The View Point

Guest: Paul Morgan, Head of Data, Analytics and AI at Altron Karabina      Chat GPT is a new technique that operates in dialogue format. The tool makes it possible to answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. To some tech experts, the technique could create more jobs and boost productivity. However, it does not come without dis...

Guest: Meike Wetsch, Coega’s Unit Head for the Capital and Funding Office and Coega MICT SETA Graduate Internship Programme Project  We're in conversation with Meike Wetsch, Coega’s Unit Head for the Capital and Funding Office and Coega MICT SETA Graduate Internship Programme Project. She shares key learnings from her experience designing the Coega MICT SETA Graduate Internship Programme. When Coe...

Guest: Michael Bagraims, Labour Law Attorney at Bagraims Attorneys  Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla faces his first major challenge as he navigates the NEHAWU strikes as healthcare workers demand a 10% increase and housing subsidy as the illegal strike entered its second week. NEHAWU represents 112 000 healthworkers and the majority of those workers are rendering services in public hospitals as w...

After a two month wait, President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation tonight on the cabinet reshuffle. This has come after the announcement of a new ministry to address the energy crisis plaguing Eskom and the rolling blackouts that are currently at stage 5 loadshedding. Besides this announcement, the President has three vacancies to fill: the Department of Transport, Department of Public Adm...

Just after Eskom’s long term load shedding forecast in January, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group sent out an online survey to members of the SADAG community. In a project led by Dr Bronwyn Dworzanowski-Venter of UJ’s Faculty of Humanities, SADAG was especially interested in uncovering specific pressure points that could lead to negative psychological and practical outcomes. The uncer...

Despite president Cyril Ramaphosa promising to address South Africa’s power crisis with urgency, he has delayed the announcement of a new minister of electricity and a shake-up of his cabinet by almost an entire month. Many had expected the cabinet reshuffle before the State of the Nation Address on 9 February, but the president instead surprised the nation by announcing a new minister of electric...

Our next guest works with communities to address one of the biggest social ills in the country: Crime. His work at the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board makes him responsible for promoting community-police relations. Their work provides oversight on the police working and assist the MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng to do oversight and account to the Gauteng Legislature Portfolio Committe...

Focus: Coalition politics has gained prominence in the public imagination in recent months following the breakdown in several local government councils including metropoliticans: Johannesburg and Tshwane. In response to this crisis, our next guest has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to convene an independent panel. The proposed panel should assess the limitations of coalitions...

 How do you stage elections for more than 93 million voters? With great difficulty, headaches, delays and technical issues, it turns out. More than 24 hours after the polls closed, some Nigerians were still voting in Africa’s largest democratic exercise. The numbers are staggering; Nigeria has 176,606 polling units and voting passed without incident in most of them. However, it was overshadowed by...

New research has revealed that the world’s largest trial of a 4 day week are largely consistent with existing global evidence, further demonstrating the benefits of reduced-hour, output-focused working. The Four-Day week trial has taken place in over 60 companies and almost 3,000 workers through a six-months with no loss of pay for workers. Companies rated their overall experience of the trials an...

The African Human Rights Yearbook is a peer-reviewed journal dealing with the aspects of the African human rights system covering its norms and the operation of its institutions. The Yearbook also looks into the connection between human rights and the theme of the African Union: ‘Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent. The theme looks into the strengthenin...

Blind or visually impaired persons access documents by using a screen reader that reads a text out loud or displays it on a special hardware braille device. However, a large body of technical and scientific material remains inaccessible to them because mathematical equations and diagrams are represented as images and not as text that a screen reader can read. Our next guest has found a new method...

Every year, the world takes a moment to commemorate the work that non-governmental organizations do for communities around the world. The day is commemorated by 89 countries over six continents and celebrates over 10 million NGOs that advance human rights on daily basis. Closer to home, the Department of Social Development and its agencies celebrated the day by commemorating how NGOs are servicing...

Late last year, the University of Johannesburg appointed its deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, as the new Vice-Chancellor and principal. He will step into his new role next week Wednesday, on the 01st of March. Announcing Mpedi’s appointment, the UJ council said the panel were impressed with his commitment to continuing with the university’s strategic objectives and its val...

Focus: When the Taliban had taken power in Afghanistan a year ago, many people fled due to persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Our next guest has released a report on the lived experiences of 22 queer Afghan as they shared their stories of beatings, sexual assault, or arbitrary detention. Further, many of the participants were unaware that they were being...

What is the Committee’s reaction on the Premier’s SOPA Commitments on making fighting crime in Gauteng an apex priority?  Does the Committee feel that the Province has enough resources to achieve the many commitments made by the Premier to fight crime in the Province? What role can civil society play in helping law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime in the Province? There has been an...

One in ten teenage deaths in South Africa every year is the result of suicide. Up to 20% of high school learners have tried to take their own lives due to various reasons and most popular being depression, anxiety, and suicide. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 700 000 people die by suicide every year. That's an average of one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is the 4th leading ca...

Maintaining peace and security among BRICS nations is critical for its longevity, especially regarding economic sustainability. This seminal conference plans to interrogate BRICS dialogues on various security aspects. With international academics and researchers from Russia, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and China, the conference promises robust dialogue and exchange of fresh conceptual understan...

The Citrus Growers Association of South Africa (CGA) is calling on President Ramaphosa to use the opportunity to provide an urgent update on whether the South African government intends to convene a World Trade Organisation (WTO) Panel to adjudicate on the new False Coddling Moth (FCM) regulation governing the importation of South African oranges to the EU. To help us understand the implications o...

Earlier today, the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town have gone to the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court judgment on the Tafelberg housing site matter. Our next guest says that the officials have not acted with urgency after the feasibility studies showed that social housing can be developed on the vacant land. The coalition of organizations that are working for hou...

Tshwane is headed for a potential political leadership crisis after mayor Randall Williams resigned effective end of the day on Monday, but later in the day rescinded and said he would stay two more weeks. Council speaker Dr Murunwa Makwarela has, however, insisted that by law, the only valid resignation is the first one effectively meaning that all members of the mayoral committee would be out of...

Professor Thuli Madonsela is a professor of law occupying the Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University. She is also the founder of the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy and a Member of the African Academy of Sciences. The former Public Protector of South Africa and full-time Law Commissioner, Professor Madonsela was one of the drafters of the South...

The Don’t Fear Black, Savour It campaign that was conceptualized from the brand’s observation that black (as more than just a colour), is largely attributed to being somewhat “inferior” or something “to be feared” by society. Through this campaign; the brand seeks to build a strong connection of its intrinsic and extrinsic properties. As Castle Milk Stout’s loyal consumers call the beer ‘inkunzi’e...

Guest: Ashie Singh, Marketing Manager of the Art of Living South Africa  Our next guest is commemorating World Radio Day 2023 by providing meditation and breath-work sessions. Even though a career in radio broadcasting may be stressful, this profession is crucial to South Africa's safety and facilitates a peaceful transition into democracy. Our next guest states that Firefighters and the Police pr...

Guest: Paula Quincy,  Relationship coach, author and international speaker  #HealthOnMonday - Managing Healthy Spousal Relationships All romantic relationships go through ups and downs and they all take work, commitment, and a willingness to adapt and change with your partner. But whether your relationship is just starting out or you’ve been together for years, there are steps you can take to buil...