The National Pulse

Yesterday, the South African Communist Party (SACP) together with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation launched 2 campaigns, “#HandsOffOurDemocracy” campaign and “Defend our democracy, confront the state capture fight back.” The campaigns were launched at a rally at the Johannesburg Town Hall… Guest: Alex Mashilo- SACP Spokesperson

The Rastafari United Front has issued a scathing statement, rejecting with contempt “the characterisation and character assassination of Ras Keletso Bizoski JahRa Manyike” and they say they will report the matter to the CRL Rights Commission. Guest: Ras Thau Thau Haramanuba, President of the Rastafari United Front

Maimane’s reaction to the president’s announcement that he will seek an urgent judicial review of the Public Protector’s Report: We hear from the DA’s leader Mmusi Maimane on why he thinks President Cyril Ramaphosa should not use public funds for his legal challenge to the Public Protector’s report. Guest: Mmusi Maimane, DA leader

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) authorities have banned political rallies this week in the capital Kinshasa because of tensions between supporters of President Felix Tshisekedi and those of former leader Joseph Kabila. It is reported that tensions rose in the capital after the youth wing of Tshisekedi’s Democracy and Social Progress party (UDPS) announced it would hold a protest against the...

Today, the Constitutional Court upheld the personal costs order against Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, saying she had put forward a "number of falsehoods". The court agreed with the North Gauteng High Court that her entire Absa/Bankorp investigation was flawed, and that Mkhwebane was not honest during her investigation. In the minority judgment, two of the court's justices argued that the Hi...

While there has been a great deal of focus this year on the difficulties faced by local businesses, given the current tough economic conditions, the Reserve Bank’s announcement of an interest rate cut of 25 basis points to 6.5%, the first easing since March 2018, comes as a welcome relief. Joining us to discuss the impact of this is… Guest: Xhanti Payi - Economist at Nascence Advisory

On the 23rd of May 1990 Madiba addressed a conference convened by the Consultative Business Movement on the theme: "Options for Building an Economic Future.” As we continue to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day, we look at some of the ethos and principles that Mandela lived by which business in South Africa can adopt. Guest: Cas Coovadia- Business Unity South Africa Board Member

Gauteng premier David Makhura has commended law-enforcement agencies in the province for the “swift” arrests of 460 suspects. Operation Okae Molao forms part of a commitment made by Makhura during his state of the province address to strengthen specialised units for priority crimes such as gender-based violence, hijackings, house and business robberies, drug offences, and murder. Guest: Captain Ka...

In the spirit of Mandela Day – today the entire nation will be involved in activities that will touch the lives of millions of South Africans which in itself is a great blessing given the economic challenges we as a nation face currently. Gift of the Givers is one of the organisations that went out in the name of good today Guest: Emily Thomas, Community Liason Officer, Gift of the Givers

Are judges politically neutral? In the US, the legal system used to say, judges have to give up a few things in exchange for their robes. Today we ask, is it okay for judges to speak out on issues that might come before them – does this not compromise them? Yesterday Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng made a comment about the Sunday Times report that covered the so-called SARS "rogue unit" Guest: Profe...

The Beijing Foreign Studies University has set up a Zulu department and is officially promoting the language as a programme offered at undergraduate level. The move has been hailed by some academics who say this will contribute to the development of the language and strengthen ties between South Africa and China. Guest: Professor Sihawu Ngubane, Head of African Languages and linguistics at UKZN an...

Tomorrow, the Public Service Commission in partnership with the United Nations in South Africa, the Thembekile Mandela Foundation and the Moral Regeneration Movement will commemorate the Nelson Mandela International Day by hosting the Ethical Leadership Seminar under the theme “Leading like Mandela – Dawn of the New Era of an Ethical Values-Based and Conscious Leader”. Guest: Michael Seloane, Comm...

What should we make of the position that the President has taken in this matter? What are the chances of the court ruling in his favour? Guest: Professor Shadrack Gutto - Constitutional expert

The charges against former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks’ boss Johan Booysen and members of the Cato Manor special investigating unit have all been withdrawn. The group was collectively facing 116 charges and was accused of the extrajudicial killings of 45 people. The NPA legal panel found the decisions taken by Jiba and Abrahams to be invalid and that a proper case was not made out. Guest: Johan Booysen, f...

Yesterday, police in New York had to break up fights between supporters and opponents of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen during a visit to the United States which will likely infuriate Beijing. Taiwan has ruled itself for seven decades but most countries do not recognise it – including the United States, which switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. Many of the opponents at...

Today the Randburg Magistrate court acquitted Duduzane Zuma of culpable homicide and reckless driving charges. In 2014 Zuma lost control of his luxury vehicle and crashed into a minibus taxi on the M1 highway in Johannesburg. This resulted in the death of of Phumzile Dube, one of the passengers in the taxi. Guest: Sashin Naidoo - SABC Reporter

The South African Human Rights Commission has been conducting oversight visits to various health care facilities in Gauteng to check up on the state of service delivery and Tuesday night it was the turn of Bheki Mlangeni district hospital in Soweto Guest: Buang Jones, Gauteng Provincial Manager of the South African Human Rights Commission

In the early hours of the morning three people, including two firemen, sustained injuries after a fuel tanker exploded near Worcester’s industrial area. The blast was apparently caused when the tanker and a light motor vehicle crashed in the vicinity of High Street in the Boland town Guest: Mr Botha - Fire Officer

Yesterday, councilors from the African National Congress (ANC) Caucus staged a march outside the Eskom headquarters in Sunninghilll, north of Johannesburg. They are demanding that the power utility improve its supply of electricity to their areas Guest: Geoff Makhubo- ANC Chairperson in Johannesburg

Can journalist be allowed to do their job without being harassed? Sanef is calling on all elected leaders as well as the law enforcement authorities to take seriously the safety of journalists. This following attacks on Newzroom Afrika reporter Mweli Masilela and the harassment of Independent Media journalists Piet Rampedi and Mzilikazi Wa Africa. Guest: Kate Skinner, Executive Director

We examine the outcomes of Sadtu’s Provincial General Council. The PGC of Sadtu in KwaZulu-Natal has noted that violence in our schools has had an adverse effect on the working conditions of teachers and according to them there is evidence to suggest that this has had a direct impact on the educational outcomes. Guest: Nomarashiya Caluza- Sadtu Provincial Secretary

As many as 24 people were killed over three days of violence, including pregnant women and children. Apparently tribal violence is common in Papua New Guinea's interior, where villagers avenge relatives in retaliation known as "payback". Guest: Dr Vusi Sibanda, Political analyst and President of the African Diaspora Forum

Earlier on today, AfriForum briefed the media on three cases involving Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema. In April last year they announced that they will privately prosecute Malema and those who stand accused alongside him for alleged fraud and corruption relating to tenders awarded to the EFF leader’s engineering company On-Point Engineering in Limpopo Guest: Advocate Gerrie Nel - H...

The former CEO of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) Dan Matjila continued with his testimony at the PIC commission on inquiry today. Matjila said that the mood at PIC was so bad that the board decided to conduct an employee survey twice. He, however said that the biggest issues were the promotions and remuneration Guest: Amina Accram – SABC Reporter Joins us now on the line for the latest on...

Former Sunday Times Journalist Piet Rampedi has made sensational claims that Tiso Blackstar officials and senior journalists plotted and campaigned to discredit him for exposing the SARS rogue unit. He has accused several of his former colleagues of being involved in a cover-up driven by Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan. He joins us now on the line… Guest: Piet Rampedi- Independent Medi...