The National Pulse

The Gauteng department of education has confirmed that a Grade 6 learner was shot dead outside a primary school in Katlehong this morning. The shooting took place outside Izibuko Primary School to be precise. Guest: Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for Education in Gauteng

Today the KwaZulu Natal Education department launched the schools safety campaign aimed at bringing about safety and security in schools across the province. 3000 newly appointed Schools Safety Volunteers will be deployed at various schools throughout the province and the Schools Safety Committees will be established. Guest: Kwazi Mshengu- MEC for Education in KwaZulu Natal

Yesterday the South Gauteng High Court ruled that parts of the RICA act are inconsistent with the constitution. The case was brought by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism after confirming that security officials had spied on the communications of one of its journalists. Sam Sole is one of the journalists whose communication was intercepted while he was reporting on the corruption...

The SA Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned by recent utterances attributed to Julius Malema. Following Mugabe's death on September 6, Malema posted a slideshow of Mugabe quotes, hashtagged #Gushungo, after Mugabe's family totem. One of the slides read: "The only white man you can trust is a dead white man." The Commission is of the view that the social media utterances by Malema around for...

Why are South African children struggling to read properly? In an effort to provide a national response to the reading challenges faced in South Africa, the NECT together with the Department of Education’s Read to Lead campaign has established the National Reading Coalition (NRC) - a self-sustaining, agile ecosystem of reading initiatives across the country. Guest: Mr Godwin Khosa, CEO of NECT

Yesterday, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court appealed against the acquittal of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo over post-electoral violence that killed around 3,000 people. According to the chief prosecutor, the appeal will demonstrate that the trial chamber committed legal and procedural errors which led to the acquittals of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Ble Goude on all counts...

The High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that AfriForum's Ernst Roets did not break the law when he posted a picture of the apartheid flag just hours after the Equality Court had ruled that its gratuitous display amounted to hate speech. Guest: Ernst Roets - Afriforum’s Deputy CEO

PAC President who is also the party’s Parliamentary leader, Mzwanele Nyotsho has decided to lay charges against his party rival Narius Moloto for alleged defamation of character. Nyotsho says he will approach the courts this week to file a defamation case against Moloto for calling him a former spy and a state agent. Guests: Nerius Moloto Mzwanele Nyotsho, PAC President

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has announced that he will be setting up an inquiry to probe taxi violence in the province. Makhura says some people come from different provinces to operate in Gauteng, and this also leads to tensions as taxi operator’s fight over routes. Guest: Thabo Masebe - Spokesperson for Gauteng Premier, David Makhura

The High Court in Pretoria has found self-confessed child rapist, Nicholas Ninow guilty on charges of rape, possession of drugs and defeating the ends of justice. He was found not guilty on a charge of assault. Sentencing procedures will begin on the 16th of October. Guest: Themba Masango- Not In My Name Spokesperson or Mo Senne-Not In My Name Spokesperson

We outline the objectives of this year’s Eskom Expo for Young Scientists which is due to take place next week. The aim of the Expo is to encourage the youth of South Africa and Africa to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Innovation in order to promote an interest in these areas with the long-term view of developing scientific skills. Guest: Mr Parthy Chetty, Executive Dire...

The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu is currently hosting the UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights for Persons with Albinism, Ms Ikponwosa Ero who will be conducting a fact finding mission in South Africa from today till the 26 September next week. The visit of the UN Independent Expert coincides with the commemoration of the Albinism Awareness M...

Guest: Siphiwe Dlamini - SANDF Spokersperson

President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to send a team of Special Envoys throughout the continent to deliver a message of solidarity to the African Heads of State, following attacks on foreign nationals in the past few weeks. The Presidency has confirmed that the team will reassure African countries that South Africa is committed to the ideals of Pan African unity. Guest: Dr Emmanuel Matambo, Resear...

The South African National Defence Force's official two-month presence on the Cape Flats comes to an end today, but it still remains unclear if an extension will be granted. Guest: Eldred De Klerk, Principal Associate at AFRICA Analysis

According to Family Life Centre, the debate on whether we should be addressing the topic of sex education within schools is not as straightforward as many people might believe. The Centre has been providing sex education including support and workshops to parents and grandparents within the different communities through their Education for Living Programme. Guest: Claudia Abelheim -educational psy...

The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) intends to challenge the decision by the department of labour to make balloting compulsory before engaging in any strike. Guest: Phakamile Hlubi, Numsa national spokesperson

On World News today - we remember Robert Mugabe’s complex legacy. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years until he was ousted by his own army about two years ago. Mugabe was both vilified and praised during his lifetime - but does that break the foundation that he helped to build for Zimbabwe? Guest: Brian Raftopoulos, Director of Research for Solidarity Peace Trust

We look at the impact of guns in fuelling violence. Gun Free South Africa is of the view that the latest national crime statistics show that guns are overwhelmingly the weapon used to kill, injure, threaten and intimidate. Guest: Claire Taylor, Researcher at Gun Free South Africa

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) kick started its 3rd annual Shop Stewards and Union Officials Conference today at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg, under the theme “The National Minimum Wage: The Post Implementation Conversation”. One of the issues that the conference will focus on is how the National Minimum Wage Act has been implemented and...

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the assassination of Steve Biko. Biko inspired and guided the student resistance during the ‘70’s and he is also credited with launching the South African Students Organization (SASO) in the late 60s. However, a few months before Biko's 31st birthday back in 1977, he was tortured and killed while in police custody. Guest: Dr Mosibudi Mangena, former President of...

Today, the Public Service Commission released the quarterly bulletin titled “The Pulse of the Public Service for the Period 01 April to 30 June 2019” which focused on amongst others, the non-payment of government suppliers by departments within 30 days, complaints lodged through the National Anti-Corruption Hotline, public administration investigations conducted by the PSC, Financial Disclosure Fr...

Yesterday we spoke about Mozambique having announced that they were busy processing the repatriation of hundreds of Mozambican citizens from South Africa following xenophobic attacks. Now according to media reports it appears that Zimbabwe has become the third country to announce the voluntary evacuation of some citizens from South Africa after two of their nationals died during xenophobic violenc...

Crime stats: Today, the South African Police Service released the country’s crime statistics for 2018/19, showing which types of criminal activity have increased and decreased in the past year. The figures showed an increase in contact crimes such as murder, sexual offences and robbery with aggravating circumstance. Guest: Dr Chris de Kock, Independent crime analyst

The Office of Registrar of Labour Relations says it is now illegal to embark on a strike action before conducting a secret ballot of members. In February, the Office of Registrar of Labour Relations issued a notice in which he appealed to the trade unions, federations and employer organisations to use the transitional provisions in the amended Labour Relations Act (LRA) to effect necessary amendme...