The National Pulse

Residents of Morokweng near Ganyesa in North West say that they have been given false hope and made to believe that they would get houses in the near future after submitting applications for RDP houses with the Kagisano Molopo Municipality. However, the local municipality says the application forms were just part of a profile to determine the exact number of people in need of housing. For clarity...

Earlier today Stats SA released the Gross domestic product results of the first quarter of 2019 and according to the results, South Africa's economy contracted by 3.2 percent in the first three months of 2019, its largest quarterly drop in a decade. Guest: Mr Risenga Maluleke - Statistician-General of South Africa and head of Statistics South Africa

What’s going on in Botswana? There has been a fallout between the current president Mokgweetsi Masisi and former president Ian Khama after some have accused Khama of interfering in state affairs. On the other hand, Khama has accused his successor of becoming an autocrat and threatening the country's reputation as a beacon of stability in Africa. Guest: Dr. William Mpofu, Political analyst

Today, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, announced that the tax return threshold has been lifted from R350 000 to R500 000. This means that those who earn less than R500 000 per annum do not need to file. Guest: Zweli Mabhoza- Founder Priority Tax Solutions

Today on Both Sides of the Story we ask, are those calling for Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s head justified? Calls have intensified for Mkhwebane to be fired with the DA seeking to revive a parliamentary process to remove her from office. Trade union federation Cosatu said the president should set aside all Mkwebane's reports until her competency and trustworthiness has been ascertained. The Organ...

Following the demolition of over 100 households during last week’s forceful evictions, the City of Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba has expressed his disappointment with the demolitions and says he was not informed about plans to evict and demolish the structures. Guest: Herman Mashaba Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg

The Department of Social Development officially launched the National Child Protection Week yesterday at Chris Hani Sports Complex in Orange Farm, Gauteng. This year’s child protection week campaign is observed under the theme: “Let us Protect All Children to Move South Africa Forward” with the focus on Fetal alcohol syndrome. Joining us now on the line is Guest: Dr Leona Olivier- CEO of The Found...

Over the weekend, Vuyani Jarana resigned as CEO of South African Airways. He became the second CEO of an SOE to resign in just two weeks. His resignation follows that of Eskom CEO, Phakamani Hadebe. Some of the reasons for his resignation include uncertainty around funding and slow decision making processes that are delaying the airline's turnaround strategy. [In 2017 Political and financial analy...

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission will embark on a series of provincial conferences to educate, create awareness, and showcase services from various government entities that are tailor made to assist businesses, especially Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and previously disadvantaged individuals to participate meaningfully in the South African economy. For m...

On Wednesday this week, Sonke Gender Justice will march against the signing into law of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill (TKLB) and the passing into law of the Traditional Courts Bill (TCB). To explain the rationale behind this march is…… Guest: Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane, Policy Development and Advocacy Fellow at Sonke Gender Justice

Last week Friday, Malawi's opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera rejected the result of recent presidential election, saying he had launched a court battle to have the vote annulled on the grounds of fraud. Chakwera lost the election by just 159 000 votes to incumbent Peter Mutharika. Guest: Dr Emanuel Matambo, Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Africa – China Studies

Earlier on today the South Gauteng High Court ruled that the National Prosecuting Authority can go ahead and prosecute Joao Rodrigues for allegedly been part of the brutal murder of anti-Apartheid activist Ahmed Timol. Timol was thrown out of a 10th-story window of the notorious John Vorster police station, now known as Johannesburg Central police station, in October 1971. Guest: Imtiaz Cajee - ne...

Two weeks ago the body of 21 year old Naledi Lethoba was discovered by a passer-by in an open field. Yesterday a 19-year-old student, Obed Leshoro appeared in the Welkom Magistrate's Court in connection with the brutal murder. According to media reports, the woman's body was burnt, her breasts had been cut off and a knife was stuck in her neck. Spokesperson for police in the Free State, Captain St...

Today marks World No Tobacco Day - the annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form. Guest: Savera Kalideen - Executive director of the national council against smoking

According to JMPD spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar at least 80 illegal structures have been demolished during a special operation in Alexandra today. This was done in conjunction with Red Ants security members. Other structures which were half-built were also demolished. We are now joined by Wayne Mienaar- JMPD Spokesperson Guest: Sandile Mavundla- Convener of the Alex Shutdown Guest: Wayne Mienaar- JM...

Lesufi reinstatement reaction: AfriForum says the reinstatement of Panyaza Lesufi as Gauteng education MEC is not good news for the Afrikaans community.

During lunch time today, BDS South Africa marched to the Johannesburg City Council demanding that the Sandton Drive be renamed after the Palestinian icon, Leila Khaled. In 2018 the Johannesburg City Council adopted a motion to rename Sandton Drive (where the US Consulate is located) after the Palestinian icon, however nothing has happened yet. The motion was brought to council by the ANC, Al-Jamaa...

On Tuesday, Statistics South Africa revealed that social grants remain a crucial source of income, particularly in the poorest provinces, making social grants the second-most important source of income (45.2%) for households after salaries (64.8%). Guest: Prof Leila Patel (Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Sarchi Chair in Welfare and Social Development at CSDA, UJ)

Etienne Tshisekedi to be laid to rest on Sunday: The late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi died in Belgium two years ago, aged 84. But his body stayed in Brussels because of a row with former President Joseph Kabila. The deadlock ended when his son, Félix, became president last year. Guest: Koffi "kouakou" pronounced "kwaku", Africa analyst

Political analysis on Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet: Did Ramaphosa keep his word on ethical standards and leadership? Yesterday, the president said “If we are to make effective progress in building the South Africa that we all want, it is important that we deploy into positions of responsibility people who are committed, capable and hard-working, and who have integrity”. Guest: Melanie Verwoerd is a for...

Guest: Thapelo Maleke, President of SA Youth Chamber of Commerce

The United Democratic Movement says new cabinet is a step in the right direction and they have applauded the appointment of women and young people. Guest: General Bantu Holomisa, UDM leader

According to the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), the Public Protector’s report on Minister Pravin Gordhan did not in any way bar President Cyril Ramaphosa from appointing him to the executive. Guest: Lawson Naidoo- Executive Secretary, Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC

Malawi Elections – what we know so far: Earlier this week, the Malawian Electoral Commission (MEC) declared incumbent Peter Mutharika as winner in a hotly contested presidential race. A High Court lifted an injunction allowing the MEC to announce final results of the poll on Monday. Mutharika secures his second and final term as president. He has since been sworn in at a ceremony in the city of Bl...

08 Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has finally announced his new ten-member Cabinet. However, the ANC Women's League in Gauteng has expressed concern that premier Makhura did not adhere to the resolution of the national executive committee (NEC) with regards to gender representation in the executive of the province. Guest: Jacqui Mofokeng, Spokesperson of the ANC Women’s League in Gauteng