The National Pulse

We hear from the United National Transport Union about their planned nationwide protest. The union is calling on its members to support protest action to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to assist with providing a safe and reliable passenger rail service for all. Guest: Sonja Carstens, Spokesperson of the United National Transport Union

The SME Foundation in partnership with the South African Youth Chamber of Commerce recently launched the SME Business Plan competition aimed at boosting SME’s through financial and non-financial business development support. The Business Plan competition is a private initiative aimed at assisting emerging businesses with support to grow beyond their current levels. It is also aimed at creating an...

Both Sides of the Story: The ANC in the Western Cape says it is appalled by the City of Cape Town's "war against the homeless" after it was revealed that a by-law was being enforced that saw homeless people being fined for obstructing pavements. On the other hand, the City of Cape Town has denied that they were targeting the homeless, but said they are after anyone who violates the city's bylaws,...

According to Black Billboard Owners Forum - the City of Joburg recently applied to the Gauteng High Court to remove specific billboards, and when this court order was granted, the list of billboards was altered to include only black owned billboards. Guest: Tshepo Matsipe, Spokesperson of Black Billboard Owners Forum

During the briefing the party also announced that it will no longer be voting with the DA or the ANC in all municipalities in the country including the country's economic hub of Johannesburg. How will this change the face of coalitions in municipalities? Guest: Dr Somadoda Fikeni - Political and Policy analyst

Yesterday, DA leaders addressed the media in Parliament, outlining their plans to ensure that committees' oversight work was not hamstrung by errant chairpersons. The party is opposing ANC's nominees of chairpersons in Parliament. The party is particularly concerned about individuals such as Faith Muthambi, Mosebenzi Zwani, Supra Mahumapelo and Bongani Bongo amongst others. How is the ANC likely t...

S’fiso Skenjana shares thoughts on traditional medicine and how it can benefit South Africa. He argues that traditional medicine has long been used for health restoration, as well as prevention of sickness and disease. These techniques and recipes have been passed through generations and still carry a lot of value in their healing and preventative prowess. Guest: Sifiso Skenjana, founder and finan...

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Khartoum on Sunday demanding the ruling military hand over to civilians, in the largest demonstrations since a deadly security service raid on a protest camp three weeks ago. To pile more pressure, Sudanese protest leaders are calling for a one-day nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign on July 14. To explain what this all means, we are joined b...

Tomorrow, the SA Human Rights Commission will convene a preliminary inquiry into allegations that medical aid schemes are racially profiling Black, Indian and Coloured healthcare professionals. The purpose of the Preliminary Inquiry we are told will be to allow involved and interested parties an opportunity to present their concerns and views regarding this matter in order for the Commission to pe...

The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities is of the view that government needs to prioritise disabled children and “redress the imbalance” by including them in legislation as the Children’s Act barely accommodates them. Guest: Darnay Marry - Senior manager programmes and governance at national council for persons with disabilities

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has wrapped up its nationwide public education and awareness campaign in Kimberley. ICASA has been interacting with communities to educate them about the services it offers in regulating the communications industry. Guest: Paseka Maleka- Icasa spokesperson

Earlier on today, Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced that he was willing to pledge money from Gauteng’s coffers to contribute to the end of the e-tolling system. What can we read into this – could this spell the end of the e-toll system? Guest: Wayne Duvenage, Chairperson of OUTA

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura today delivered the State of the Province Address. He outlined 5 priorities for the 6th provincial administration. These include the Economy, Jobs, Infrastructure, Education, Skills Revolution & Health amongst others. We are now joined by SABC Reporter, Natasha Phiri who was present at the event… Guest: Natasha Phiri- SABC Reporter

ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile has filed a suit against Julius Malema and Mandisa Mashego and their party for defamation of character for calling him a thief in addition to a number of other accusations. Guest: Keith Khoza, spokesperson of Paul Mashatile

Johannesburg residents will pay more for water and electricity from today when the new tariff hikes come into effect. Customers will pay 9.9% more for water. Property rates and refuse removal tariffs will increase by 5.5% and 7% respectively. Property rates and refuse removal fees are also set to rise. Guest: Funzela Ngobeni- MMC for Finance, City of Johannesburg

Last month, it was reported that West African finance ministers and central bank governors agreed on technical issues surrounding the creation of a single currency for the Economic Community of West African States next year. The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency that the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) plans to introduce in the framework of Economic Community of West African State...

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has officially kicked off the 2019-2020 tax filing season for personal income taxpayers. The tax season starts with the e-filing process, which has already begun and runs until December 4, while manual filing will begin on the August 1 and runs until the end of October. For more on this year’s tax season and what to expect, we are joined by…. Guest: Edward...

The 40-year-old man who was arrested in Pretoria for assaulting a homeless man has been released from police custody. He was supposed to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court today, but the case was struck off the roll. For an update on this story we are joined on the line by… Guest: Kay Makhubela-South African Police Service (Saps) spokesperson captain

Scientists from the University of the Western Cape chemistry department have found that fish caught by small-scale commercial fishers in Kalk Bay are contaminated by antibiotics, painkillers, antiretrovirals, disinfectants and industrial chemicals. The research is part of an ongoing study which is expected to be concluded in three years. We are now joined by… Guest: Professor Leslie Petrik – from...

Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) is suing the City of Cape Town, R57.4 million for misrepresentation, non-payment, and failure to buy the desalinated water. The company was contracted in January last year to provide one of three desalination plants to provide fresh drinking water using a reverse osmosis sea water desalination plant. These plants were developed in the city’s bid to beat Day Zero. T...

Earlier on today chaos erupted in the KZN Legislature when the Democratic Alliance and EFF Members of the Provincial Legislature staged a walk out in protest against former president Jacob Zuma's presence. Guest: Zwakele Mncwango, Provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal

On World News today we ask – what’s happening in Nigeria? Yesterday, thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram mostly women and children protested against shortage of food and divertion of aid supplies meant for them by camp officials in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria. But how much damage has been caused by Boko Haram and what will it take to defeat them? Guest: Dr Akinola Olojo, Senior Researcher...

Yesterday, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) called on the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to investigate former NPA advocates Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi for possible criminal activity they may have been involved in. This comes after the Constitutional Court denied an appeal by the General Council of the Bar to remove them and Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi from the...

BNP Capital Director Daniel Mahlangu has told the state capture commission in Joburg that his company did not do due diligence regarding the company of SAA chair Dudu Myeni's personal advisor Masotsha Mngadi. In Line Trading and BNP entered into a partnership to bid for an advisory services tender at SAA in 2015. The airline was seeking a 15 billion Rand debt consolidation loan at the time. Mahlan...

The third State of the World’s Fathers is rooted firmly in a feminist analysis of care, and the belief that unpaid care work must be valued as much as paid work, and shared equally between men and women. Guest: Professor Mzi Nduna, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand