The National Pulse

We pay tribute to Dr Vuyo Mahlati who passed away in the very early hours of the morning. Last year, Mahlati served as the chairperson of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s land reform and agriculture advisory panel. Also, she was a member of Mzansi’s National Planning Commission, and the owner of Africa’s first indigenous wool processing plant in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape Guest: Neo Masithela, Cha...

World News today: The UK government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme is open for applications again and joining us to share some valuable information on how South African’s can go about applying for this wonderful opportunity is…… Guest: Mr Nigel Casey, the British High Commissioner to South Africa

The ruling ANC is calling on the state to fund political parties. The cash-strapped ANC is proposing that taxpayers' money be used to fund political parties, some reports suggest that funding could increase by R500-million annually. On Both Sides of the Story, we're asking you, Should political parties be funded by the state? GUEST: Paul Mashatile, ANC treasurer-general GUEST: Sheilan Clarke, Comm...

Today we look at the Eye care awareness month which started from 20th September to 17th October 2020. We bring awareness about avoidable vision loss, symptoms of eye conditions, cancer in the eye diabetics and eye site and many other eye and site related issues. We are joined by Prof. Carmichael GUEST: Professor Trevor Carmichael, Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of the Witwat...

Shoprite Checkers will no longer enforce exclusivity clauses against other supermarkets in malls. The Competition Commission says this is an opportunity for new businesses to emerge and compete in the retail environment. This after the Competition Commission welcomed the decision by the Competition Tribunal to confirm the consent agreement between the Commission and Shoprite Checkers. GUEST: James...

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has launched a toll-free number that will see the public expeditiously lodge misconduct complaints by police officers. Speaking at the launch earlier on today, Police Minister Bheki Cele said while he was confident that the majority of police officers were hardworking, dedicated and honest, there were rogue elements that disgrace the badge. T...

World News today: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who previously served as Nigeria’s finance minister on two occasions and once as a foreign affairs minister has made it to the final stage of the selection process for the top job at the World Trade Organization. Meanwhile, AU Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked African regions and countries to support Okonjo-Iweala saying that her leadership of th...

Prof Thuli Madonsela is urging South Africans to consider offering amnesty to corrupt people, arguing that this would give the country an opportunity to start with a clean slate. According to her, “it’s just so systemic that if people can self-disclose without huge consequences, it will allow us to clean the system.” She joins us now to elaborate further… Guest: Adv, Professor Thuli Madonsela, Law...

Today on Beyond Innovation we talk about Data Science for Social Impact, meaning how we can better bridge the gap between Data Science and Society. How language can be harnessed as a data source to better understand our world. We speak to Dr. Vukosi Marivate - who has worked to better use natural language and data science in a number of areas that impact society. He has worked with a group that ha...

Staying with our story of Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, firing his Health MEC, Dr. Bandile Masuku over the SIU report into the Covid-19 PPE corruption scandal. The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Geoffrey Makhubo says he remains committed to transparency regarding their soon to be released Covid-19 procurement Internal Audit Report. He joins us on the line to elaborate more... GUEST...

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has fired Dr. Bandile Masuku from his position as Health MEC following allegations of corruption. Presidential spokesperson, Khusela Diko, health MEC Bandile Masuku and his wife - Johannesburg MMC, Loyiso Masuku - were placed on leave in July following a controversial multi-million rand PPE tender scandal. An SIU investigation has found that Masuku had failed to execu...

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is currently experiencing critical blood supply shortages and they are appealing to the public, particularly eligible donors to urgently assist. The organisation needs at least 3500 units of blood to meet the national demand each day Guest: Ravi Reddy, Chief Operations Officer at the South African National Blood Service

Earlier on today, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that they have decided to award this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger and its "contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas." Guest: Lola Castro- World Food Programme director for Southern Africa

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi in collaboration with the police, have been closing illegal schools in the province. To elaborate more on their operations today, we're now joined on the line by... GUEST: Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi

Parliament has received numerous objections related to the process it followed in interviewing and appointing new members of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). GUEST: EFF MP, Ms Nokulunga Primrose Sonti, She sits on the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

We outline the objectives of the illicit trade hotline that was launched recently by the Consumer Goods Council of SA. We are told that the hotline was set up to assist the government, private sector and civil society to work together to combat illegal trading in the country Guest: Abraham Nelson, head of Crime Risk Initiative @ Consumer Goods Council of South Africa

The Special Investigations Unit has referred four criminal matters to the National Prosecuting Authority with regard to the procurement of a fence by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. On the other hand, MPs serving on the public works oversight committee in Parliament who have inspected the controversial infrastructure bel...

A 52-year old farmer from Marquard is expected to appear in court on charges of malicious damage to property and public violence. The arrest follows violent protest that happened in Senekal in the Free State yesterday. A group of farmers stormed the court where two men appeared briefly in connection with the murder of farm manager, Brendon Horner. Protestors also torched a police vehicle. Police s...

As our country continues to tackle numerous socio economic challenges. The Fight Inequality Alliance South Africa says community movements across the country will be embarking on mass-rolling protest action this month. They are arguing that now is the time to build a government for the people - not the rich. Guest: Minhaj Jeenah, Coordinator of the Fight Inequality Alliance South Africa

Former VBS Mutual Bank CFO, Philip Truter has been sentenced to 10 years in prison - three of which are suspended. Truter has pleaded guilty on various charges linked to the looting at the Mutual Bank and has also entered into a plea agreement with the state GUEST: Sipho Ngwema, Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)

With October generally celebrated as a Global Diversity and inclusion month. We hear from Cohesion Collective, an organisation that has just joined an exciting 30 Day Inclusion Challenge that is looking at addressing issues around race and ethnicity. Guest: Dominic Gaobepe, Director at Cohesion Collective, a specialist organisation in Diversity & Inclusion

On Tuesday, French lawmakers unanimously voted to return prized artefacts to Benin and Senegal - greater than a century after they have been looted by colonial forces. The items embody a royal throne and statues taken by the French military during a warfare in Benin. Senegal will get a sword and scabbard mentioned to have belonged to Omar Saidou Tall. Guest: Professor Gilbert Khadiagala, Professor...

`Members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) have been accused of arresting sex workers to solicit bribes from them. Social development deputy minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says police have made sex workers their ATMs by deliberately arresting them as means to make money. GUEST: Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, Deputy Minister for Social Development

An NGO in Johannesburg says they have not been paid by the Gauteng Department of Health for the past six months, for their services. Sandile Life Skills Centre in Orange Farm, accommodates 25 mentally ill patients who do not have any family to care for them. So how has the NGO and the patients been surviving without funds for the past 6 months? Could this be another Life Healthcare Esidimeni trage...

Court proceedings at the Senekal magistrate's court were disrupted by angry farmers who damaged, overturned and burned a police vehicle inside the court yard. The farmers where baying for the blood of two suspects who appeared in court in connection with the murder of farm manager Brandon Horner. GUEST: Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, Freestate Police spokesperson guest: Enerst Roets, Head of Policy a...