The National Pulse

Various stakeholders met in Cape Town this morning to try and resolve the crisis faced by foreign nationals living in a church in the CBD. The Human Rights Commission says discussions focused on documentations of the foreign nationals and finding alternative accommodation for the group - among other things. They've been living in the Central Methodist Church since October last year. Guest: Chris N...

Various stakeholders met in Cape Town this morning to try and resolve the crisis faced by foreign nationals living in a church in the CBD. The Human Rights Commission says discussions focused on documentations of the foreign nationals and finding alternative accommodation for the group - among other things. They've been living in the Central Methodist Church since October last year. Guest: Badr Ka...

The DA says it wants a forensic audit into Eskom amid continued load shedding. The party says it also wants answers from the Ramaphosa administration regarding the return of stage two load shedding. The official opposition says what it calls the "madness" at Eskom needs to end. The party cites reports that Eskom wants to issue almost two billion rand in performance bonuses, the bloated staff compl...

As we continue with Richard Maponya’s story - we now speak to Leon Louw, who knew Dr Maponya personally since the 1960s. Louw got to know him in the 1960s when he helped Dr Maponya in his struggle against the apartheid regime to expand his small retail business. At that time black businesses were not allowed to grow beyond very small limits. Leon was then a student activist studying law. They stay...

Further afield – on World News today, we look at Al-Qaeda linked attack on Kenya military base. Reports coming from the East African country suggest that a US military service member and two US contractors have been killed in an al-Shabab attack on a military base in Kenya used by US and Kenyan military personnel. Guest: Sarah Kimani - SABC’s East Africa correspondent

The SACP in Mpumalanga on why they are concerned about the slowness of our justice system in relation to murders that occurred eleven years ago. It’s been eleven years since former speaker of the Mbombela municipality, Jimmy Mohlala was gunned down at his home at KaNyamazane outside Mbombela but no one has been convicted for his murder. Guest: Bonakele Majuba SACP Secretary in Mpumalanga

As we continue with the day’s developing story of the killing of Iran’s military leader General Qasem Soleimani, who led operations in the Middle East as head of Tehran’s elite Quds Force. He was killed on the orders of US President Donald Trump in an air strike in Iraq. Guest: Sophie Mokoena – Editor for the SABC’s Foreign Desk

Municipalities in the Eastern Cape are imposing water restrictions to try and deal with the drought. Many of them are severely affected. Guest: Wongama Gela - Executive Mayor for the Chris Hani District Municipality

Acting Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, says two specialized police teams have been assigned to investigate the New Year's Day shooting incidents in Melville and Newtown. Two people were shot dead and six wounded in Melville, Johannesburg - when an unknown suspect allegedly conducted a drive-by shooting on patrons seated at a restaurant. Hours later, eleven people were wounded at the Mary Fitzgera...

Iran has vowed revenge over the killing of its military leader General Qasem Soleimani, who led operations in the Middle East as head of Iran's elite Quds Force. He was killed on the orders of US President Donald Trump in an air strike in Iraq. He died in an attack on his convoy at Baghdad Airport. Guest: Nick Harper - SABC correspondent in the USA

What’s behind the conflict between Iran and the US - who was Qasem Soleimani, why did the US target him and how will Iran respond? Following the killing of Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in an air strike authorised by the US. The United States embassy in Baghdad has issued a statement urging all citizens to depart Iraq immediately. Gues...

James De Villiers joins us to talk about the state of Eskom and also to explain why he thinks load shedding is unavoidable. According to him load shedding is set to be resumed next week if generator breakdowns continue at present levels. Guest: James De Villiers, Journalist with Business Insider South Africa

Guest: John Moodey

Guest: Mbuyiselo Botha

Guest: Nokubonga Mkhize contributing author to the book Black Tax

A couple of days ago, Minister of Police General Bheki Cele said he was concerned that Limpopo has more shebeens than churches. Cele made these remarks during his visit to the province to check on the Sizojika Izinto campaign (revealing that that the province has 42 churches but 14 000 shebeens). Post his visit, we are told that about 100 illegal liquor outlets have been shut down by Limpopo polic...

Police in Dobsonville are investigating a case of house robbery and murder following an incident in the early hours of Monday morning where a 25-year old woman was killed by unknown suspects in Braamfischerville. It is reported that the deceased and her 39-year old sister were asleep in the house when the latter was disturbed by the light and then realised two unknown men were in the house. Guest:...

Earlier on today the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) warned of “a declaration of war” should the state-owned Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) fail to pay staff December salaries today. Guest: Zolani Masoleng - Nehawu Chairperson at Necsa

As millions of South Africans gear up for Christmas festivities, many others are battling with depression. According to the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag) they receive more than 600 calls a day from South Africans struggling with the debilitating symptoms of depression. What can those struggling with financial problems, loneliness or a sense of loss during this time of the year...

Gauteng public transport and roads infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has added seven more depots for the impoundment of unroadworthy vehicles and increased the prescribed impoundment fee to R3, 500. He says the increased capacity for impounding depots is part of strengthening Gauteng’s road safety campaign aimed at reducing road fatalities. Guest: Jacob Mamabolo, MEC for Public Transport and Roads...

On Saturday last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “colonialism was a grave mistake” and called for “turning the page” on the past during a visit to Ivory Coast, which is a former French colony by the way. Macron made the comments during a press conference alongside Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, soon after the announcement that the CFA franc currency used by eight West Africa...

About a week ago, the Supreme Court of Appeal awarded damages to the family of the late five-year-old boy, Michael Komape, who drowned in a pit toilet at school five years ago. However, post the court ruling - reports emerged suggesting that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her team were going to appeal a ruling on damages that were sought by Michael Komape’s family for emotional shock...

Today the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula released the mid festive season road safety statistics. A total of 489 fatal crashes have been recorded thus far, which is a 25% decrease compared to 656 fatal crashes recorded over the same period last year. Guest: Ayanda Allie- Paine - Spokesperson for the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula

2019 can be said to have been a challenging period for the Office of the Public Protector given some of the legal battles the office was faced with. We are now in conversation with Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane as we look at the last 12 months. Guest: Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane - Public Protector

The Minerals Council of South Africa has called on the government to urgently intervene and ensure security in the mining industry. This follows the killing of a security guard during an armed robbery at the Harmony Goldplant west of Johannesburg, on Friday. Guest: Alan Fine