The National Pulse

The Rustenburg Local Municipality is urging residents to use water sparingly. The municipality implemented water restrictions last week, due to the persistent drought and high water consumption demands. Guest: David Magae, Spokesperson for the Rustenburg Municipality

The people of Botswana started voting today to decide who will lead their next government. Although some believe there could be no clear winner, which could result in a hung parliament, others, say Mokgweetsi Masisi's BDP, will prevail. Guest: Sentleeng Lehihi – SABC Reporter

Guest: Abongile Dumako

Guest: Marta Garrich - political analyst

Guest: Professor Andre Duvenage - Political Analyst

According to recent data that was released by Stats SA yesterday - the number of tourists from the majority of the top 10 countries visiting South Africa has declined. This is worrying considering the fact that tourism accounts for 9.2% of total employment, and represents 8.6% of all economic activities in South Africa. Guest: Unathi Sonwabile Henama - Lecturer, Department of Tourism Management at...

Guest: Elias Malindi

In our Both Sides of the story feature today we will look at the situation in the community of Bloemhof in the North West. Residents of Boitumelong say they are concerned over the safety of their children and the elderly following the arrest of members of the anti-gang committee. They were arrested for allegedly assaulting several suspected gang members in the area. Guests: Daan Lottering - Member...

Guest: Phindiwe Gwebu

The Intellectual Property Crime Conference kick started today in Cape Town. While addressing the conference attendees, the Minister highlighted the negative impacts of purchasing counterfeit goods and the illegal downloading of online content – saying it has the potential of destroying legitimate businesses. Just how rife is the issue of counterfeiting and is the South African legal system robust...

With matric exams due to start tomorrow – our expert from SADAG joins us to share some tips on how to survive the exam season. During this time of the year, SADAG usually receives calls from learners across the board – learners as young as in Primary school, High School as well as University Students who feel the pressure during the exam season. Guest: Zamo Mbhele, Clinical Psychologist and SADAG...

The department of community safety and liaison in KwaZulu-Natal will beef up security at schools, this after exam disruption threats. The department issued a statement yesterday, saying that MEC Bheki Ntuli has instructed it and police management to reinforce schools' examination security plans to safeguard against disruptions. Guest: Bheki Ntuli, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison in...

Some analysts are predicting that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party could see its first defeat at the polls since independence in 1966. They attribute this to the Khama-Masisi conflict. It is public knowledge that the rift between the former allies went so deep that Khama broke with the BDP in May and, along with his brother, now supports the newly-formed Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). Guest o...

Earlier on today, the Constitutional Court ruled that sections of the Intimidation Act are unconstitutional, finding that it limits the right to freedom of expression. General Alfred Moyo who is an activist of the Macodefo civic structure in the Makause informal settlement was accused of making statements that caused the station commander of Primrose police station and her colleagues to fear for t...

Recently, we have been hearing and reading about a number of rape cases of children in various parts of the country. Just today the community of Reiger Park in Boksburg were protesting over the rape of a 2 year old girl by a 34 year old man. In light of these cases we ask, is enough being done to protect children in South Africa? What could be the leading cause of such a crime on minors? Guest: Dr...

We spoke to the NPA in Limpopo regarding the case of a 6 year old girl, Boitumelo Matsekoleng who was raped a couple of weeks ago. The little girl succumbed to her injuries and was buried this past weekend… Guest: Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi- Regional Spokesperson: DPP Limpopo

The death toll in the crash in which six learners were killed when a truck they were travelling in overturned outside Zeerust in the North West, has risen to seven. The learners were coming from a soccer match in Driefontein village, when the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle. Guest: Elias Malindi - Spokesperson for the North West Education Department

The Women and Men Against Child Abuse organisation is calling for the amendment of the Children's Act to ensure the arrest of any adult who does not report incidents of child abuse they know of. Currently, the obligation to report is voluntary for non-professionals. Guest: Murombedzi Ngaa, advocacy Manager @ Women & Men Against Child Abuse

October being Food Security Month, today we look at the impact of land reform on food security. Peter Setou, CEO of Vumelana Advisory Fund joins us to share some insights based on Vumelana’s experiences working with land reform beneficiaries and private investors. He will also explain the need to support Community Private Partnerships (CPP model) to ensure that land reform supports and empowers be...

Martha Shumba, a Zimbabwean activist based in South Africa and an executive member of the coalition against sanctions forum tells us about their planned march that is aimed at fighting sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by USA, EU and Britain. SADC has joined in the fight against these sanctions and has declared 25 October the day to stand in solidarity with Zimbabwe. Guest: Martha Shumba, Zimbabwean A...

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union has welcomed the resignation of Herman Mashaba as Mayor of the City of Johannesburg – saying his resignation brings an end to his reign of terror in which workers and unions have been victims. Guest: Dumisani Magagula, Deputy General Secretary of Samwu

Earlier on today, the leadership of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union and its members marched to the City of Johannesburg chambers, where they delivered a memorandum of grievances to the metro led by DA mayor Herman Mashaba. They say since Mashaba’s administration came to power, there have been deliberate attempts by the City and its management to cripple and render the union dysfunctiona...

Several schools in Gauteng have been affected by the load-shedding which is currently being implemented by Eskom. According to the department pupils at about 10 centres could not successfully proceed with the exams. To find out how the department will be assisting learners affected during load-shedding. Guest: Steve Mabona - Spokesperson, Department of Education in Gauteng

The pre-sentencing proceedings in the Nicholas Ninow rape trial continued at High Court in Pretoria today. A clinical psychologist who testified for the defence said that Ninow, does not fit the profile of a paedophile. He was convicted of raping a then 6 year old girl in the toilets of a Dros Restaurant in September last year. Guest: Fanuel Shuma - SABC Reporter

Today president Cyril Ramaphosa opened South Africa’s first ever cellphone manufacturing plant at Dube Trade Port in KwaZulu-Natal. The modern state-of-the-art plant, with an annual production capacity of over 1.2 million handsets, is expected to manufacture two models of smartphones – the Mara X and Mara Z. The company plans to launch upgraded versions annually Guest: Arthur Goldstuck MD, World W...