The National Pulse

World News: Russian president Vladimir Putin has won a vote that could let him rule until 2036. 67-year old Putin who has already served for some two decades won a controversial vote to amend the constitution and reset his term limits, which could see him rule beyond 2024. Guest: Professor Irina Filatova, who is professor of the High School of Economics in Moscow and professor emeritus and senior...

Former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa board chairperson Popo Molefe concluded his testimony at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture yesterday. The hearings which were halted in March due to the coronavirus lockdown and started hearing evidence this week. Molefe told the commission that the former administration under President Jacob Zuma failed PRASA. Molefe explained how i...

Municipalities have lost a total of 32-billion-rand in irregular expenditure, fraud and corruption. This according to the latest consolidated local government audit results for the 2018-19 financial year. Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu who has just released the report says this is an indication of a lack of financial controls in the municipalities. He now joins us on the line to look at the state of...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution has expressed concern over Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s remarks pertaining to the legitimacy of the state of Israel saying it brings the judiciary in South Africa into disrepute. They also argue that Mogoeng’s utterances have undoubtedly embarrassed the Government and its international standing in respect of a key foreign policy...

The Eastern Cape Health Department says investigations are continuing into the discovery of a large number of used Coronavirus test kits, next to the N2. The discarded test kits were found by a passer-by between East London and King Williamstown. They were still in plastic sleeves and contained the details of persons from whom the sample was taken Guest: Sizwe Kupelo, Spokesperson for the provinci...

BSS: The Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance has accused ArcelorMittal South Africa for high levels of air pollution, environmental transgressions, lack of transparency and community consultation at its Vanderbijlpark operation in Johannesburg. The company which is Africa's steel-making giant was recently fined R3.64 million for allegedly violating three atmospheric emissions license conditions at...

Last week Tuesday, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment delivered his department’s Budget Vote Speech where he outlined challenges faced by the agricultural sector during Covid19 and he joins us now to elaborate more…. Guest: Morakane Mosupyoe, MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says thy will review the number of declined Covid-19 grant applications. This after the agency received many grievances from applicants who had their R350 grant application declined. So how many unemployed people actually benefitted from this COVID-19 relief grant? Guest: Paseka Letsatsi, SASSA spokesperson

Unfair labour practices and the poor treatment of healthcare workers in South Africa have compromised the quality of health care in the country. This is according to a new report by the OXFAM. The report launched today reveals that country's healthcare system has been ill-prepared for shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic Guest: Dr Basani Baloyi, Inequality Programme Manager at OXFAM South Africa

Today, Mobile operator MTN Group launched its fifth-generation (5G) network, with 100 sites live across areas in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. This after the release of temporary spectrum by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa earlier this year Guest: Mapula Bodibe, Chief Consumer officer at MTN SA

World News today: We hear from the University of KwaZulu Natal this after they have been applauded for having secured an advanced instrument called the ILEX Genehecker which will assist in conducting rapid testing for Covid-19. According to the varsity, the Ilex equipment gives a turnaround time of 6 hours as compared to the usual 24-hour turnaround time using existing equipment. Guest: Professor...

We now talk to 'Please Call Me' inventor Nkosana Makate, this following his recent court victory against Vodacom. Yesterday, the high court in Pretoria ruled that Vodacom must give Makate copies of financial records within 21 days. He joins us now to elaborate more….. Guest: Nkosana Makate "Please Call Me" inventor

guest: Mr Lunga Siyo

BSS: Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, says grievances by the taxi industry should not result in lawlessness behaviour by members of the industry. Some taxi operators heeded the call - by taxi council, SANTACO, - for vehicles to transport commuters with 100-percent capacity starting today. Taxi associations have accused the Transport Ministry of failing to accommodate the concerns from the indus...

We are now in conversation with Deputy Minister in the Presidency, MsThembi Siweya, who met with foundations of liberation stalwarts in an effort to strengthen collaborative relations with Government to fight Covid-19. At this session the Deputy Minister reported on government's efforts, invited advise on areas of possible improvements as well as request presentations of proposals on areas of poss...

Trade union, NUMSA, has accused the Department of Public Enterprises of lying to the South African Airways' Business Rescue Practitioners over the minimum number of workers that unions expect to be included in the SAA rescue plan. This after the department announced yesterday that it has withdrawn from the Leadership Consultative Forum - that was established to facilitate employee engagement to de...

What are some of the important aspects of the Protection of Personal Information Act? On Wednesday this week, the Personal Information Act will commence – which means that organisations will be required to comply and start implementing good data management practices. The act will be the go-to piece of legislation for consumers when their personal information is abused. Guest: Adv Rian Schoeman, He...

World News today: Post the elections – what next for Malawi? Malawi’s new president Lazurus Chakwera was sworn in for a five-year term on Sunday, just hours after unseating former leader Peter Mutharika in a re-run election. Chakwera won by 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday’s poll, a dramatic reversal of the result of the original election in May 2019, which was later overturned by the courts Guest: M...

Recently, the department of basic education released statistics which indicate that 775 schools had to close and that 523 learners and 1,169 staff members had been infected by the novel coronavirus. Following this revelation, Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA), says schools should shut their doors in order to save lives Guest: Scelo Bhengu, President of the Educators Union of South Africa (EUS...

On Beyond Innovation - today we look at an attempt by two Wits University students to commercialize their novel process for the recovery of platinum group metals from used car catalytic converters. The two, Collins Saguru and Muofhe Singo, both Wits University MSc graduates, have big plans to establish their platinum recycling operations which would provide a cost effective and locally based solut...

Tourism portfolio committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo says the economic potential of tourism in townships and villages has been failing under the ANC government since coming into power. Addressing a meeting of the legislative tourism oversight forum on Wednesday, Mahumapelo says villages had not been taken seriously since the ANC government came into power 26 years ago Guest: Tourism portfolio...

The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) has lost its application to have the sale of tobacco products unbanned. FITA’s application was dismissed by the Gauteng North High Court. Guest: Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, Chairperson of the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita)

Tensions are simmering in Eersterust, Tshwane after police reportedly fired rubber bullets at protesters over land grabs in the area. Eersterust residents say they are protesting over the lack of proper housing and as a result people have started erecting shacks on vacant land. Guest: Tshwane metro police department spokesman Senior Superintendent, Isaac Mahamba

Professor Eric Atmore says about 375 000 children across the country could be left to fend for themselves, if real political will is not shown in rescuing the country’s early childhood development centres from collapse. Currently, South Africa has around 2,5million children that receive education and care from the ECD sector. He joins us now to explain the seriousness of this issue…… Guest: Profes...

An Escourt family in KwaZulu-Natal is being treated for poisoning after drinking cattle de-worming medication, hoping it would prevent them from contracting the coronavirus. It is believed that one of their employees also drank the toxic liquid. KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance Service spokesperson, Craig Botha says when emergency services arrived at a doctor's room they found six people in a criti...