The National Pulse

What next for Dudu Myeni? The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed an application by former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni for leave to appeal a December ruling stating that Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has standing to bring a delinquency case against her. Guest: Stefanie Fick, Outa’s chief legal officer

Yesterday, Egypt’s High Administrative Court approved Cairo University’s decision to ban its professors from wearing the niqab, or face veil, ending a controversy that began five years ago over whether or not banning the niqab in public spaces violates personal freedoms or constitutes religious discrimination. Guest : Dr Faisal Suliman, Chairperson of the South African Muslim Network

Leaners attacking teachers – when will it stop? A teacher in KwaZulu-Natal reportedly survived a stabbing last Friday allegedly by a pupil who failed Grade 9 in 2019. It was reported that the pupil allegedly stabbed the teacher after he was told that he should repeat the grade he failed last year. Guest: Cynthia Barnes, General Secretary of the National Teachers Union

Today on Both Sides of the Story, we look at the university national shutdown campaign that is currently under way at some of the public universities across the country. We are trying to establish the facts in terms of what informs this national shutdown asking - are students’ demands reasonable – how should universities respond to student protests? Guests: Mischeck Mugabe, president of the South...

The department of water and sanitation says the continuation of a total shutdown in QwaQwa, Free State, will setback government's efforts to get water back to the area. Many government buildings remain closed in Qwaqwa after workers affiliated to COSATU in the area agreed to take part in today's shutdown. COSATU in the Free State has endorsed a plan to continue the shutdown of the Maluti-a-Phofung...

Meanwhile, Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe says the move by Sars's is an indication she was being "lynched" as part of "concerted efforts to instill fear in her following some of her investigations". Guest: Public Protector Spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe

The South African Revenue Service, SARS, has launched an investigation into the income tax affairs of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, dating back to 2011. Sars has ordered her to hand over copies of all relevant material including financial information, employment income, foreign income, business income, expenses, deductions and other income. This comes just over a month after the Hawks moved...

Did you know that an estimated 290 000 South Africans could become blind as a result of untreated cataracts? According to Dr Bayanda Mbambisa, South Africa’s national cataract surgery rate lags far behind international norms, even for developing countries, with the number of surgeries performed declining since the mid-2000s as government focus and funding shifted towards higher priority medical co...

Are African countries and Africa tourism destinations ready for the coronavirus? So far more than 50 people are dead – all in China as the Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread throughout Asia and the rest of the world. Guest: Unathi Sonwabile Henama - Lecturer, Department of Tourism Management at Tshwane University of Technology

Guest: Solly Malatsi - National Spokesperson For The Democratic Alliance

Following the cold-blooded shooting of seven patrons in two Khayelitsha liquor outlets on Wednesday and Friday night last week. The Khayelitsha Health Forum and the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance want the Liquor Authority to relook at the number of licenses to sell alcohol in Khayelitsha and they also want better policing and closing down of unlicensed outlets. Guest: Maurice Smithers, N...

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe has announced several interventions which include injecting R220m to address the water crisis in QwaQwa. Sisulu, visited the challenged area of QwaQwa in Free State and she was accompanied by local municipality political leadership as well as other relevant stakeholders in the province. Guest: Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Depa...

At least 61 people have been arrested following a wave of violent service delivery protests in QwaQwa in the Free State. Residents have been protesting over water shortages in QwaQwa, Harrismith and Kestell. Fourteen suspects have appeared in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate's Court. The remaining group will appear later. Several shops were looted and buildings vandalised. The situation in some parts...

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced that the number of workers killed at South African mines has dropped in what they say is the lowest on record. The stats revealed that last year’s fatalities are sitting at 51down from 81 a year earlier. Is this a reason to celebrate? Guest: David Msiza – Chief Inspector of Mines at the Department of Minerals and Energy

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says preliminary investigations have revealed many inconsistencies that have forced his department to suspend the principal of Parktown Boys High School in Johannesburg. Investigations revealed that the school went on an unauthorized Grade 8 camp at the Nyathi Lodge in the North West. This is where 13-year-old Enock Mpianzi died during a water activity last wee...

The community earlier demanded that he addresses them after they took to the street in protests of the death of police officer, who was shot and killed allegedly by a foreign national who was wanted in a case of attempted murder and house robbery. They reportedly attacked both the local mall and foreign owned spaza shops. Guest: Lirandzu Themba – Spokesperson for Police Minister Bheki Cele

This week, the US and China signed a phase-one agreement to ease tensions, paving the way for another stage of trade negotiations. Some experts argue though that the deal relies heavily on China's goodwill and includes forced purchases of US goods and protection for intellectual property rights and forced technology transfer. Guest: Dr Martyn Davies - Managing Director of Emerging Markets & Africa...

The office of National Assembly Speaker Ms Thandi Modise has approved a motion received from the Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance requesting that Parliament initiate proceedings for removal of Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Guest: Moloto Mothapo, Parliamentary spokesperson

On World News today we focus on Zim food crisis: A UN study has found that poverty has reached unprecedented levels in Zimbabwe, with more than 70% of Zimbabwean children in rural areas living in poverty. The report, compiled by Unicef and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, shows high levels of privation in rural areas, where 76.3% of children live in abject poverty. Guest: Eddie Cross, Zimb...

Former Truth and Reconciliation Commission commissioner, Yasmin Sooka shares thoughts on Neil Aggett’s inquest that is currently underway. Sooka has been working with former apartheid cops and she is calling on remaining members of the former Security Branch to come forward and tell the truth, saying "even minor information is important". Guest: Yasmin Sooka, Executive Director @ Foundation for Hu...

How will the revelations at the Zondo Commission of inquiry affect KZN’s political heavy weights? This week, the commission of inquiry into state capture started hearing testimony on the so-called ‘Amigos case’ implicating KwaZulu-Natal African National Congress (ANC) politicians, namely; Mike Mabuyakhulu and Peggy Nkonyeni. The case relates to tenders for the supply of water purification and oxyg...

Gender activists came out strongly against the ANC over the reported barring of spokesperson Sizophila Mkhize from entering the venue of the party’s NEC lekgotla. The move received criticism on social media and other platforms. This time around, Sonke Gender Justice says it is appalled by this and would like the ANC to publicly condemn all those who were involved. Guest: Patrick Godana - Eastern C...

The South African Communist Party (SACP) is picketing outside the US Embassy in Pretoria - calling for an end to tensions between Iran and Washington. The demonstration is in response to America's recent military attack in Iraq - that killed Iranian top General, Qasem Soleimani. Washington blamed Soleimani for masterminding attacks by Iran-aligned militias against US forces in the Middle East. Ira...

We look at the findings of the Corruption Perceptions Index Report. This year’s report highlights the importance of the relationship between money, political power and corruption. Further analysis shows how corruption is more pervasive in countries where big money can flow freely into electoral campaigns. Guest: David Lewis, Executive Director @ Corruption Watch

In conversation with former Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba who this week revealed that he has formed his new political party, The People's Dialogue. He will talk to us about his recent announcement that he will be helping the families of Lily Mine employees in their bid to retrieve the bodies of their relatives that are buried underground. Guest : Herman Mashaba, founder of The People’s Dialog...