The National Pulse

The EFF recently opened a case of corruption against Eskom COO Jan Oberlhozer and called for his immediate removal from the power utility. The case was opened by party Deputy President Floyd Shivambu and Treasure General Omphile Maotwe. The EFF says its action is motivated by what the party says are the damning revelations of Oberholzer's nepotism, bullying and compromising of Eskom's finances for...

With the latest crime statistics showing that children are getting involved in serious crime. We hear from Naptosa who are suggesting that perhaps South Africa needs to change its approach and recognise the importance of specialised services such as counsellors and psychologists – allow them to play a more meaningful role in schools in order to reduce the elements of criminal act Guest: Basil Manu...

We outline the objectives of the recently established Special Tribunal on Corruption, Fraud and Illicit Money Flows. The special tribunal has a statutory mandate to recover public funds syphoned from the fiscus through corruption, fraud and illicit money flows Guest: Adv Selby Makgotho, Spokesperson of the Special Tribunal

World News: Reports coming from Cameroon suggest that suspected militants from extremist group Boko Haram killed at least 16 people and wounded seven this past weekend in a grenade attack on a camp for displaced people in northern part of the country. But what’s really behind this attack and how complex are Boko Haram covert operations? Guest: Dr Akinola Olojo, Senior Researcher at the Institute f...

BSS: The South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation (SASAPO) is threatening to take Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, to court for violation of human rights over the delay in the release of 19-thousand prisoners. In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 19- thousand prisoners were set to be freed in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19 in...

Eskom and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is initiating steps to recover funds from the utility's former executives lost to State Capture corruption. The SIU and Eskom are investigating and reviewing some of the major contracts awarded over the years, this includes the acquisition of Optimum Coal Guest: Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha

The director of Wise4 Africa Brenda Madumiso says they are going to write a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking why the police's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, arrested a women who is facing charges of malicious damage to property and crimen injuria. Madumiso attended the brief court appearance of the 40 year old, Norma Gigaba, at the Hatfield Magistrates Court in...

Former finance minister, Malusi Gigaba's wife, Norma, appeared briefly in the Hatfield Community Court in Pretoria this morning (Monday 3 August). Gigaba seemed relaxed and her five-thousand rand bail was extended to 14 September, when she must appear in court again. She was arrested in Waterkloof in Pretoria by the Hawks on Friday and released on bail on Saturday. She faces charges of malicious d...

The Office of the Public Protector has over the last four months seen a rapid surge in the number of complaints of conduct and service failure relating to the Covid19 pandemic. Social failure allegations account for a lion’s share of the grievances with as many as 450 people having approached the office to complain about what they deem unreasonable grounds for declining their applications for the...

What is the political situation in Zimbabwe? Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda discusses African Diaspora Global Network’s open letter about Zimbabwean situation. This is an open letter to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. It is also addressed similarly to the Heads of the regional bodies that have some authority or are expected to intervene Guest: Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, Pre...

In conversation with Alex Mashilo about the 99th Anniversary of the South African Communist Party – looking at the party’s significant achievements in the last 98 years. The key issue here is - how will they describe their path to socialism, given numerous challenges facing our country right now and the implications these have for party building? Guest: Dr Alex Mashilo, National spokesperson of th...

Today on Beyond Innovation we talk about water treatment. We focus specifically on the increase of fluorescent Natural Organic Matter fractions during drinking water treatment that leads to an increased coagulant dose and filter clogging. What am I talking about - I am not sure myself but I think we want to understand what is the Natural Organic Matter - what is its impact on drinks king water and...

Yesterday we spoke to whistleblower Thabiso Zulu, following his arrest Wednesday night. Zulu, who exposed allegations of corruption in the uMzimkhulu municipality and also a close friend of slain youth league leader Sindiso Magaqa, says he is being unfairly targeted with trumped up charges. Zulu has been in hiding since he first made public allegations on tender irregularities and political killin...

Black property businesses have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. This is largely because they remain small in size and play minuet role in the almost six trillion rand sector. The black property business is not properly protected against such hard times because of limited financial resources. Vuyiswa Mutshekwane is the CEO of South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) s...

August is celebrated as Women’s Month in South Africa – we do this to remember the contribution that was made by close to 20 000 women who marched to Pretoria on the 9th of August in 1956 to protest against passes for black women. Now, to mark the start of Women’s Month – we look at the noble initiative that is driven by the Zungu brothers which is called “My Enough is Our Enough” campaign. The ca...

On World News today - we examine the Zimbabwe’s deal that has taken many by surprise. On Wednesday, as you probably know by now, Zimbabwe's government signed a $3.5 billion agreement to compensate white farmers that were forcibly removed from their farmland during a chaotic land reform program two decades ago. Guest: Vince Musewe, Economist based in Zimbabwe

The latest national crime statistics that were released by the Minister of Police earlier on today show that murder rates have again increased – but the most worrying thing is that 45% of murders were firearm-related, followed by knife wounds at 21% and according to Gun Free South Africa, this is scandalous. Guest: Clair Taylor, Researcher at Gun Free South Africa

KZN Corruption Whistleblower Thabiso Zulu has been arrested. Zulu, a close friend of slain ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa‚ who exposed alleged corruption in the Umzimkhulu local municipality says he was arrested by police at his home. Guest: KZN Corruption Whistleblower, Thabiso Zulu

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) held a Special National Executive Committee (SNEC) meeting on Tuesday to discuss, among others, the restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS), developments on salary disputes, the ever-changing regulations at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and the impact of Covid-19 within sectors. POPCRU now joins us on the line to t...

South Africa has recorded nearly 60 per cent more natural deaths than expected in recent weeks, which suggests a much higher death toll from the coronavirus than officially reported. According to the South African Medical Research Council's latest report on weekly deaths, there have been more than 17-thousand excess deaths. But statistics by the Health Department seem to be at odds with the figure...

Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga discusses the state of mental health for Public Service servants during the battle against Covid19. As it is public knowledge that the Public Service is the biggest employer in the country. Also, the Public Service has taken strain during this time as a number of public servants are frontline workers and are as affected as all citizens Guest: Sindisiwe Chikunga,...

Madzikane Thandisizwe Diko says he is the king of the Amabhaca. This after the Eastern Cape department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has confirmed that the Elubhacweni Traditional Council, led by Madzikane Thandisizwe Diko, does not have kingship Guest: Madzikane Thandisizwe Diko, king of the Amabhaca

Meanwhile the Eastern Cape department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has confirmed that the Elubhacweni Traditional Council, led by Madzikane Thandisizwe Diko, does not have kingship. Diko referred to himself as the king MADZIKANE II DIKO in a statement released this week in relation to the Gauteng PPE tender story. He has also been referred to the king of the Amabhaca in other...

In conversation with Piet Rampedi about the controversial Gauteng PPE tender that has caused so much noise in the country. Remember Piet is the one who first reported that Bandile Masuku and his wife, Loyiso Masuku were linked to a R125 million Personal Protective Equipment contract allegedly awarded to AmaBhaca King, Thandisizwe Diko Guest: Piet Rampedi, Assistant Editor at the Sunday Independent

Today on Both Sides of the Story we ask - How do we build trust between police and community and what causes conflict between law enforcement and citizens? Our discussion is informed by yesterday’s conversation that we had with Gun Owners of South Africa, following the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision to set a side gun owners’ interim interdict for expired licence holders. During the discussion...