The National Pulse

Guest: Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha's spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha

Today on Both Sides of the Story we ask, Why are South Africans not using condoms? It’s a known fact that South Africa has the world’s greatest HIV burden and currently, more than 7.7-million people were living with the disease. Condoms are highly effective for preventing sexually transmitted infections, most importantly, HIV. Why then do we have such high rates of infection and why are South Afri...

Students at NMU in PE are protesting against the registration process and placement of students in residences. The protest is affecting the running of the university. For more, we speak to one of the organizers of the protest Axole Xhotyeni, the Chairperson of the South African Students Congress (SASCO), at the Nelson Mandela University... Guest: Axole Xhotyeni, the Chairperson of the South Africa...

We continue last week's discussion with Political Analyst Dr Protas Madlala on former President FW De Klerk who In an SABC TV interview denied apartheid was a crime against humanity. This in light of the De Klerk Foundation's claim that the UN's classification of apartheid as a crime against humanity was a result of propaganda by the Soviet union, the ANC and others to stigmatize white South Afric...

Former president De Klerk has retracted and apologized for his Apartheid comments. This after political parties, different organizations, church groups and citizens condemned the De Klerk Foundation's claim that the UN's classification of apartheid as a crime against humanity was a result of propaganda by the Soviet union, the ANC and others to stigmatize white South Africans. The foundation last...

In conversation with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) about Teen Suicide Prevention Week. The key objective for Teen Suicide Prevention Week is to educate families and communities to act in order to help prevent teen suicide. Guest: Cassey Chambers, Operations Director

The Western Cape High Court has granted the City of Cape Town an order prohibiting refugees and asylum seekers living in and around the Central Methodist Mission church from interfering with City officials. The order also forces the refugees to comply with City bylaws at the venue on Greenmarket Square. Guest: JP Smith - Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security @ the City of Cape Town

Today, Brand South Africa announced that it is launching the country’s 2020 international programme to attract and develop a network of citizens living and working in Australia. Dubbed, the Global South Africans Network, the programme aims to inspire South African expats from business to government to ordinary citizens – to contribute towards the promotion of a positive image of the nation brand....

Condemnation of former president FW De Klerk's comment on apartheid has escalated, with the ANC, SACC, Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation entering the fray. During an interview with the SABC News marking 30 years after Mandela's release and the unbanning of political parties, De Klerk said that he did not fully agree with the UN's ruling that apartheid was a crime a...

Today we celebrate Professor Salome Maswime who is the recipient of the prestigious Discovery Foundation Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship Award, President of the South African Clinician Scientists’ Society, who recently joined the UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences in her new role as the head of Global Surgery. Guest: Professor Salome Maswime, Head of Global Surgery @ UCT’s Faculty of Healt...

The United National Transport Union is calling on Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to dissolve the current board of the Railway Safety Regulator following a train collision that claimed the life of a passenger on the West Rand. Guest: Sonja Carstens, Spokesperson of the United National Transport Union (UNTU)

Residents of Kagiso west of Johannesburg have taken to the streets in protest over service delivery issues. Residents are accusing the Mogale City local municipality of corruption in the awarding of RDP houses. For the latest we speak to Gauteng Police Spokesperson Kay Makhubele, who says police are on the scene and monitoring the situation. Guest: Gauteng Police Spokesperson Kay Makhubele

Parliament says political parties have submitted nominations for the Independent Panel to consider preliminary evidence on the motion regarding the removal of Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. A total of 22 names were received. The Speaker will consider the nominations and make a determination on the three names to constitute the Panel. Guest: Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa says they intend to appeal today's Labour Court's decision to reject a joint application - brought by NUMSA and the SA Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) - aimed at halting job cuts at SAA. Guest: Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA National Spokesperson

Municipalities will now be allowed to procure their own power from Independent Power Producers. The president made the announcement in his State of the Nation Address yesterday evening. Guest: Kevin Allan, Managing Director @ Municipal IQ

Another interesting development is that yesterday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government will establish a new university in the city of Ekurhuleni which will focus on science, innovation and technology. Guest: Mzwandile Masina, Executive Mayor of eKurhuleni Municipality

Recently in Cameroon's English-speaking regions where there has been violent unrest for several years, clashes were reported in the town of Muyuka and witnesses reported hearing gunfire in the city of Buea and Kuma town. Guest: Dr Cho Ayaba, Front Line leader of the Ambazonian Governing Council

Yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government has introduced a new six-pronged intervention to address SA's record-high youth unemployment. Approximately 8.2 million (40.1%) of South Africa’s 20.4 million young people aged 15 to 34 are not in employment, education or training of any sort, that’s according to the latest figures released by Statistics SA in the Quarterly Labour Forc...

Guest: Guest: Limpopo Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke

The charity arm of workers union Solidarity is preparing to sue the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for wasting tax payers’ money. The Solidarity Helping Hands Study Fund Centre says it wants the scheme to account for the incorrect payments it has made to students and the R7.5 billion it incurred in irregular expenditure in the last financial year. The scheme has taken a student to court aft...

Guest: Dr Randell Carolissen - Nsfas Administrator

Cosatu in the Western Cape have been protesting at the Grand Parade in the Cape Town CBD, ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State-of-the-Nation-Address this evening. They were marching over Job losses, challenges regarding the public transport system, among other issues. Guest: Malvern de Bruyn, Provincial secretary for Cosatu in the Western Cape

The business community recently celebrated the launch of the SA United Business Council, a non-profit and non-racial business and economic federation that represents cross-cutting business interests in South Africa. Guest: George Sebulela, President of SA United Business Council

SONA Expectations: President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the annual State of the National Address later this evening. To discuss the president’s upcoming SONA we are joined by Andrew Duvenage who says the president can no longer postpone making tough choices. Government needs to stop talking and start doing. Guest: Andrew Duvenage, Managing Director – NFB

We are told that as Bernie Sanders rises, some Democrats are jittery about possible consequences. Sanders’s victory in the New Hampshire primary and his strengths in the 2020 race are worrying moderates who fear he could cost Democrats the presidency and the House in the fall. Guest: Professor John Stremlau, Visiting Professor of International Relations at Wits