The Weekend View

The month of April, is autism awareness month, and a drive is underway to have people understand what autism is, and why it's important to know about it. Stephen Kirker is Thando Makhapela, regional development officer at Autism South Africa.

Thiefs have taken off with Five computers from the SABC's Parliament last Friday. Preliminary investigation by Parliament's Security Services on Saturday has uncovered that there was no sign of forced entry at the office in question. Stephen Kirker chats to SABC reporter based in parliament Lulama Matya

An International Monetary Fund economist with responsibility for South Africa believes the country faces the added responsibility of dealing with inequality in such as manner as not to scare away both domestic and international investors. Meanwhile, newly-appointed Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba's advisor Chris Malekane has urged staff at National Treasury to be more open to different views. While...

In February 2014, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi rolled out the country's first contraceptive to be implanted under the skin. It prevents pregnancy for three years. Many women jumped at the opportunity. However, many were ignorant about the side effects and procedures. Some women became ill and had to have the implants removed. Others encountered difficulties after three years when they wanted t...

Former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) boss Mxolisi Nxasana, says he is willing to pay back over 17-million rand he received as a settlement following his resignation. He filed a revealing affidavit in response to applications lodged by Corruption Watch, Freedom under Law, and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). Casac executive secretary Lawso...

Opposition parties say Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma should pay, at her own expense, the protection she's receiving from the VIP section of the police. The Freedom Front plus's Pieter Groenewald says this is a misuse of state resources. Groenewald further stated that the ANC and its MK veterans should protect Dlamini-Zuma at their own expense. The FF Plus says it will address this with police minister, F...

Deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has commended transport employers' organisations and unions for reaching an agreement on a salary dispute. Trade union NUMSA has finally decided to sign the nine per cent salary increase agreement. NUMSA's Phakamile Hlubi chats about its decision to sign the agreement and Head of Tourism in KZN, Philip Sithole speaks about the impact the bus strike ha...

A number of opposition parties seeking to remove President Jacob Zuma from office have vowed to continue with the campaign until their mission is achieved. The DA, EFF, COPE, ACDP, APC, UDM and IFP led thousands of supporters as well as civil society members to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, calling for President Zuma to step down. The parties blame President Zuma's recent cabinet reshuffle for...

Business Unity South Africa's vice president Martin Kingston, economist Dr Chris Malikane and Dr Azar Jammine, director and chief economist at Econometrix discuss the impact the downgrades will have on South Africans...

Social grants agency SASSA's CEO Thokozani Magwaza says he would also like to present his side of the story to the Constitutional Court. This after Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini filed her affidavit last week. While last month's concourt ruling over grant beneficiaries personal details was very clear, beneficiaries continue to have money withdrawn from there accounts. This was broug...

Wesbank a division of FirstRand Bank Limited has been referred to the National Consumer Tribunal for alleged breaches of the National Credit Act. This followed an investigation into its debt collecting practices. Nthupang Magolego, Senior Legal Advisor at the National Credit Regulator (NCR)discusses this issue...

Mark Heywood, Sanusha Naidoo and Sdumo Dlamini discuss the anti-Zuma marches which took place yesterday. Organizers of the protest march by civil society groups calling for president Jacob Zuma to resign say they're planning for action to exert more pressure on him. Thousands of protesters marched to the Union Buildings to voice their plight about the state of affairs in the country. COSATU, which...

Memorial service for late ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada has degenerated into yet another bashing platform against president Jacob Zuma's leadership in government. Several speakers including SACP second deputy secretary solly mapaila, Kathrada's widow Barbra Hogan and Former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan. Elvis Presslin speaks to SACP Deputy President Solly Mapaila & Political analyst at UNISA P...

Archbishop Emeritus Njongonkulu Ndungane, Political analyst, Ralph Mathekga and economist Dr Chris Malikane speak to Elvis about the reshuffle. There has been mixed reaction to the removal of finance minister, Pravin Gordhan and his deputy. The ANC and President Jacob Zuma seem to be at loggerheads on the firing and hiring of some new ministers and deputy ministers.

Many people believe it is vital to teach their children about money issues from an early age. Every year between the 27th March and 2nd April we highlight Global Money week, which focuses on issues such as money, savings and creating livelihoods. Eunice Sibiya, Head of Consumer Education at FNB talks to us about this...

A group of Khoi Activist have embarked on a march on foot from Port Elizabeth to Bhisho to lobby for the removal of the word coloured from the statutes of South Africa. One of the marchers Crawford Fraser tells us more about their cause and Social Commentator Dr Leonard Martin giving us insight into the term "coloured"

The South African labour market now officially has a new labour union federation. This after ousted Cosatu general secretary and one of the new federation founders Zwelinzima Vavi, shared the news of the South African Federation of Traded Unions(SAFTU) now being a legal entity with a letter from the labour department. The news will be published in the government gazetted at the end of the month.

Community activist and social commentator Dr Leonard Martin a resident of Eldorado Park and Dr Hugo van der Merwe, Director of Research at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation discuss mob justice killings and the reasons behind them

Doctor Fatoumata NAFO-TRAORE says at least 50% of livestock has died in Kenya due to the drought. The ICRC and Kenyan Red Cross have commissioned a joint project to assist residents receiving water at a reduced cost

African leaders say access to safe water and adequate sanitation need a collaborative effort from all sectors for success. Several African ministers responsible for water delivery in their countries, are meeting at the World Water Summit in Durban. The meeting has advocated for the treatment of used or waste water to address water scarcity challenges, especially in Africa. Dr Anthony Turton, an ex...

Tommy Nel, head of credit at FNB home loans discusses how consumers can use their home loans to its full potential...

Gauteng police are expected to make more arrests following a series of gang rapes on female taxi commuters around Johannesburg. Three people have been arrested for the alleged crimes. Victims interviewed say they were picked up by men in a white and grey Quantum minibus taxi. In the latest incident a woman was allegedly robbed and raped after boarding a white Quantum minibus with her 10-year-old s...

Acting national Police commissioner, Kgomotso Phalane confirms that Nkosinathi Msimango, the alleged mastermind behind the burglary at the offices of the chief justice in Midrand last week handed himself over to Boschkop police station in Pretoria. The lawyer representing the two men who were suspected of being behind the burglary at the Chief Justice's office, denies that his clients are linked t...

Nathi Mncube, the spokesperson for the judiciary and Athlenda Mathe, the spokesperson for the Police Commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane speak to Weekend AM Live about the robbery of 15 computers in the Human Resources unit at the office of the Chief Justice in Midrand. A task team has been set up to assist in the processing of the crime scene. The team is being led by deputy provincial commissioner o...

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande was unable to deliver his speech after the EFF and students' organisation SASCO traded blows at the Higher Education Convention. Retired judge Dikgang Moseneke, The convenor of the Higher Education Convention, says he called off the meeting in Midrand to ensure the safety of participants. Nzimande describes the action as disappointing...