The National Pulse

On Monday, Black First Land First released for comment and debate its policy discussion document titled “BLF is banned – what is to be done?” According to the party’s deputy president, Zanele Lwana, the policy document is part of the response to BLF’s deregistration as a political party. Guest: Zanele Lwana, Deputy President of BLF

On World News today we focus on political tensions that are currently taking place in Malawi. Yesterday police officers used teargas to disperse anti-Jane Ansah protesters who had gathered at community ground in Lilongwe to start marching. Ansah’s crime is that she presided over an electoral process that saw Peter Mutharika being re-elected in tight presidential race that took place in May this ye...

Post its NEC meeting, today the ruling African National Congress released a statement on its plan for economic recovery. Speaking during the press briefing which was held at Luthuli House about three hours ago, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said they reached agreements on how macroeconomic policy could support job creation, a reimagined industrial strategy and the importance of investment in...

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ordered that Mbalenhle Ntuli, an inmate at Johannesburg Medium C prison, be allowed to use his laptop without a modem in his single cell. Advocate Kutlwano Motla, representing the Department of Correctional Services and the prison, argued that inmates should not be allowed to have a computer in their cells because it was a security risk. But, acting judge...

Guest: Adele Du Toit

South Africa’s largest health administration and medical risk management solutions provider, AfroCentric Group has welcomed the release of the Competition Commission’s final Health Market Inquiry (HMI) report, its findings and recommendations. The Group believes that the HMI report will stimulate deeper engagement and address key matters on many issues, including the historically fragmented nature...

Teaching and learning has been disrupted at Tiphembeleni Primary school in Kanyamazane outside Mbombela in Mpumalanga. This after parents ordered learners to vacate the school and go home. The parents are concerned about the dilapidated state of the school. They claim the school built in the early 70s is no longer safe for the learners. One of the parents, May Lubambo says the Department of Educat...

Following their 19th National Congress – we speak to the newly elected Secretary General of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) to look into the outcomes of the congress and the new leadership's vision for the organisation. Guest: Mzwakhe Gwegwe, Secretary General of the Congress of South African Students

Yesterday, the SABC tabled its annual report in Parliament and one of the things they revealed was that the organisation is quite encouraged by the decline in Irregular Expenditure incurred in the financial year by 41% to R 336 million with most of this irregular expenditure relating to transgressions in previous years. Guest : Bongumusa Makhathini, Chairperson of the SABC board

Italy's coalition parties announced yesterday that they are in favour of lowering the voting age to 16. Their argument is that "If a 16-year-old can work and pay taxes, they should also have the right to vote and decide who makes decisions about their life". At the moment, Italians have to wait until they are 18 to be able to vote for their representatives in the Lower House and 25 for the lawmake...

We begin the programme by outlining the objectives of the newly launched health sector anti-corruption forum. According to the Presidency, the forum will assist the country in preventing and fighting fraud and corruption in the health sector. Guest: Professor Olive Shisana - Social Policy Advisor to the president

Guest: Prof Sharon Fonn

The Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape has sent a disaster management team to Manzimdaka village in Cala where five people have died after a severe hail storm. Houses are reported to have collapsed on people, causing the deaths of three children and two men. Guest: Fundiswa Mhlekude - SABC Reporter

Johannesburg Metro Police officers raided about twenty churches in Yeoville following numerous complaints of extremely loud music, overcrowding of pavements and obstruction to the roads. Ten churches were found to be operating illegally and have been shut down. Guest: Wayne Minaar – Spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein has dismissed with costs the appeal of Cash Paymaster Services (CPS). The court has ordered CPS to pay the legal costs of civil society organisation – Corruption Watch, including those of two counsels. Guest: David Lewis-Executive Director, Corruption Watch

A water crisis in the town of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape has prompted the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers to intervene. The organisation is sending trucks of water tankers, a drilling machine and hydrologist Dr Gideon Groenewald to rescue the situation. Guest: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder and Executive Director, Gift of the Givers

Earlier on today, Transnet reported a 1.6% rise in annual revenue to R74.1 billion for the year to 31 March but added its auditors had flagged issues relating to irregular expenditure. According to them - irregular expenditure in 2019 increased six-fold to around 49 billion rand from 8 billion rand in the previous year, mainly due to train replacement contracts. Guest: Mr Mohammed Mahomedy- Acting...

The International Monetary Fund data has revealed that Zimbabwe has the highest interest rate in the world. Annual inflation in Zimbabwe was 300 percent in August. In a statement released last week Thursday, IMF head of delegation Gene Leon said Zimbabwe was experiencing what he described as severe economic difficulties. Guest: Eddie Cross, Zimbabwean economist

In May this year, a ministerial task team established by the basic education department recommended that history should be a compulsory subject in South African schools from 2023. Last week, Minister Angie Motshekga revealed that the task team has already commenced with the writing of a revised curriculum and she said the writing process will involve the call for public comments and inputs as soon...

Corruption Watch has today launched an awareness campaign to highlight the need for greater transparency, merit-based criteria and public participation in the appointment of key leadership positions, most notably in the anti-corruption institutions that constitute the pillars of our democracy. Guest: Kavisha Pillay, Head of stakeholder at Corruption Watch

William Bird - Director of Media Monitoring Africa

The Automobile Association (AA) says fuel prices are likely to rise in October following the attack on an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. The AA predicts that 95-Octane petrol will increase by around 19 cents a litre, diesel by 25 cents a litre and paraffin by 24 cents a litre. Guest: Layton Beard – Spokesperson for the Automobile Association

Police are currently investigating a case of an alleged gang rape of a Grade R boy by fellow learners inside a classroom at a primary school in Tsakane East of Johannesburg. The incident reportedly happened last week. Guest: Captain Kay Makhubela - Gauteng police spokesperson

The South African Guide Dog Association has deloped a program to educate and enhance the understanding of both companies and communities about guide dogs, and their legal rights with regards access in public places. To find out more about some of the challenges faced by working dogs and owners. Guest: Pieter van Niekerk - Head of Public Relations at the SA Guide Dogs

Today vehicles were stoned and at least one truck engulfed in flames during violent protests in Cape Town. According to the City of Cape Town, taxi drivers and owners believe that they should not be fined or arrested for offences and that the city should engage them first in discussions about these offences. Guest: JP Smith - City of Cape Town Mayoral committee member for safety and security