The National Pulse

Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day, which is aimed at promoting good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. The day is also aimed at breaking the silence, raising awareness and changing negative social norms around MHM. To speak to us in detail about some of the work that is done in promoting menstrual hygiene, we are joined on the line by Sue Barnes who is the Director for Projec...

According to recent research, male circumcision may help reduce women’s risk of contracting various sexually transmitted diseases as well as cervical cancer. While it is well known that male circumcision helps prevent STIs in men, it was previously thought that it may not reduce STIs in women. Guest: Dr Laurie Blake from the Urology Hospital

An investigation by Scorpio has revealed that money stolen from VBS Mutual Bank funded the EFF's fourth birthday bash in 2017 at Eyadini in Durban. According to Daily Maverick, this forms part of a chunk of the illegal R16.1m Brian Shivambu’s (Floyd Shivambu’s brother) company Sgameka Projects received from VBS that was ultimately channelled to the EFF. Guest: Pauli van Wyk- Journalist with DailyM...

Today a review application was filed by Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan’s lawyers at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The lawyers have asked the court to set aside a report by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane that found that Minister Gordhan disregarded the Constitution in reference to the early retirement of former SARS deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay. We are now joined by Mi...

The ANC has confirmed that its deputy president, David Mabuza has been given the green light to resume Parliamentary duties and his swearing-in ceremony will take place later today. President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently without a deputy president or a cabinet after delaying his announcement on who will serve alongside him. Guest: Ongama Mtimka: political analyst based at Nelson Mandela University

Member of the ANC Brian Bunting Branch in Johannesburg, Phapano Phasha has a laid an official complaint against Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan to the integrity Committee of the ANC. According to Phasha, Minister Gordhan must step aside from any state appointments and responsibilities until his name is cleared (this in relation to the findings by the Public Protector’s report against t...

According to a study by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a total of 5.3 million South Africans under the age of 50 are HIV-positive. Guest: Nontsikelelo Mpulo, Head of Communications at Section27

Lebogang Mofokeng, the man convicted of shooting and killing Vaal student Jabulile Nhlapo last year has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Today Mofokeng was found guilty of premeditated murder in the High Court in Johannesburg sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. Guest: Themba Masango – General Secretary of #NotInMyName Movement

The SA Human Rights Commission has opened a hate speech case against Adam Catzavelos over his racial utterances. SAHRC spokesperson Buang Jones confirmed that they would ask the Equality Court to find that Catzavelos's utterances were hate speech and that he should pay a fine. Guest: Buang Jones, spokesperson of the SA Human Rights Commission

Next month (from 3 – 5 June), Africa Unmasked will visit Malawi to donate non-perishable food packages, blankets, clothes and sanitary products to victims of Cyclone Idai. To talk to us about this act of Goodwill is…… Guest: Themba Makamu, board member of Africa Unmasked

Today on Both Sides of the Story: We find out why Sadtu is against the establishment of a new schools' evaluation authority in the Western Cape. Last month, Sadtu launched a legal challenge against the Western Cape Provincial School Education Act, which was signed into law in November last year. However, the Western Cape education department will oppose Sadtu's legal challenge to the act. Guests:...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse Outa is calling for Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane to step down as the Public Protector, following a scathing judgment against her on her handling of the Estina dairy farm project. They want Parliament to set up a new inquiry into her fitness to hold office. Guest: Stefanie Fick, Outa’s chief legal officer

Yesterday, Treasury announced that it has signed into law, Carbon tax. The first phase of the tax is from 1 June to December 2022, with a tax rate of R120 ($8.34) per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. The tax was first suggested in 2010 but has been postponed after mining companies, steelmakers and state-owned power utility Eskom said it would erode profit and push up electricity prices. Guest:...

Response to John Kane-Berman’s comments by the ANC Guest: Pule Mabe- ANC Spokesperson

By scapegoating whites, it exonerates the ANC. It legitimates policies that perpetuate poverty and exclusion. Worst of all, it creates the impression that the path to success is simply to reverse the privilege, ignoring all the other more important ingredients. That will do great damage to the people it is supposedly designed to help.” This is according to policy fellow at the IRR, John Kane-Berma...

Wits SRC president Sisanda Mbolekwa explains why students are against the proposed new TV show by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The show will guide the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds on how to access student funding. Guest: Sisanda Mbolekwa, Wits SRC president

Zim load shedding and how it’s affecting the country’s economy: Earlier this month, Zimbabwe started rolling out power cuts lasting up to eight hours. Currently, Zimbabweans grapple with an economic crisis that has seen shortages of U.S. dollars, fuel, food and medicines as well as soaring inflation that is eroding earnings and savings. Guest on the line (Zim) Eddie Cross, Zimbabwean economist

Last week, the University of Cape Town announced that starting from this month, the university will offer a short course on Khoekhoegowab, the indigenous Khoisan language, through its Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (EMS). Today there are about 167 000 speakers of Khoekhoegowab. Roughly 39% are Nama and 60% are Damara, said Haacke. Guest: Zenzile Khoisan, Cultural activist, poet and journalist - fo...

This week in our celebrating excellence feature we speak to Kabelo Mabalane, South African kwaito musician, songwriter and actor who recently opened his own health and wellness centre. Guest: Kabelo Mabalane, kwaito artist

The 2019 Soweto International Jazz Festival will play host to a music and cultural exchange between South Africa and International artists and musicians. Guest: Kim Sineke, Head of Marketing for Soweto Jazz

Good Party’s right of reply following yesterday’s interview that we did with Nthabiseng Lephoko who recently resigned as Good Party’s national chairperson. Lephoko made several allegations against the party, accusing Patricia De Lille of making unilateral decisions. Guest: Brett Herron, Secretary General of the Good Party

Brexit has finally brought down Theresa May: British Prime Minister Theresa May announced today that she plans to resign, after trying and failing to steer the United Kingdom out of the European Union. She will step aside as leader of the Conservative Party on June 7 which will trigger a leadership contest to replace her on June 10. But she will stay on as prime minister until her successor is ele...

Gender Links released a study which looks at how women are portrayed in news, entertainment and children's programmes. The study shows that women are still not being seen and heard as much as men in the South African media. The organisation wants more diversity, balance, and sensitivity in the coverage of women on local television. We are now joined by Colleen Lowe Morna who is the CEO for Gender...

Illegal waste and dumping have been flagged as an increasing problem. That's according to environmental management inspectorate, the Green Scorpions. They've raised a red flag about the increase in dumping of imported containers carrying hazardous and toxic waste. Guest: Grant Walters, Director, Enforcement, Environmental Impact and Pollution

following her recent resignation from the newly formed GOOD party, Nthabiseng Lephoko speaks to us and In Hindsight she says she regrets having joined the party. Guest: Nthabiseng Lephoko, former national chairperson of the GOOD party