The National Pulse

World News: Following the European Union’s decision to renew sanctions against certain individuals in Zimbabwe, including assets freeze against the Zimbabwe Defense Industries. We are joined by Rutendo Benson Matinyarare to discuss the adverse unintended effects of the sanctions. Guest: Rutendo Benson Matinyarare, founder of Zimbabweans Unite Against the U.S War Sanctions

Thousands of ANC supporters who had turned out to support Magashule were dealt with a blow when they were told that he would not address them. Former ANC councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Andile Lungisa told the thousands of party members that, Magashule wouldn't address them due to the COVID-19 restrictions. GUEST: Professor Sethulego Matebesi, Political analy...

Thousands of ANC supporters who had turned out to support Magashule were dealt with a blow when they were told that he would not address them. Former ANC councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Andile Lungisa told the thousands of party members that, Magashule wouldn't address them due to the COVID-19 restrictions. GUEST: Former ANC councillor in the Nelson Mandela B...

Artist and producer Eugene Mthethwa has chained himself inside the offices of the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) in Braamfontein, Johannesburg yesterday, demanding that the organisation release artists' royalties. Mthethwa says he wants what is due to him from 1998 to 2021. GUEST: Legendary kwaito singer, Artist and producer Eugene Mthethwa GUEST: Mark Rosin, the CEO of the South...

We find out from Dr Emanuel Matambo. Following Malawi’s Democratic Progressive Party’s call for the election to be nullified – they are accusing government and the country’s electoral commission of dragging their feet when it comes to the appointment of two electoral commissioners. Guest: Dr Emanuel Matambo, Research Director at the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg

U.K Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Uber drivers are workers entitled to rights like minimum wage, holiday pay and leave days. The ruling is the end of the road for Uber’s five-year fight over the status of its drivers in the United Kingdom. Guest: Kgomotso Mokoena, a labour law lecturer at the University of Johannesburg

Matric results: The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has recorded a 98.07% matric pass rate for 2020. This is a slight drop in the overall pass percentage in the sector when compared to the previous year’s 98.82%. We now speak to one of the top achievers Nqubeko Mthabela, the head boy at St David’s Marist Inanda. He achieved 5 distinctions which included Business Studies and English. Guest: Nq...

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries have investigated the elevated levels of Sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide that has created a sewage like stench in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. The department visited the Sasol Secunda Operations, which are believed to be the possible source of the Sulphur stench. GUEST: Albie Modise, head of communications and spokesperson for the Department o...

The department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has dismissed reports that a Western Cape farmer is being kicked off his farm, so that a MK veteran could take it over. 56 year old Ivan Cloete, a coloured farmer, who is a legal beneficiary of government's Land Redistribution process, was reportedly served with a notice of eviction. The department however says the matter of Mr Cloet...

Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, has announced that the former superintendent general of the provincial Health Department, Dr Thobile Mbengashe, will face disciplinary action - following the SIU's findings relating to last year's procurement of ambulance scooters intended to assist Covid19 patients. Speaking during a media briefing in Bisho, Mabuyane also announced that Health MEC Sindiswa Go...

The South African Gunowners’ Association (Saga) is not happy with how the firearm amnesty period was managed. According to them – there were no clear guidelines and communication about the implementation of the amnesty. To add to this, on Tuesday, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police resolved to suspend the meeting they had with police management due to inaccurate statistics provided by the...

Nersa has granted Eskom permission to increase its tariff by over 15% for the 2021/2022 financial year. The increase will improve the power utility’s financial status as they will be able to raise R10-billion in allowable revenue. Joining us to explain Eskom’s latest price increase is… Guest: Hasha Tlhotlhalemaje, Eskom's general manager for regulation

On World News today, we discuss - How to challenge draconian lockdown regulations in South Africa: “Lessons from Switzerland.” In June this year, Switzerland will hold a referendum on whether to strip the government of its power to impose new lockdown measures. The campaign is spearheaded by the Swiss campaign group called Friends of the Constitution. Bringing it home, lockdown rules imposed on So...

Three workers are missing following an explosion at one of ArcelorMittal's plant in Vanderbijlpark, Johannesburg. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa say Arcelormittal has NO rescue team on site and that workers have reportedly volunteered and are risking their lives to go and try and retrieve workers from under the collapsed building. GUEST: Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA National S...

The South African National Editor's Forum (SANEF) says it is deeply concerned and disappointed by the ethical breaches in the opinion piece by veteran investigative journalist, Jacques Pauw. The opinion piece was published by the Daily Maverick last week Friday. In it, Pauw talks about his apparent arrest and detention by the police at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Pauw accused three officers o...

The 34th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit elected two new judges as members of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights last week. Former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza has been appointed as judge of the African Court on Human and People's Rights. The continental court established by African countries to ensur...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to support government and frontline healthcare workers to ensure a successful vaccination programme against COVID19. Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize have received the Johnson and Johnson COVID19 vaccine at the Khayelitsha District Hospital in the Western Cape after a healthcare worker at the hospital received the jab. 80 thousan...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the launch of South Africa's Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme that started at the Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town, represents a significant milestone in the country's history. Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize received doses of the vaccine today along with a group of healthcare workers. Speaking after receiving his vaccintation, President Ramaph...

Earlier today, the South African Human Rights Commission released the findings of its investigations into the sewage problem at the Vaal River. The Commission found that the impact of the discharge violates a number of constitutional rights which includes the rights to: human dignity, freedom and security of the community. Guest: Maureen Stewart, Vice Chairperson of Save The Vaal Environment

About three hours ago, members of R2K in Gauteng picketed outside the department of health offices calling for vaccinations for all. They are also demanding that Covid19 Vaccine roll-out must be accompanied by full transparency as this will assist in holding government to account. Guest: Bongani ka Mthembu, R2K Gauteng Coordinator

World News: As South Africa opened its land borders, the Kingdom of Lesotho has warned its citizens to wait for official communication regarding travel restrictions, reminding them that the current COVID-19 restrictions only allow essential travel. Hardest hit are commuting students who will now need to make alternative residential arrangements until normal travel is allowed from the Lesotho side....

Mckenzie Ratselane who is the husband of Lesedi FM current affairs presenter, Dimakatso Ratselane has been arrested in Ennerdale for the brutal attack. Ratselane who is a suspect in this matter had been on the run after he allegedly brutally attacked and stabbed Dimakatso. For more on the story we speak to Dimakatso's younger sister Mpho Folotsi... GUEST: Mpho Folotsi, the younger sister of Lesedi...

The Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane met with Solidarity and AfriForum over their concerns on the B-BBEE criteria for the Covid-19 tourism relief fund. The meeting follows a letter from the attorneys of Solidarity and AfriForum, in which they had threatened legal action against the roll-out of the Tourism Equity Fund, claiming "it is exclusive on the basis of race, and discriminates w...

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Limpopo is accusing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of being selective in its investigations of state entities in the province that have been implicated in fraud and corruption related to the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, arguing that by so doing, the SIU is contravening its Constitutional mandate and th...

Umalusi, the council in charge of quality assurance for education in South Africa has approved the release of the 2020 Matric results, despite leaks that occurred during the exam period. According to them, there were no systemic irregularities reported which might have undermined the overall credibility and integrity of the exams. Guest: Professor John Volmink, Chairperson of Umalusi