The National Pulse

Guest: Prof Ahmed Bawa is the CEO of Universities South Africa

As part of their ongoing #StopCitizenAbuse campaign, today the Institute of Race Relations visited the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) to deliver a letter addressing its threat against motorists with outstanding e-toll debts. Recently, Sanral warned that they will press for the suspension of motor vehicle licences of motorists who have outstanding e-toll debts. Guest: Amy-Claire Morto...

The president of African People’s Convention, Mr Themba Godi is calling on Steinhoff to retract and reverse its R30 million offer to the NPA and the Hawks. He says it is mind-boggling that neither the Hawks nor the National Prosecuting Authority can see the intentions of Steinhoff for what they are. Guest: Themba Godi, President of the African People’s Convention & former Scopa chairperson

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has arrested four police officers from the Public Order Policing Unit in connection with the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba. Last week, Ntumba was fatally shot by police during the WITS student protests in Braamfontein. The four officers will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday and they are facing charges of murder, attempted murder...

Some members of parliament in Ghana have proposed a law that is aimed at criminalising the promotion of LGBTQ rights. However several international organisations have condemned the persecution of the LGBT+ community in Ghana, and urged authorities to immediately end discrimination against queer people Guest: Alex Kofi Donkor, LGBTQ activist

We continue to pay tribute to King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, asking what role did he play in promoting traditional leadership within the constitutional dispensation and in what ways can we remember him? Guest: Nkosi Sipho Mahlangu, Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders

Two Nelson Mandela Foundation senior executives have been cleared of wrongdoing following Investigations on complaints related to the alleged flouting of procurement policies and processes. The Foundation's CEO Sello Hatang and COO Limpho Monyamane have been cleared after allegations of procurement impropriety, misuse of company credit cards and abuse of power were made against them. GUEST: Sello...

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini is no more. The king was admitted to an intensive care unit for diabetes treatment in a KwaZulu-Natal hospital last month. While in hospital, His Majesty's health took a turn for the worse and he subsequently passed away in the early hours of this morning. He was the longest-serving Zulu monarch in history Guest: Ndela Ntshangase, Retired Lecturer, School of African S...

We continue celebrating the life of AmaZulu King, his Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, who traditional leaders have described as a great loss to the institution of traditional leadership in KwaZulu Natal. The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Contralesa, has described the King, as an exemplary leader whose guidance was well-sought after. We speak to Contralesa about how the King re...

Some of the suspects in the VBS Mutual Bank saga, including Limpopo ANC Treasurer Danny Msiza, are applying for bail at the Commercial Crimes court sitting at Palm Ridge in Ekurhuleni on Gauteng's East Rand. Tsakani Ngobeni who's the Collins Chabane municipal manager has already been granted 50-thousand rands' bail and she's back in court on May sixth. Msiza Takunda Mucheke and Ralliom Razwinane a...

The Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has labelled the police action that led to the death of a 35-year-old man in Braamfontein yesterday, as inexcusable. Cele met the family of Mthokozisi Ntumba in Kempton Park east of Johannesburg this morning. Cele says that he can't give answers to what really happened. GUEST: Lirandzu Themba, Spokesperson for Police Minister Bheki Cele

As more protests over financial exclusion and fees have started spread across universities, there is pressure on police departments and politicians to do something about police brutality and racial bias within the South African Police Service, SAPS. Allegations of the use of excessive force against predominantly black protesters has again resurfaced following the fatal shooting of Mthokozisi Ntumb...

Government has announced an additional funding for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to address the funding shortfall for the 2021 academic year. Although government says the protests didn't force it to release more funding, Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande says they have agreed to prioritise funding for all deserving first year students... GUEST: Higher Education department's d...

World News: We look at the ongoing violent protests in Senegal that were sparked by the arrest of popular opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, on charges of disrupting public order and rape. However Sonko has denied the charges levelled against him arguing that they are politically motivated and aimed at limiting his participation in politics. Guest: Koffi Kouakou, Africa Analyst and Senior Research...

Wits Student Protest: We are now joined by Prof Themba Mosia who was part of the Heher Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training that was established to look into the feasibility of free education in South Africa and also to best inform government’s decision making process in pursuit of a sustainable solution to the on-going higher education and training challenges. But he is joinin...

We now speak to Zaakir Ahmed Mayet, a Legal representative for MyClinic in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Mr Mayet will represent Dr Tebogo Sedibe, from MyClinic, a medical practitioner who attended to the man shot during the student protest at Wits University. It's understood the man was leaving MyClinic, when he was reportedly shot by police. GUEST: Zaakir Ahmed Mayet, Legal representative for MyCl...

We now speak to Zaakir Ahmed Mayet, a Legal representative for MyClinic in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Mr Mayet will represent Dr Tebogo Sedibe, from MyClinic, a medical practitioner who attended to the man shot during the student protest at Wits University. It's understood the man was leaving MyClinic, when he was reportedly shot by police. GUEST: Zaakir Ahmed Mayet, Legal representative for MyCl...

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter is reportedly set to face a parliamentary investigation over allegations of impropriety and abuse of power. This comes after the power utility's suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano, raised concerns on a deviation from procurement procedures. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts plans to investigate the allegations. GUEST: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Chairpers...

The Right2Protest Project will provide legal assistance to students who have been arrested during protests for free education at Wits University today. The organisation which was established during the first Fees Must Fall protest in 2016, say they have contacted their member organisation Lawyers for Human rights to respond to students who have been arrested and detained at Hillbrow police station...

We continue our focus on the Wits protest as we speak to hashtag Fees Must Fall leader Mcebo Dlamini, who was arrested at a Wits residence during the protests for free education in 2016. We reflect on the protest for free education back then and now - what has changed? GUEST: FeesMustFall leader, Mcebo Dlamini

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has dispatched four investigation officers to probe the Wits shooting incident that has led to the death of one person who happened to be passing by as police officers were trying to disperse the protesters. Guest: Ndileka Cola, IPID National Spokesperson

On 16 August 2012, police officers shot 112 striking mineworkers, killing 34 of them at Marikana, in the North West Province. Fast-forward, today one person has died after police fired rubber bullets at Wits University’s protesting students at the Braamfontein campus. So almost nine years later since the Marikana massacre - why have no lessons been learned? Guest: Eldred De Klerk, Security expert

We hear from the bishop of Namibia, Luke Pato as to why Anglican bishops in our neighbouring country want oil drilling process stopped. According to him, Synod of Bishops has drawn up a petition calling for an immediate halt to the drilling as they argue that the process has not been an open one. Guest on the line (Namibia) the bishop of Namibia, Luke Pato

Wits students have vowed to continue their protest for free education. This follows their protest earlier this morning. The students are calling on the University to allow students to register despite historic debt. Protesting students were dispersed by police with rubber bullets and one student leader has reportedly been arrested. Meanwhile, Wits say they have made available a Wits Hardship Fund...

Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines Professor Barry Schoub has condemned reports that some people are fraudulently registering in order to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Schoub says officials are currently looking into the matter. A newspaper report alleges that some healthcare practitioners in the private sector, as well as members of the public, are abusing the...