The National Pulse

In its bid to have a better understanding of just how many South Africans have died of Covid-19. Government wants the bodies of all individuals who died of natural causes to be tested for Covid-19 before burial. Joining us to explain the rationale behind this decision is….. Guest: Deputy director-general at the Department of Health, Dr Anban Pillay

We now look at the challenges facing women when it comes to access to land today. This as the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa is set to hold a virtual Dialogue tomorrow afternoon, under the theme: "Realizing Women's Rights to Land Ownership and Financially Enabled production". The conversation seeks to raise key issues relevant to women emancipation through mobilizing for land ownersh...

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, SCOPA yesterday had to postpone a meeting with Eskom board members after being told last minute via SMS that the board could not attend due to a critical internal meeting. Interim board chairperson, Professor Malegapure Mokgoba, sent a message to SCOPA chairperson excusing the board's attendance. But, two board members who attended said they had no knowle...

The ANC Integrity Commission has summoned Ace Magashule to an urgent meeting over his comment that he will never step aside over a mere allegation of corruption… GUEST: Political analyst, Professor Lesiba Teffo from UNISA

15:20 On World News today: We speak to Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa who was recently told by a Magistrate Court in Zimbabwe that she can’t represent her client Hopewell Chin’ono, a prominent journalist who has been exposing grand corruption in Zimbabwe. Guest: Beatrice Mtetwa, Zimbabwean lawyer

The National Public Order Policing (POP) unit have been deployed to Eldorado Park, In Johannesburg following protests by residents over the death of a 16-year-old boy, who was allegedly shot and killed by police last night. Police have since called for calm and restraint and have referred matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)... GUEST: Gauteng police spokesperson, Briga...

North West Premier Job Mokgoro says he has released the much anticipated reports on Bapo Ba Mogale Commission of Inquiry. The commission, chaired by Advocate Sesi Baloyi looked at the dispute about the legitimate chief of Bapo Ba Mogale. Bapo are the owners of the platinum-rich land between Rustenburg and Brits. A company called Bapo Ba Mogale Investment NPC or BBMI was established in 2014 as the...

Yesterday I spoke of a harrowing story of a minor with disability, who was sexually assaulted by Elvin Davids. Davids was found guilty of raping the girl who suffers from cerebral palsy when she was just seven. The girl - who is known under the pseudonym of Charné - has speech problems. It took seven years to get the case to court. A social worker refused to give up and with the help of the Univer...

Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato, says the city will seek leave to appeal an interdict that prevents land owners from removing unoccupied structures without a court order during the national state of disaster. The South African Human Rights Commission and the EFF lodged the court interdict. It also prohibits the city from using excessive force and compels it to act in a lawful and respectful manner when...

In conversation with the Public Protector about challenges faced by her office when investigating Covid19 related corruption. Of late, efforts by Public Protector Investigators to deal expeditiously with Covid19 related matters, including those of alleged irregular procurement of goods and services, have been met with dome degree of resistance from some members of the executive and senior governme...

World News: Yesterday, World Health Organisation announced that Africa is now free of the wild polio virus that once killed or maimed hundreds of thousands of African children every year. As part of this declaration, the organisation also said that ending the wild poliovirus in Africa is one of the greatest public health achievements Guest: Dr Melinda Suchard, head of Centre for Vaccines & Immunol...

We look at the latest developments on the story regarding the recognition and regulation of Muslim marriages. Early this year, Al Jama-ah party called for Muslim marriages to be dignified with marriage certificates, arguing that many Muslims do not enjoy their marriage rights because their unions are not recognised as valid marriages by South African law. Currently the matter is before the Supreme...

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the current drinking laws in South Africa are not working and has called for a review. At the weekend 740 suspects, including two police officers, were arrested for alleged drunken driving. Three Tshwane Metro police officers were killed in a head-on collision during a high-speed chase. The driver of the other vehicle, who also died, was apparently under the...

We learn more about the work of the Ministerial Task Team that was appointed by Dr Blade Nzimande to conduct an independent review of Unisa. When appointing the task team last month, Nzimande said there were very serious concerns about the future of Unisa Guest: Mahlubi Mabizela, Chief Director, Responsible for University Education Policy at the Department of Higher Education

KFC has dropped its Finger Lickin' Good slogan due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It's Finger Lickin' Good slogan has been around for some 64 years. So why is the Fast food chain suspending its tagline in the light of the pandemic? GUEST: Qhawekazi Mdikane, ‎Marketing Manager at KFC South Africa

We talk plants and Zulu language with Menzi Nxumalo. Menzi will explain how he collaborated with his colleagues to come up with the terms for some invasive species in isiZulu. Guest: Menzi Nxumalo, Technician for Detection and Eradication at the South African National Biodiversity Institute

World News today: Yesterday, the Republican Party formally nominated US President Donald Trump to run for a second term in the White House. Addressing the Convention last night, Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the United Nations said Biden was good for Iran and ISIS, great for Communist China, a godsend to everyone who wants America to apologise. She also brought up North Korea, saying the Ob...

With the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Nedbank has partnered with World Vision and Doctors Without Borders to give South African consumers and organisations the opportunity to give vital support and help to at-risk and vulnerable families as well as healthcare frontline workers. Through the Nedbank For Good crowdfunding project, Nedbank aims to make it easy for people give financial sup...

We continue celebrating remarkable women in various sectors and corners of South Africa, as Women's month draws to close. In the spotlight today is Nonkanyiso Conco, the CEO of Laconco Naturals, which deals with Body Care products. Nonkanyiso is also very passionate about preserving Zulu cultural practices, hence it comes as no surprise that she was once a member of the Nomkhubulwane Culture and Y...

The largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere caught alight a few hours ago. Durban's iconic Juma Mosque on Grey Street was engulfed in flames, causing extensive damage to the building. KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services, Robert McKenzie says at this stage, there are no casualties. So how significant is this mosque and what's the history behind it? GUEST: Dr Faisal Suliman, the Chairperson o...

According to a report by global political risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft - India, South Africa, and Brazil will experience the harshest repercussions as they attempt to recuperate economic losses this year Guest: Prof Lyall White, Senior Director of the Johannesburg Business School

On World News today we tackle Zambian politics. This after President Edgar Lungu’s shock dismissal of central bank Governor Denny Kalyalya. Reports coming from the country suggest that Lungu didn’t give reasons for firing Kalyalya, who repeatedly urged the government to cut the fiscal deficit amid ballooning debt and falling foreign-exchange reserves. Guest on the line (Zambia) Ms Kwangu Liwewe –...

Today we talk speed, agility (it’s all part of Robotics and Motion) we look into how cheetahs use their tails to increase their agility and then translate that into how robots can be “stabilised”. Dr Amir Patel has done some fascinating work in monitoring the movement of the tail and has then developed sensors that are now being advanced to monitor the movement of athletes. Guest: Dr. Amir Patel i...

Last month former Proteas bowler Makhaya Ntini revealed in an exclusive interview with the SABC about how he often felt lonely throughout his cricket career. Speaking to renowned Television and Radio sports broadcaster, Vaylen Kirtley on Morning Live, Ntini opened up about the lingering racism in cricket that he faced during his playing career and also accused his then teammates of making him feel...

Following Sports Minister’s comments about eight South African rugby players who refused to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the start of an English Premiership match between Harlequins and Sale Sharks this past weekend. The Institute of Race Relations has issued a statement in support of the players, saying that Sports Minister, Nathi Mthethwa has no right to demand that...