rubber bullets at protesting taxi hailing service drivers in Sandton north of Johannesburg. Earlier on about 200 drivers from various taxi hailing services drove in protest from Zoo Lake to Uber offices in Kramerville where they were supposed to handover a memorandum of grievances. They are unhappy over price related issues. Guest: Vhatuka Mbelengwa, who speaks on behalf of the affect...

South Africa's minimum wage will increase from the first of March 2020, since its inception last year. The minimum hourly wage, and the special wages for some categories of work, will all increase by just about 3.8%. Guest: Matthew Parks

The South African Statistics Council has threatened to resign over the lack of funding. The Council which is an advisory body that endorses the releases of data by Stats SA, says if the national statistical agency does not receive more funding and fill frozen posts, it will resign. The Statistics Council has also added that If Stats SA cannot produce accurate official statistics, ratings agencies...

Members of Parliament are currently still debating President Cyril Ramaphosa's State-of-the-Nation Address, which he delivered last week. Yesterday the joint sitting of parliament descended into chaos when accusations of women abuse were flung around. Guest: Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize

Is the Riotous Assemblies Act outdated? Following Julius Malema’s recent court challenge, we examine the Riotous Assemblies Act, Act No 17 of 1956. The Act in its current form prohibits gatherings in open-air public places if the Minister of Justice considers they could endanger the public peace. Guest: Musa Gwebani, Head of Advocacy and Organising at Social Justice Coalition

About an hour ago, R2K picketed outside the National Communications Centre in Pretoria and outside the National Parliament in Cape Town where they highlighted the fact that the RICA law has failed to protect citizens’ constitutional right to privacy. Guest: Thami Nkosi, Right2Know Countering Repression Focus Organiser

Reports coming from Lesotho suggest that the ruling party has given Prime Minister Tom Tabane an ultimatum to resign by Thursday after his wife was charged in connection with the murder of his late wife. Guest: Rapelang Radebe, SABC Correspondent in Lesotho

Is the dignity and decorum of Parliament under threat? Today marks day two of the SONA Debate in Parliament and following last week’s unpleasant events that occurred during the State of the Nation Address - some MPs have warned that Parliament has descended into chaos and people were no longer taking it seriously. Guest: Udo Froese, Political and Socio economic analyst

The latest diseases to worry people has been the corornavirus, and before that it was the outbreak of Ebola in Africa. These diseases get the focus they deserve because of the rate of their spread and the speed at which they can kill. However there are diseases that have been decimating the African population for a while with little effort from African governments to do something about them. The s...

Police are searching for a security guard who allegedly walked away with R4 million at a cash-in-transit depot, at the Mall of Africa. It's been reported that, the security guard cut open two cash bags with a pair of scissors, before transferring the money into refuse bags. Guest: Gauteng Police Spokesperson Kay Makhubele

Nicol Jansen from Agri SA joins us to talk about the role of agriculture in resolving South Africa’s power supply crisis. Agri SA believes it is important that the agricultural industry forms part of the solution to sustainable energy supply within the renewable energy framework. Guest: Nicol Jansen, Chair: Agri SA’s Centre of Excellence – Economics & Trade

Latest developments on South Sudan Peace Deal: On Sunday, South Sudan rebels rejected a government peace offer to return to a system of 10 states, dashing hopes of ending a six-year war that has left 380,000 people dead. President Salva Kiir had said he would compromise by cutting the current 32 regional states back down to the original 10 - a key rebel demand - to pave the way for a unity governm...

Following government’s confirmation that a review of the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act has been prepared. We hear from the Commission for Gender Equality on what their thoughts are on the matter. In due course the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services will undertake a process of consultation before the draft legislation will be taken to Cabinet for approv...