The National Pulse

The National Prosecuting Authority has withdrawn charges against Vlakfontein murder accused, Fita Khupe, in the Lenasia Regional Court today. Residents of Vlakfontein have taken to the streets to show their unhappiness with the decision Guest: Gillian Pillay- SABC Reporter

Dr Jako Volschenk, senior lecturer in Strategy and Sustainability at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, says “much research exists to show that greenwashing can help companies achieve higher prices for its products, even when the claims they make are false. Terms such as “environmentally friendly”, “organic”, and “natural” or “pure” are popping up on marketing campaigns across the wor...

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) is challenging the decision to put a nurse implicated in the mistreatment of an elderly woman at the Mamelodi Hospital on special leave, claiming proper processes were not followed. Denosa’s acting provincial secretary, Bongani Mazibuko joins us now on the line. Guest: Bongani Mazibuko- Denosa's acting provincial secretary

Today we feature Dr Makhosi Khoza who resigned from the ANC in 2017 after a tumultuous time in parliament where she openly criticised then President Jacob Zuma. At the time of her resignation she said that she had reached the conclusion that, whether she liked it or not, the ANC had become alien and corrupt. Guest: Dr Makhosi Khoza

Researchers studying immunity in cancer patients have found that supplementing with a powerful extract of the shiitake mushroom may help eradicate the viral infection which causes cervical cancer. Joining us to discuss this is Dr Dr Kohei Homma who is a leading Japanese scientist, biochemist and expert in nutrition and integrative health. He has collaborated with NASA on molecular biology research...

Today Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gauteng chairperson Mandisa Mashego, testified at the Alexandra Commission of Inquiry. The commission which was set up by the Human Rights Commission and the public protector’s office is aimed at investigating allegations of maladministration and the possible violation of human rights in Alexandra. For an update on the EFF’s testimony we are joined on the line...

Newly-appointed KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sipho Hlomuka is holding an emergency crisis meeting with Eskom management and the leadership of the Mpofana Municipality, in Mooi River, of over the municipality's debt to Eskom. Hlomuka's intervention followed threats by residents of Bruntville on Tuesday to blockade the busy N3 highway and bring the town of Moo...

Workers at Vaal University of Technology have downed tools and are demanding a 10% salary increase. The University has been shut down and exams have been postponed to next week. We are now joined by the spokesperson for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, Khaya Xaba Guest: Khaya Xaba - NEHAWU Spokesperson University Management said that it would be proposing three scenarios to...

Unpacking the outcomes of the Expanded Public Works Programme Report. The report tracks the experience and progress of the nine metropolitan municipalities and it also looks at the current EPWP Phase III – which aimed to generate six million jobs between 2014 – 2019. Guest: Ignatius Ariyo, Chief Editor and Project Leader for EPWP Infrastructure Sector at the National Department of Public Works

Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is facing a vote of no confidence. Making matters worse is that the motion is being led by his own dissidents and it follows a disputed Elective Conference that was held in February. The newly elected administration was met with resistance and the ousted national elective committee refused to vacate office. Guest on the line (Lesotho): Rapelang Radebe, SABC...

ENCA journalist Karima Brown has won her case against the Economic Freedom Fighters and their leader Julius Malema after the high court ruled in her favour this morning. Brown hauled the party to court after receiving death and rape threats after EFF leader Julius Malema published her number on Twitter. The court found the EFF contravened the Electoral Code and must pay costs. Guest: Karima Brown,...

Veteran journalist Raymond age 93 passed away on Wednesday morning a day after his wife. The multi-award winning journalist started his career in 1946 at Rand Daily Mail. He also served as the general manager of the South Africa Associated Newspapers in 1977. He was a founding member of the South African National Editors’ Forum.

This year’s World Environment Day is observed under the theme ‘Air pollution’ which is a serious global problem. According to worldenvironmentday.global, air pollution causes 1 in 9 deaths globally, and an estimated seven-million premature deaths every year. Guest: Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries

A Rhodes University Professor has been awarded a R2 million grant to continue researching cancer in HIV/AIDS patients. The UK government funding is part of an international initiative. According to Professor Adrienne Edkins many people are dying as result of HIV-related cancer. Professor Edkins joins us now on the line. Guest: Professor Adrienne Edkins- Director of the Rhodes University Biomedical...

What is the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank and how does it maintain financial stability in the country? We are told that the South African Reserve Bank was mainly set up because of the need to issue uniform banknotes and to prevent the over-issue of banknotes. The primary or strategic objective of the bank is to achieve and maintain stable financial conditions in the country. Today, the...

What should the public make of the opposing views that we are seeing within the ruling party on the matter of the South African Reserve Bank? What does this say about the message of unity which the ANC is always preaching? Political Analyst, Dr Somadoda Fikeni joins us now on the line Guest: Dr Somadoda Fikeni- Political Analyst

Last night a female doctor at Pelenomi Hospital in Bloemfontein bit off a man’s tongue as he attempted to rape her while she was sleeping in one of the overnight staff quarters on. Guest: Mondli Mvambi, Spokesperson: Free State Health

The National Youth Development Agency has called for a single tertiary education system that will see more black youth gaining access at any tertiary institution in the country. NYDA officially launched Youth Month at the Hector Peterson Memorial Square in Soweto yesterday. Joining us now on the line is the CEO of the NYDA, Waseem Carrim. Guest: Waseem Carrim- CEO of the National Youth Development...

The department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a fuel price increase with diesel going up by 33 cents a litre. The inland petrol price is R16.48, while coastal price is R16.03. The newly introduced carbon tax is the main reason for the latest fuel price hikes. Guest: Robert Maake - Director of fuel pricing in the Department of Mineral Resources and energy

Following the death of a learner at Forest Hill High School in Turffontein and the fatal stabbing of other two learners allegedly at the hands of another learner at the same school. The Department of Social Development says it is deeply concerned about the recent increase of serious violence, particularly learner-on-learner violence in schools across South Africa. Guest: Siza Makgagwe, Chief Direc...

Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the River Nile in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, following a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests and many protesters caught in the violence are still unaccounted for. Guest (studio): Izak Khomo, Presenter and Producer of Spotlight Africa on Channel Africa

The ANC has declared unemployment a national crisis that needs urgent attention. Addressing the media at Luthuli House yesterday post the executive committee meeting, the party’s secretary general Ace Magashule said the ANC has also resolved to decrease unemployment from 27.6% to 14% in the next five years. Guest: Loane Sharpe, Director at Prophet Analytics

The anthology sought to engage diverse topics ranging from ecological concerns surrounding climate change and migration to the implications of such human movement for modern-day trafficking and slavery, and the roles of women and youth. Guest: (Alain Tschudin, Craig Moffat, Stephen Buchanan-Clarke, Susan Russell & Lloyd Coutts) [One of the editors will take the interview]

Today on Both Sides of the Story we look at the State of our SOE’s and the credentials of black professionals, asking – are we doing enough to support black executives in this country and how should we hold them accountable without racialising matters? This follows BMF’s call for black executives not to apply for top jobs at state-owned companies, lamenting that SOE’s have become a slaughterhouse...

The Public Servants Association is calling on the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to stop investing in the debt of Eskom as it exposes pensioners to excessive risk and they also want the PIC to avoid investing in other struggling state-owned companies such as SAA. Guest: Tahir Maepa, Deputy General Manager at the Public Servants Association