The National Pulse

Constitutionally speaking – what does it all mean? Following Zuma’s refusal to appear before State Capture Inquiry, we hear from Michael Osborne about what this means and what’s likely to happen next within the prescripts of the law. Guest: Michael Osborne, Constitutional Law expert

The Zondo Commission will recommend to the Constitutional Court that former president Jacob Zuma be imprisoned for contempt of court for defying an order by the higest court forcing him to appear before the commission. The Chairperson of the Commission Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said that if Zuma is allowed to ignore his summons to appear there will be lawlessness and chaos in the courts w...

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has been criticized on social media for reportedly saying an "educated man won't rape" during one of her address to pupils at a school in Pretoria today. Motshekga was among government officials who visited schools across the country on the first day of the 2021 academic year, to check on the resumption of classes. Minister Motshekga says her comments were...

Still on the Zuma story, we now give you political analysis on this and joining us to explain the political ramifications of Zuma’s actions is…..Mcebisi Ndletyana, Professor of Political Science at the University of Johannesburg

On Saturday, Donald Trump was acquitted of inciting an insurrection. Trump was cleared because two-thirds of the Senate would have needed to find the former president guilty for him to have been convicted under the US constitution. What was interesting to see though was that seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict the president. Joining us to explain what Trump’s acquittal means fo...

Aldrin Sampear speaks to Xitsonga poet Masingita Shibambu, who was a praise singer for President Cyril Ramaphosa in the 2020 State of the Nation Address. GUEST: Masingita Shibambu, Who Is a Poet

The Basic Education Department says learners of all grades will return to schools from Monday, Naptosa agrees GUEST: Basil Manuel, Executive Director of Naptso

We stay with the story of Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and nine other accused persons, who have been released on bail after appearing before the East London Regional Court today. The ten accused are facing charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act linked to the Buffalo City Municipality, Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal. The e...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the Special 350 COVID-19 Grant by a further three months. President Ramaphosa made the announcement at the State of the Nation address, SONA, last night. Many of you have experienced challenges regarding the R350. So we have invited SASSA to further explain the extension and how the organisation will tackle the challenges to ensure that every deserving person...

The case of malicious damage to property and crimen injuria against Noma Mngoma, the estranged wife of former minister Malusi Gigaba, has been postponed until the 26 of March this year. She appeared briefly in the Pretoria Regional Court this morning. She was arrested in July last year by the Hawks regarding claims that she had damaged an expensive German four by four vehicle - that reportedly bel...

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and nine other accused persons, have been released on bail after appearing before the East London Regional Court today. The ten accused are facing charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act linked to the Buffalo City Municipality, Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal. The eleventh suspect didn’t appear...

We now tell you more about the annual Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. This year’s postgraduate essay topic was for entrants to make the case for or against a change in the mandate and ownership of the South African Reserve Bank. Guest: Mahfouz Raffee, Undergraduate economics student from the University of the Witwatersrand

In conversation with Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi about his plans to review permanent residence visas. What informed this decision basically is that the minister noticed a trend from the outcomes of numerous investigations the department has carried out over the past two years, especially those involving prominent people Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs

World News: This month Libyans mark 10 years since the beginning of an uprising that led to the removal of Muammar Gaddafi who was regarded as Libyas strongman. A decade on, what’s the situation like in Libya today – why is the country battling to return to normalcy? Guest: Ebrahim Deen, Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

Tomorrow, SABC and many other broadcasters around the world, will commemorate World Radio Day. In celebrating this day, the SABC Thought Leadership Series will host a panel discussion on “The Future of Radio Is Still Digital – But Which One?”. Tune in to SAfm’s Talking Point with Cathy Mohlahlana as they will carry this event live between 10:00 & 12:00 midday tomorrow. Guest: Jonathan James Lyamgo...

We continue speaking to opposition parties about their expectations of the State of the Nation Address, SONA, tonight and what they want to hear from President Cyril Ramaphosa. We now speak to the IFP about their expectation for tonight.... GUEST: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP MP and National spokesperson

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the deployment of SAPS officers to the State of the Nation Address tonight is a waste of taxpayer money. The EFF says the "mass" number of officers deployed for SONA is an abuse of power. GUEST: EFF MP and Commissar, Sam Matiase

The Democratic Alliance has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use the State-of-the-Nation-Address to clarify what steps are being taken to ensure the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines. The party also wants him to outline steps for economic recovery from the impact of the lockdown. GUEST: Natasha Mazzone, MP and Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament

Staying with expectations for the SONA tonight, we speak to the Freedom Front Plus, FF Plus who say President Cyril Ramaphosa must provide clarity on various matters, such as the local government elections and former president Jacob Zuma's contempt of the Constitutional Court. GUEST: Dr. Pieter Groenewald, Leader of the Freedom Front Plus, FF Plus

Staying with matters SONA - We speak to Land reform and rural development Minister Thoko Didiza whose Department says it has completed its verification process of those who applied for state land to be released for agricultural purposes, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa a year ago. Minister Thoko Didiza and departmental officials appeared before Parliament's portfolio committee to give an...

We now tell you more about Eskom’s Business Investment Competition which is open to registered, black-owned SMEs in the engineering/construction, manufacturing, agriculture/agri-processing as well as trade/services sectors that have been in operation for at least 24 months Guest: Cecil Ramonotsi, Chief Executive Officer, Eskom Development Foundation

The ruling party says President Cyril Ramaphosa must provide clarity on energy security so that we can address energy crisis that has crippled the production and manufacturing in the country Guest: Pule Mabe, ANC National Spokesperson

We are now joined by the African Transformation Movement and they are going to outline their expectations for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) which is due to take place at 19:00 tonight. Guest: Zama Ntshona, National Media and Communications Manager for the ATM party

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the nation at 19:00 this evening under unique circumstances due to Covid19 pandemic that continues to wreak havoc across the globe. The President will present the pared down address that will not include signature traditions such as the 21-gun salute and the ceremonial guard. To explain about these changes is….. Guest: Lechesa Tsenoli, Deputy Speaker of...

Power Utility Eskom has implemented stage 3 loadshedding which started at 1pm today. This is set to continue until 6am tomorrow morning. Eskom says this is due to the loss of generation units and to replenish emergency generation reserves. Has loadshedding become like a game where we go through different Stages? Surely our energy crisis is no longer a laughing matter; as we can't take this Lightly...