The National Pulse

Last week, the South African Weather Service warned about the possibility of heavy downpours in some parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal. A lot has happened since then and a lot of people have lost their homes. In Northern KwaZulu-Natal for instance, fifty homesteads have been severally impacted by disruptive rainfall. In Mpumalanga, videos and pictures showing the aftermath of...

World News, today we dissect the findings of Oxfam’s Inequality Report: The report, titled ‘The Inequality Virus,’ reveals that the wealth of the ten richest men has increased by half a trillion dollars since the pandemic began - more than enough to pay for a vaccine for all and prevent anyone on Earth from falling into poverty because of the virus. Guest: Mthandazo Ndlovu, Governance Programmes M...

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have confirmed that two shops have been set alight in the CBD by an unknown group of people. However, it hasn’t been established yet if their actions are somehow linked to anti-foreigner sentiment by some groups that have carried out similar acts in the past. For more on this, we are joined by…. Guest: Colonel Jay Naicker, Police spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has charged controversial paediatric surgeon Professor Peter Beale with murder over the death of a 10-year-old patient. Professor Beale and anaesthetist Dr Abdulhay Munshi, who was killed last year were Initially charged with culpable homicide after Zayyaan Sayed died following a routine surgery at Johannesburg's Park Lane Hospital in October 2019 GUEST: Ph...

We pay tribute to ubaba uJonas Gwangwa who sadly passed away on Saturday. Many say Gwangwa will be remembered for having used his music to communicate what was happening in South Africa during the struggle against apartheid. Guest: Letta Mbulu, South African jazz singer

The coalition of liquor traders in South Africa have written once again to President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently lift the ban on the sale of alcohol. The liquor traders comprising of National Liquor Traders Council and Liquor Traders Association of South Africa say over 15,000 taverns will not be able to operate should something not be done to reverse the current ban in the next 7 days. As the cou...

There are growing calls for Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane to be arrested for not wearing her mask in public. Premier, Mtsweni-Tsipane was seen on National TV, not wearing a mask during the funeral service of Minister Jackson Mthembu at the weekend. Meanwhile, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele says they have launched an investigation to look into the matter... GUEST: Lirandzu...

Why are government communicators sending mixed messages when it comes to Covid19? We assess the negative impact this may have and explain why coronavirus communication may make things worse if is not properly synchronised Guest: Solly Moeng, CEO of Donvalley Reputation Managers

Earlier today, a Ugandan High Court ruled that Bobi Wine’s house arrest was unlawful. High court judge Michael Elubu directed the police and military to immediately vacate Wine’s residence. Wine has been confined to his house since the January 14 presidential election, in which he was declared runner-up to President Yoweri Museveni, who won a sixth term Guest: Dismas Nkunda, Chief Executive Office...

As different countries try different methods to strengthen their fight against Covid19. Last week, three robots, named Shujaa, Tumaini and Jasiri, were provided to Kenya by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with Japan to support front-line health-care workers in the fight against Covid-19 in Kenya. Guest: Caroline Kiarie, Head of Exploration of the United Nations Development...

We continue our main discussion on the Political Party Funding Act. Many of you may recall the ANC's calls for greater public funding of political parties. ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile was once quoted as saying that the money they get at the moment is not enough and that the threshold for funding of political parties should be increased. He joins us on the line... GUEST: ANC Treasurer-Gene...

Staying with Tropical storm Eloise. We speak to KwaZulu-Natal MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka about the province's contingency measures in preparing for this Tropical storm which is said to bring disruptive rainfall which could lead to localised flooding in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KZN... GUEST: SENZELWE MZILA, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COGTA MEC IN KZN

The South African Weather Service is warning of extreme rainfall in parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal due to Tropical storm Eloise. The Weather Service issued an L4 yellow warning for disruptive rain which could lead to localised flooding. So how severe will the storm be? To elaborate further on the matter, we're joined on the line by... GUEST: Puseletso Mofokeng, Senior Forecaster at...

Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula has released last year’s festive season road traffic statistics. During the press briefing, Mbalula announced once again that his department would look to amend current drink-driving guidelines that will ensure that South Africa brings in a zero tolerance rule for drivers. However, this proposal was met with stern opposition last year, joining us to share thei...

The Political Party Funding Act will come into operation on the first of April this year. The implementation of this historic Act is one of the most important and far-reaching enhancements to our electoral democracy in the past 25 years. The Act establishes funds to provide political parties represented in Parliament and legislatures with funding to undertake their work. It also requires that dona...

We now tell you more about the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship programme that is aimed at assisting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote rural areas to achieve their academic dreams. Joining our discussion is Charmain Mabuza and we will also hear from Sabelo Hlatshwayo, a top achiever who has received a full scholarship to study BSC in computer science. Guests: Charmain Mab...

In a historic development for transparency and accountability in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Political Party Funding Act into law. The Act prohibits donations by foreign governments and agencies, and precludes members of political parties from receiving donations other than for political-party purposes. To explain what this means for political parties moving forward is…....

Traditional leaders are calling on government to relax regulations when it comes to viewing and handling the body of the dead during Covid19. It’s a well-known fact that in South Africa and across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in almost every way imaginable, including how South Africans of all cultures and religions grieve, honour and bury their dead Guest: Nkosi Mwelo No...

The Kingdom of Eswatini has become the first African country to join former US President Donald Trump administration's anti-China "Clean Network" programme. The Clean Network initiative aims to address the threats to data privacy, cyber security and human rights violation. The US-Eswatini agreement was signed last week, making Eswatini the 60th country to join the programme. GUEST: Eswatini's mini...

A hospital and the Kwa-Zulu Natal government reportedly granted permission to the wife of late KZN transport MEC Bheki Ntuli to bid her husband farewell. The 63 year old Ntuli succumbed to covid-19 complications last week. Ms Ntuli who is currently recovering from COVID-19 was allowed to briefly say her goodbyes to her husband from an ambulance during his funeral service GUEST: SABC Reporter, Jaye...

We examine the role of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in terms of how their regulatory processes work. SAHPRA as you may know, they have oversight responsibility of regulatory checks and approvals for public delivery and the use of medicines and other critical health technologies, including vaccines. Our discussion is informed by the urgent need for Covid19 vaccine...

Well in South Africa, things are about to change. Victims of sexual offences can now receive adequate justice, following a signed prescription by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year which states that prosecutions of people suspected of having committed sexual offences, are now allowed irrespective of when the crime was committed. Guest: Daleen Gouws, spokesperson of Action Society

Post the release of the Interim Report by the Section 59 Investigation Panel. We hear from the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), following adverse findings against them. The Interim Report found that GEMS along with other medical schemes committed unfair racial discrimination towards Black, Indian and Coloured health care providers. Guest: Dr Stanley Moloabi, Principal Officer of the Gov...

GUESTS: 1. DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ANC, COMRADE JESSIE DUARTE 2. DA LEADER, JOHN STEENHUISEN 3. MKHULEKO HLENGWA, IFP MP AND NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON 4. GENERAL BANTU HOLOMISA, LEADER OF THE UDM

The SABC says the 'No work, no pay' principle will apply to workers who go on strike. Dozens of SABC employees are gathered outside the broadcaster’s headquarters in Auckland Park. They are preparing to drive to the Union buildings to hand over a memorandum to President Cyril Ramaphosa. SABC employees are protesting against the retrenchment of around 300 permanent staff at the public broadcaster....