The National Pulse

President Ramaphosa just proclaimed that the national minimum wage will kick from 01 January 2019 – and no one will be allowed to pay less that that. R20 per hour. He called it a historic moment for South Africa. So, this means it is on, it’s law and we must all implement it. Guest: Karabo Mashugane

Aid agency Gift of the Givers has been on the ground since last night helping the affected residents with much needed supplies. To find out how that is going and what they may like the public to contribute, guest: Emily Thomas, coordinator at Gift of the Givers

Zimbabwe is said to be running out of fuel. This was reportedly said by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority’s acting chief executive officer Eddington Mazambani yesterday in the country’s parliament. He goes on to say that the country had exhausted the $60 million worth of fuel imported last week. Guest: Lovemore Kadenge - president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has arrived in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, following a fire that swept through hundreds of informal settlements. It's alleged that a man started the fire after having a fight with his girlfriend. He was allegedly attacked by community members - and later died in hospital after succumbing to his injuries. Guest: SABC reporter Sashin Naidoo

The Black Management Forum, BMF, says it is disappointed in Mr Johan Rupert’s recent utterances . They say Mr Rupert comfortably spat in the face of black South Africans and organisations such as the BMF. We control the legislation in this country and for us to advance ourselves, we need to clench the levers of legislation and regulation that control what happens with capital, opportunities and bu...

The presidency has confirmed that four members of the SABC board have resigned. These being Krish Naidoo, Khanyisile Kweyama, John Matthison as well as Mr Mathata Tsedu. The board was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma in September 2017. President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to write a letter to Parliament in order for the relevant committee to appoint four new board members. guest: Prof Pierr...

Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla spoke recently at the CPUT EMS Safety Symposium, speaking on the trauma experienced by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, who have been attacked while on the job saying it’ss an indication of larger socio-economic challenges facing South Africa. We’ve spoken about this story so many – the attack of ambulances and personnel getting robbed. Apparent...

As you know the country is experiencing another round of load shedding that happens even on a weekend. Yesterday we spoke about that story of Eskom needing R100 bil bailout. guest: Nhlanhla Sibisi - Senior Climate & Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa

The presidency has confirmed that four members of the SABC board have resigned. These being Krish Naidoo, Khanyisile Kweyama, John Matthison as well as Mr Mathata Tsedu. The board was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma in September 2017. guest: Aubrey Tshabalala

Four South African women employed as crew for MSC Cruises are said to have been arrested for allegedly smuggling cocaine to Miami, in the US. The story was reported in the Miami Herald and says that, US Customs and Border Protection found six crew members with 7kg of cocaine in their possession or in their cabins during a drug-sweep of the vessel the MSC Seaside on November 17. To get an understan...

The ANC in the Eastern Cape has called on the South African Municipal Workers Union and Buffalo City Municipality to resolve their issues. The two parties have not been seeing eye to eye on a numbers of issues and to get an understand on what it is that they are not agreeing on. guest: Zolani Ndlela – SAMWU’s Regional Secretary in Buffalo City

As you know the Department of Trade and Industry is spearheading The Black Industrialist Incentive Scheme, which is an initiative of the dti with a sole purpose to leverage the State’s capacity to unlock the industrial potential that exists within black-owned and managed businesses. These are businesses that operate within the South African economy through deliberate, targeted financial and non-fi...

A flame of remembrance and candles have been lit by the Eastern Cape Arts and Culture MEC, Bulelwa Tunyiswa and Chief Nokwanele Bhalizulu of Qunu. This as the country observes the 5th commemoration of the death of former statesman, Nelson Mandela. The day began with the walk of remembrance from his Qunu home to the Youth & Heritage Centre outside Mthatha. guest: Lwandile Mbulali reporter

Deputy Justice Minister John Jeffery is calling on South Africans to be more circumspect with regard to their communications on social media, warning that not doing so could land them in jail. Last Tuesday, the National Assembly passed the Cybercrimes Bill, which has implications for those who use social media and other electronic platforms for “malicious communications”. Guest: John Jeffery- Depu...

Health experts say that children born to mothers who are HIV positive face higher risks of health even though they may be negative. They go on to say that the children are more likely to be born prematurely which in a way weakens their immune system. Guest: Amy Slogrove-Senior lecturer in Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University

Professor Mkize who was the commissioner of the TRC and worked with the TRC pays tribute to the late Dr Alex Boraine, former vice-chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, passed away at the age of 87

Municipal workers at Masilonyana local municipality in Theunissen in the Free State have vowed not to return to work until their grievances are addressed. The workers have been on strike for the past three weeks demanding among other things the removal of the administrator Stephen Kau whom they accuse of collapsing the municipal finances which he was supposed to look after. Tshepo Kobane SAMWU reg...

The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR) has raised concern over the safety of prisoners and prison staff at the East London Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape. This after prisoners allegedly burnt their blankets last night, demanding that Correctional Services department meet their demands. They want it to deal with overcrowding in jails, improved medical treatment...

The ANC Provincial Task Team in the North West has resolved to recall three mayors whose municipalities have collapsed and are unable to render basic services to the people. This after the PTT recalled with immediate effect, four mayors from all the municipalities implicated in the deposit of municipal funds in the VBS mutual bank. Guest: reporter in Mafikeng, Patrick Dintwa.

Apparently, this week marks exactly 5 years since the e-toll gantries went live in Gauteng province’s highways, with only 30% of motorists actually paying their bills. They went live on 03 December 2013. As you know this has been contested over and over again and we still don’t know where it going. ANC in Gauteng is saying this and the national government is saying something else. Guest: Wayne Duv...

As you may have heard throughout the day how Some members of the public who attended yesterday's Global Citizen Festival, are disputing the SAPS's statement that police were deployed in full force throughout the day and evening. They have complained on social media that they were robbed of their valuables or hijacked after the concert. Surely this is embarrassing for the country as a whole seeing...

The Department of Correctional Services has today launched Operation Vala which they say is aimed at tightening security measures within the country’s 243 correctional centres. They are concerned by festive related escapes. Guest: Singabakho Nxumalo Correctional Services Spokesperson

Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner General Khehla John Sitole, have taken a strong stance against the ongoing violence, drug smuggling and gangsterism in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth. They are visiting the area after residents called for action as gang violence continues to escalate in these communities, Minster Cele announced immediate action plans. To get an upda...

NPA saying they will temporarily drop the Estina Dairy case. It said it will dismiss their charges against the Gupta family members and their business associates for their involvement in the Estina Dairy Project scam. Yesterday we spoke to the DA in the Free State and they were they will continue to pursue the Estina Dairy Farm case. The ANC in the Free State province was listening to that convers...

Tomorrow being World Aids Day, many of us are asking different questions regarding the pandemic. Opinion pieces are flooding social media and the mainstream media in general over how the message of knowing one’s status is important and also how we can preach prevention more effectively. Today ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe wrote an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa. One of the things he mention...