The National Pulse

As conversations around possible mandatory vaccination continue in South Africa – institutions of higher learning have also commenced discussions around the issue. Guest: Professor Ahmed Bawa, CEO of Universities South Africa

Another Alexandra High School boy has been stabbed to death allegedly by a fellow pupil. The deceased was a grade 9 pupil at Alexandra High and suspect is a grade 7 pupil at Pholosho primary. Police are still investigating the motive behind the killing. GUEST: Steve Mabona, Spokesperson for the Gauteng Education Department

Several shops have been closed in the trouble-torn Ditsobotla local municipality in North West, where angry residents of Blydeville are up in arms protesting about the alleged manipulation of ANC candidates list, prior to the local government election. For more on this, we speak to SABC senior Journalist in the North West, Patrick Dintwa about what has sparked some of the recent protests in the pr...

The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal has sentenced 26-year-old Lungani Maphumulo to five terms of life imprisonment for killing five people in 2018. Maphumulo has also been sentenced to an additional 116-year in jail on a number of other charges including robbery and attempted murder. Between July and October 2018, Maphumulo went on a shooting spree in the Nsuze area. GUEST: Nthabiseng...

We dissect the findings of Tiger Brands’ State of Nutrition Report. According to the report, more than a third of South Africans don’t drink enough water and half of the country eats too much salt. So what are the consequences of our unhealthy habits? Guest: Arthur Ramoroka, Nutritionist @ Tiger Brands

World News: Following talks between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, we look at the US-China relations. As most of you are probably aware that ties between the two nations have been strained in recent years by a bruising trade war and America's tough stand on China's human rights track record. Guest: Dr John Stremlau, Honorary Professor of International Relations @ Wits

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) says the right to hold public office should only be reserved for native-born citizens. The party's comments follows an article by News24, In which the news site claims that they have seen a leaked intelligence report from the State Security Agency that there is a "high likelihood" that ANC MP Dr. Xiaomei Harvard might be sharing classified information with...

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory has launched its 6th Quality of Life survey results today. The results give insights into the overall wellbeing and quality of life of Gauteng residents in 2020/early 2021. The survey covered food security; environment; poverty, inequality and social mobility; GBV and violence; governance; transport; health; migration; access to services; community and social at...

The City of Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith says master of ceremony Abongile Nzelenzele took no offence at his remarks on pronouncing his surname. JP Smith says he has called and spoken with Abongile and that he personally doesn't think there was any ill intent. Smith's inability to pronounce the surname of the MC, Abongile Nzelenzele has since sparked mixed...

The Independent Electoral Commission has just published its first quarterly report since the implementation of the Political Party Funding Act. George Mahlangu who is the current head of Political Party Funding at the IEC joins us now to explain how this Act will affect political parties in relation to elections. The Act requires political parties to disclose all donations above 100-thousand rand....

As we continue with our Political Party Funding discussion, we are now joined by Ongama Mtimka who is going to give us more analysis in terms of the Act and its impact on political parties. Guest: Political Analyst, Ongama Mtimka

World News: We unpack the Human Rights Watch Report titled “Security Forces Dealt with Them’: Suspicious Killings and Extrajudicial Executions by Egyptian Security Forces.” The report reveals that Egyptian security forces have for years carried out extrajudicial executions, claiming that those killed had been killed in shootouts. Guest: Ahmed Benchamsi, Director of Communications...

The Restaurants Association of South Africa, RASA have doubts that the government will be able to impose any sort of policy requiring the industry to demand proof of vaccination. RASA Chief Executive Wendy Alberts says this is because the government fails to even consult with the industry to find solutions to maintaining the integrity of the industry or supporting its sustainability. Guest: Wendy...

The iconic Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng, North West, which is one of South Africa's oldest casino burned down during the early hours of Wednesday. There were numerous reports of people being trapped in their rooms during the fire; however no fatalities have been reported so far. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, Zoleka Capa who was a guest at the hotel had to f...

The North West Health Department has confirmed that a fire has broken out at the Christiana Provincial Hospital. Health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, says no casualties have been reported... GUEST: North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha

The Democratic Alliance has laid criminal charges against the ANC for failing to pay staff members' their unemployment insurance fund, UIF contributions. This follows claims by disgruntled staff members at Luthuli House that since 2018 the ANC has been deducting UIF contributions from workers but not paying them over to the government. GUEST: Michael Bagraim, DA’s lawyer GUEST: Dakota Legoet...

Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament that a probe that was conducted by his department found that due process was flouted when Bushiri’s permanent residency application was approved in 2016. Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs

Ahmed Timol case: What happens now following the death of former apartheid-era police officer, Joao Rodrigues? Rodrigues was charged with the murder of activist Ahmed Timol in 1971. Timol was thrown out of a 10th-story window of the notorious John Vorster police station, now known as Johannesburg Central police station. Guest: Imtiaz Cajee - nephew of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol

Yesterday, during Brazil’s Independence Day celebrations, crowds for and against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets across the country with those supporting him calling for the removal of Supreme Court justices – while anti-Bolsonaro protesters called for the end of his presidency. Guest: Professor Siphamandla Zondi, UJ’s International Relations Professor

Correctional Services National Commissioner Arthur Fraser says the parole of former President Jacob Zuma was both procedurally sound and legal. In an interview with SABC's Vuyo Mvoko of the Watchdog, Fraser dismissed allegations that he overrode the recommendations of the medical parole advisory board when he authorised the release of former president Zuma. GUEST: Vuyo Mvuko, SABC Watch Dog Presen...

Earlier today, Stats SA revealed that the country’s economy grew by 1.2% during the second quarter of the year. So what does this growth mean in the grand scheme of things? To unpack this for us, we are joined by……   Guest on the line: Xhanti Payi, Economist and Director of Nascence Advisory and Research

Zimbabwe’s government says state employees, particularly those who are refusing to be vaccinated must resign. This they argue will assist the country in its efforts to curb the spread of Covid19. Guest: David Hamadziripi, Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa

Post the Electoral Commission’s media briefing that occurred two hours ago - deputy chief electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery updates us on the election programme leading up to the local government elections. Guest: Independent Electoral Commission deputy chief electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery

Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille says the party will seek an interdict now that the ANC is allowed to register candidates for the fifth local government elections. Zille has also confirmed that the party has already briefed their lawyers to prevent "this blatant abuse of the process" GUEST: Helen Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA)