The National Pulse

In our false news Friday feature today we will look at some of the political challenges faced by social media platform, Facebook in the era of U.S president Donald Trump. Last month The Facebook executive Nick Clegg revealed in a speech that politicians are exempt from the company’s third-party fact-checking program. What does this mean for politicians and is there a double standard? Guest: Willia...

Yesterday former US Vice President Joe Biden said that he would withhold foreign aid from countries that persecute lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as he joined eight other Democratic presidential candidates at a forum on LGBTQ issues. Here on the continent, Uganda has announced plans to impose the death penalty on homosexuals. The government said the legislation would curb a rise in...

This year’s theme is “Unscripted and Unstoppable” In marking this day the Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has once again put the spotlight on sanitary dignity as well as demonstrating government commitment on gender equality by dedicating resources to respond to society’s gender imbalance in all sectors. Guest: Ntsiki Sisulu - chief director at Women Children and Pe...

35 schools in the OR Tambo Coastal District, in the Eastern Cape have been closed for two weeks due to protests in the area. The community is not happy with a delay in a road construction. This has affected revision work being completed in some of the schools. Guest: Mali Mtima - Spokesperson, Department of Education in the Eastern Cape

Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment MEC Kgosientso Ramokgopa has been removed from Premier David Makhura's cabinet. This follows the pressure that was exerted on the premier by the Gauteng ANC to balance the gender parity in his cabinet. Guest: Vuyo Mhaga - Spokesperson for the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura

According to the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services’ annual report for the 2018/2019 review period – prison violence and overcrowding remain the most prevalent issues facing inmates in South Africa’s prisons. Guest: Judge Johann van der Westhuizen, Head of Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services

Gun Owners South Africa is accusing Police Minister General Bheki Cele of undermining Parliament. The organisation says Cele proclaimed a firearms amnesty in the Government Gazette without following the correct procedures and according to them, this totally undermines the processes prescribed by law as well as the members of the Police Portfolio Committee and the NCOP. Guest: Paul Oxley, Chairpers...

What kind of a leader is Abiy Ahmed? This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Prime Minister who helped end his country's 20-year war with Eritrea. Abiy also recently won plaudits for his role in helping to broker a power-sharing deal in neighbouring Sudan after a political crisis that led to the arrest of Omar al-Bashir, the country's ruler for almost three deca...

Following today’s court ruling – what next for Zuma? Former president Jacob Zuma has lost his court bid to avoid prosecution on corruption charges related to the arms deal which means he will now finally stand trial on grounds of corruption. But has he run out of options – legally speaking, what other avenues can he still pursue? Guest: Advocate Paul Hoffman, Executive Director at Accountability N...

Fomer SAA chairperson, Dudu Myeni has been granted a trial postponement until the end of October. This comes after Myeni was unable to attend the trial due to financial difficulties. In March 2017, OUTA brought a case against Myeni to have her declared a delinquent director for her fiduciary conduct. Guest: Wayne Duvenage - Outa CEO

How do we solve the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa? Today marks the annual Harambee Accelerating Inclusive Youth Employment conference convened in conjunction with The Presidency. The overall objective of the conference is to highlight, discuss and develop workable solutions to accelerating inclusive youth employment in South Africa. This year’s conference will focus on what is working...

As we observe World Mental Health Day, we tackle the subject of suicide with Dr Kobus Roux. His organisation is urging healthcare providers to better manage follow-up care for those at risk of suicide, rather than focusing only on one-off interventions at a crisis point. Currently, South Africa’s estimated suicide rate of 13.4 people per 100 000 is approximately four times the global rate of 3.6 p...

Understanding the history of the Saharawi people. From what we know, Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony, it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then it has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Saharawi people, led by the Polisario Front. But why are they still not free? Guest: Ibrahim Dean – Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

Zandile Gumede’s crimes – is it possible that today’s raids could spell the end of her political career? We ask this question following this morning’s developments where the Assets Forfeiture Unit raided Gumede’s rented house in Umhlanga and her residence in Inanda. This morning’s raids form part of an investigation against the former mayor and her co-accused in a corruption case linked to a 2016...

One of the issues raised by Eskom’s acting CEO, Jabu Mabuza is that the power utility continues to suffer from municipalities not paying their bills. Guest: Ted Blom - Energy Expert

We now speak to Bonginkosi Khanyile who is an Activist and former Durban University of Technology student who also served time in jail for his part in the Fees Must Fall protests. Last year he led the historic march aimed at highlighting the plight of poor young people and that of Khaya Cekeshe Guest: Bonginkosi Khanyile – Activist and former Durban University of Technology student who also served...

The Democratic Alliance has approached Parliament’s portfolio committee on police asking that the acting head of the Independent Police Investigating Directorate (IPID), Victor Senna, and the former head Robert McBride be held accountable regarding allegations that the police watchdog prematurely completed or closed cases to manipulate performance statistics. Guest: Andrew Whitfield, DA shadow min...

Professor Ruth Hall outlines the objectives of the upcoming national conference on the future of farm workers in South Africa which is due to take place next week. According to her, farm workers are an integral part of South Africa’s economy and the food system - yet they are often food insecure, marginalised and vulnerable to exploitation. Guest: Professor Ruth Hall - from the Institute for Pover...

Is Trump really in trouble? According to a Washington Post-Shar School poll that was published yesterday – a majority of Americans think House Democrats were right to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. The poll's results indicate a shift in public opinion toward impeachment since the whistleblower's allegations became public. In July, a Post-ABC News poll found that only 37%...

Professor Bongani Majola clarifies the issue of Buang Jones. The SA Human Rights Commission is currently investigating comments that were allegedly made by Buang Jones about Springbok player Eben Etzebeth. It is reported that during his recent visit in Langebaan, Jones told the community that the Springbok star has been getting away with murder and it is these remarks that have landed him in hot w...

Guest: Kgomoco Diseko - Sassa National Spokesperson

An in-depth study by the Black Sash and the department of political studies at the University of Western Cape (UWC) has found that the decommissioning of Sassa’s pay points has had a negative impact on social grant recipients, especially on their pockets and bodies. Guest: Amanda Ismail - Black Sash, Western Cape regional Manager

In light of Duduzane Zuma’s testimony at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, we look at the integrity of this commission and how it is being perceived by those who have taken the stand so far. Guest: Ralph Mathekga - Political Analyst

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo began proceedings at the State Capture Inquiry today with a furious rejection of claims that he and his fellow investigators had agreed to make life easier for Jacob Zuma ahead of his next appearance at the Commission. Zondo was referring to an article that suggested that his team furnished former President Jacob Zuma with question pact. Guest: William Bird - Dir...

The United Nations Security Council is holding a debate on "Peace and Security in Africa under the banner, The Centrality of Preventative Diplomacy, Conflict Prevention and Resolution". Guest: Sophie Mokoena, SABC Africa News Editor