The National Pulse

The International Air Transport Association's new Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East Kamil Al Alawadhi was in Johannesburg South Africa today. He held a media briefing to discuss the current challenges facing South Africa's air transport and travel sectors and on interventions IATA is proposing to government to rebuild the industry, promote economic activity and create jobs. T...

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) today held a webinar to address issues around the safety of doctors and what it believes needs to be done to protect healthcare workers. A survey by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) earlier this year showed that one in three South African doctors have been verbally and physically abused by patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. GUEST: The Vice-Chair...

Tomorrow marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as such we have decided to invite Professor Jackie Smilg – who joins us now to discuss the significance of this annual campaign that is aimed at raising awareness about the impact of breast cancer. In case you didn’t know, breast cancer accounted for more than a quarter of new cancer cases in South African women last year a...

Post the conclusion of Ethiopia’s recent general election. The country is currently preparing for the formation of new government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. However, Ahmed and his government are facing growing accusations of human rights abuses, mass rape, extra-judicial killings and the use of starvation as a tactic in Tigray. So in light of this, the Human Rights Watch organisat...

Staying with the Special Investigating Unit, SIU's report into the multimillion rand Digital Vibes Covid19 communication contract, which has revealed damning findings against the country's former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, his family and close associates, we speak to Dr. Kenneth Leonard Jacobs, Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Health   GUEST: Dr. Kenneth Leonard Jacobs, Chairperson...

The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA have referred the Special Investigating Unit, SIU's report into the multimillion rand Digital Vibes Covid19 communication contract to the Hawks for Investigation. This after former Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize and other senior officials were implicated for corruption in a report released by the presidency. GUEST: Mr Kaizer Kganyago, Spokesperson for the...

An alleged middleman in the Gupta-linked Regiments Capital and Trillian corruption has made his first appearance at the Specialised Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni today. Fraud accused, Kubentheran Moodley's was applying for bail after his arrest at OR Tambo Airport last night. Moodley is facing charges of fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering, relating to his dealings with state ow...

The Presidency says it had sent third-party notices to all persons or entities referred to in the Special Investigating Unit's report into the Digital Vibes matter. This was done so that they could have an opportunity to object to its publication or part thereof. GUEST: Tyrone Seale, Acting spokesperson in the Presidency

As the standoff continues between Eskom and Soweto residents, we hear from King Sibiya on why he thinks residents have the right to refuse Eskom workers entry to their homes. It’s public knowledge that Soweto residents are unhappy with constant power cuts and many of them are refusing to settle their Eskom debt. Guest: King Sibiya, President of Lungelo Lethu Human Rights Foundation   Gu...

World News: In a week’s time, Nigeria is going to become the first country on the African continent to launch a digital currency. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele believes that this will set the tone to tell Africa that his country is ready to lead. Guest: Dr Terfa Abraham, Economist & International Finance analyst

Residents from eleven villages from Ga Rasai Traditional Area in the North West held a protest march to Assen Iron Ore mine near Brits. The community delivered a memorandum regarding royalties to the mine and to also raise grievances of unemployment. GUEST: Zebilon Maine, SABC senior reporter in the North West

A court In Kenya has declared that being a housewife should be considered a full-time job. High Court Judge Teresia Matheka ruled that being a housewife is a full time payable job and that carrying a 9-months pregnancy is equivalent to working. We now speak to Waikwa Wanyoike, a Kenyan Constitutional lawyer, who says this ruling falls under the Matrimonial property division, which examines how a s...

“We learn more about Ithala bank’s role in driving SMME development and economic activities in KwaZulu-Natal” Guest: Ms Tozi Mthethwa, Group Corporate Support Services Executive & Acting Business Finance Executive Ithala Development Finance Corporation

Western Cape Minister of Community Safety Albert Fritz, says he is shocked and angered by the murder of three women in Khayelitsha yesterday. The women, aged between 17 and 21, were found by community members at the TT Block informal settlement with gunshot wounds to their heads. The motive for the killings has yet been established. Fritz has welcomed the SAPS 72-hour activation plan to capture th...

Farmers in the Northern Cape are counting their losses following devastating wildfires. Thousands of hectares of grazing land have been destroyed and hundreds of livestock was also not spared. Some farms around Doughlas, Hopetown, Ritchie and Jacobsdal were affected. The fires come as farmers are trying to recover from the crippling drought that gripped the province for over six-years. On Monday e...

More than 140 schools have been broken into in Mpumalanga, where learning material like computers, internet savers and laptops amounting to millions of rand have been stolen since March last year. GUEST: Bonakele Majuba, Mec for Education in Mpumalanga

On Sunday, Tunisians took to the streets, demanding that the country’s constitution be respected and parliament reinstated. But before Sunday’s protests - around 20 global and Tunisian human rights groups on Saturday condemned Saied's power grab and labelled it a first step towards authoritarianism. Guest: Ibrahim Deen, Senior Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

There are 287 000 teacher, general assistant positions now open. This as the Department of Basic Education has opened phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme. The Initiative will see 287 000 teachers and general assistance employed for a period five months. For more on the programme, we're joined on the line by Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Educati...

The ANC is set to launch its manifesto in Tshwane today. The party says they are hosting their manifesto launch in the capital City to win back municipality. Guest: Sabc Senior Political Reporter, Ntebo Mokobo

Gauteng has identified the West Rand and the Vaal Triangle as potential special economic zones for 'incubation hubs.' This as the province wants to use cannabis to drive economic transformation and to create employment.   Guest: Goitsione Malete, Director of Tertiary Services Sector in the Department of Economic Development in Gauteng  

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa says his department is seeking legal advice against those who allegedly mismanaged the R300 million relief funds meant for artists amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We now speak to Opera singer Sibongile Mngoma, who and other disgruntled artists staged at sitting at the National Arts Council in Newtown, Johannesburg, earlier this year, where they were demanding a...

The mural of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was defaced on Longmarket Street in the Cape Town CBD with derogatory words. "Ek is 'n k****r" was written over Tutu's glasses on artist Brian Rolfe's painting. The Archbishop Desmond Tutu Trust says the defacing of his mural shows that work still needs to be done to restore humanity in the country. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the lobby group Black...

In conversation with David Letsoalo about the upcoming local government elections and he will also share with us as to why he thinks that elections are not a revolutionary act ‘at all’. Guest: David Letsoalo is a Sankarist, an activist and a law academic

Traditional leaders’ organization, Contralesa, has expressed concern at what it calls moral decay amongst young people in the country. This as the country celebrates heritage day today. Contralesa President, Kgosi Larmeck Mokoena says this year's heritage celebrations should be dedicated to teaching young people the African way of doing things. GUEST: Kgoshi Larmeck Mokoena, president of tra...

The AmaZulu Royal household will today commemorate uMkhosi weLembe (a gathering that many of you probably recall as Shaka’s day). This is the first time that today’s ceremony takes place without King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuZulu and equally important as well is that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini will address the event for the first time since he was chosen as successor to the throne. G...