The National Pulse

A report issued by the World Health Organisation in 2010 revealed that South Africa has one of the world’s poorest road safety records (approximately 32 fatalities per 100 000 people while comparable developing countries have a much lower fatality rate). To deal with this problem, Santaco has entered into a strategic partnership to improve safety on our roads with the introduction of a tyre design...

This morning, eThekwini Municipality launched a programme which will provide relief to families whose homes were washed away by floods in the City. The floods resulted to injuries as well as fatalities and caused widespread damage and destruction estimated at about R658 million. Displaced residents were provided temporary shelters in eleven community halls. Guest: Thanduxolo Sabelo, Chairman of Hu...

Police in Gauteng are investigating a case of murder after two people were assaulted and burnt beyond recognition in what is believed to be an act of mob justice. Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini - Spokesperson for SAPS in Gauteng

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) will be challenging the new Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act in court. In a statement, Outa says it is not opposed to the demerit system being implemented for motorists but that the scheme is flawed in its administrative processes, constitutionality and ability to reduce road fatalities. Guest: Stefanie Fick, Outa’s chief le...

University of Johannesburg workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) have vowed to continue with their strike action until the university management engages with them. According to the union, the university is continuing to exploit workers who were abused by labour brokers. Insourced workers still do not receive the same salary or benefits as workers who were...

Guest: Aisha Bowe - Founder and CEO at STEMBoard a technology solutions company

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry says they are working on removing Sudan from the United States terror list, while on the other hand Sudan is working on supporting Saudi Arabia in international forums, providing an environment for investment and expanding its agricultural sector. But why is this partnership so important? Guest: Ibrahim Dean - Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

Today we celebrate Iqra Faki from Star College Cape Town Sybrand Park Campus who was recently awarded the best female award (during this year’s Eskom Expo International Science Fair) for the project "Fractal exploration: The 3-dimensional Koch snowflake." The aim of the project was to examine mathematical trends and noticeable properties for the surface area and volume of the three-dimensional Koc...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received over 100 0000 funding applications for the 2020 academic year. This week NSFAS visited the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces on a roadshow to reach out to learners and out of school youth who need funding but have challenges with accessing the application resources. Guest : Dr Randall Carolissen , NSFAS administrator

Singapore' anti-fake news came into effect this week despite critics warning that it could be used to suppress free speech in the already tightly controlled Asian city state. According to critics it puts too much power in the hands of the Singapore government, potentially threatening civil liberties. Guest: William Bird- Director, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA)

Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announced this morning that a R3.2 billion bailout for the South African Broadcasting Corporation has been approved by National Treasury. However Ndabeni-Abrahams did emphasize the fact that the R2.1 billion will only be handed over to the SABC on Monday next week, with the remaining R1.1 billion to be transferred “once all conditions were met”. Gues...

Guest: Michael Morris

News coming from England is that the new Brexit proposals unveiled by Boris Johnson have already provoked a wave of scepticism, both in the country and across the European Union. At the centre of it all is that the Prime Minister’s plan involves controversial new customs checks on the island of Ireland. Guest: Professor John Keiger

Earlier on today, the South African Human Rights Commission appeared in the Equality Court where they instituted legal proceedings against Eben Etzebeth. This follows a complaint received by the Commission last month, in terms of which it is alleged that the Springbok player, physically and racially abused the complainant in Langebaan during an altercation. Guest: Buang Jones, Acting Head of Legal...

Today the Tax Ombud released its 2018/19 Annual Report at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. The Tax Ombud, Judge Bernard Makgabo Ngoepe said that 4 822 complaints were received in the 2018/19 reporting period, a 1 170 increase from 12 months earlier. He further revealed that SARS implemented 99.27% of the recommendations that the the Office of the Tax Ombud sent to them. H...

Following the release of the State of Railway Safety Report – we hear from the United National Transport Union and they have some serious reservations about the report. They are arguing that the Railway Safety Regulator is reckless in allowing the Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa to continue with train services across the country due to fatalities that have increased by 36%. Guest: Steve H...

We learn more about the objectives of the Film and Publications Amendment Bill that was recently signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This bill which is often referred to as the 'internet censorship bill’ provides the Film and Publications Board with the right to regulate online content - but it has been largely criticised for being poorly drafted. Guest: Tholoana Ncheke, Media Law Expert

Word News today – how significant is Buhari’s visit to South Africa? Buhari’s state visit has been scheduled for many months, but it is coincidentally occurring just weeks after the attacks on foreign nationals where properties/shops belonging to Nigerians and other foreign African nationals were damaged. Guest: Sanusha Naidu, Senior research associate at the Institute of Global Dialogue

Today, Stats SA released the findings of its Victims of Crime survey. According to the survey data, Only 35% of South Africans feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods at night, though the proportion who felt safe during the day has risen somewhat, to about 83%. The survey has also revealed dramatic increases in violent crimes, especially murder, assault and sexual offences. Guest: Mr Risen...

Today in our Both Sides of the story we ask, who is really in charge of the Congress of South African Students? This follows our conversation from yesterday with Mzwakhe Gwegwe who is the Secretary General of the Congress of South African Students. We received a whatsapp Voice Note from a member of the COSAS NEC who disputed that Mzwakhe is the SG of the student…. Guest: Tebogo Makgafane- Secretar...

Thieves caused a major setback for the Gift of the Givers who arrived in Graaff-Reinet yesterday to assist the drought-ravaged town. This morning the team woke to find most of their essential tools stolen. Guest: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder and Executive Director, Gift of the Givers

We now unpack some of the other investigative reports released by Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane today. A bulk of the reports involved irregular appointments in the public sector, where posts are not advertised and no shortlists of candidates made. Guest: Oupa Sekgalwe - Spokesperson for Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebani

Gauteng and Free State residents have been urged to significantly cut down on their water usage. This as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project which supplies water to Gauteng has been temporarily shut down for inspection and maintenance. Guest: Sputnik Ratau - Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs

Today Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane released a number of investigative reports which included the case of former Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini. The case is in relation to the Sassa Cash Paymaster Services. The DA’s Bridget Masango had previously laid a complaint following claims that the former minister knew Sassa wasn't equipped to take over from CPS in July 2015 alread...

Parliament has announced a seven-week extension to the closing date for written submissions on the National Health Insurance Bill. The Portfolio Committee on Health has over the past weeks received requests from stakeholders and individuals, appealing for the extension of the closing date. Guest: Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health