The National Pulse

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) is still calling for schools in Eastern Cape to close, due to the growing Covid-19 infections in schools. Meanwhile in the Western Cape, a group of concerned high and primary school principals have written to the department of Education and President Cyril Ramaphosa, to object to the phased reopening of schools amid the spread of the virus Guest:...

In the past two days, the National Planning Commission hosted a Colloquium on the role of SMMEs in economic recovery post Covid-19. Joining us to unpack some of the key issues that emerged from the deliberations is….. Guest: Dr Thami Mazwai, National Planning Commission Commissioner

On World News today we ask – what is India and China border fight about? Some experts believe that the border conflict between India and China is partly due to India's assertion of ownership of its territory. But is there any truth to this? If so, what is it? Guest: Sanusha Naidu, Senior research associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue

Following Helen Zille's controversial tweets that there are more racist laws in the country now compared to apartheid. We speak to the DA’s Gauteng leader John Moodey who says that Zille has caused too much damage to the party's image. Guest: John Moodey, DA’s Gauteng leader

Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions

Yesterday many of our listeners called in and sent through WhatsApp voicenotes on why South Africans rarely focus on Intimate partner violence where men are the victims. Many of you also asked why there is always uproar and public demonstrations when a woman is killed but hardly the same reaction when the victim is a man. So why does violence against women warrant a national action plan as opposed...

Guest: Steve Swart, ACDP MP

Guest: Wouter Wessels, Freedom Front Plus MP and also Head of Campaigns for the party

Guest: Former mayor of Johannesburg and founder of the People's Dialogue, Herman Mashaba

Guest: Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA MP and DA Shadow Minister of Finance

President Ramaphosa has insisted that South Africa’s economic recovery should be state led. This begs the question of exactly how government will fund this recovery and how it will quickly address the inefficiencies that have plagued state led activity over the last two decades if it does push ahead as intended with a state led plan.. Guest: S’fiso Skenjana, chief economist and thought leadership...

Today on Both Sides of the Story we ask, how best should we tackle the issue of unemployment in this country? Analysts say although an increase in the unemployment rate has been recorded in the first quarter of the year, a more significant rise in unemployment can be expected in the second quarter due to the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown. This after data by Statistics South Africa indicated...

South Africa now has its first satanic church; Satanists can now exercise their faith at the South African Satanic Church. The church which is located in Century City, just a few kilometers outside of Cape Town, officially opened its doors in February this year. Guest: Adri Norton, Co-Founder of the South African Satanic Church

Tax Justice South Africa say the tobacco ban has already cost the country over R3 billion in lost excise taxes alone. Tax Justice South Africa, which is campaigning to put a stop to the illicit economy and return billions in lost tax back to citizens say if the ban on the sale of cigarettes continue, it will be "more free money for criminals in illicit trade" Guest: Yusuf Abramjee, the Founder of...

Lobby group AfriForum and Advocate Gerrie Nel have been appointed by the Botswana government to represent them in a high-profile money-laundering and fraud case, in which businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe is implicated in. Motsepe-Radebe, the sister-in-law of President Cyril Ramaphosa and wife of Jeff Radebe, was accused by a newspaper in Botswana of an alleged plot to oust Botswana's Preside...

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre has released its annual crime stats for 2019 and they say they are pleased that robust mitigation strategies deployed by member banks and partners are showing results. According to them, the ATM attacks have decreased by 9% while cash-in-transit robberies decreased by 16% in all provinces with the exception of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State Guest...

Today on World News we focus on Malawi elections asking – will they be free and fair? The election is much anticipated after the Constitutional Court early this year ruled that the May 2019 vote, won narrowly by Mutharika, was fraught with "grave and widespread irregularities. Guest: Dr William Mpofu, Political analyst

The Eastern Cape government has ordered acting King Azenathi Dalindyebo to immediately vacate the Bumbane Great Place palace as his term of office has come to an end. This means that AbaThembu King, His Majesty, Zwelibanzi Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo returns to his throne. Guest: Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, Spokesperson for the Premier of the Eastern Cape

Many taxi commuters were left without transport this morning following a total shutdown by the South African National Taxi Council (santaco) in Gauteng. Taxi operators are unhappy with the Covid-19 relief funding amount offered by government. They say the one-point-one-billion rand in assistance for the industry, is totally inadequate. Guest: Ayanda Allie Paine, Spokesperson for the Department of...

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in the Eastern Cape is calling for all schools in the province to be shut down. The union says the department of education should close the schools with immediate effect until it is ready to deal with "perpetual challenges" such as lack of water, poor school infrastructure and lack of personal protection equipment... Guest: Chris Mdingi, Provinci...

Several roads were barricaded with rocks and heavy objects in QwaQwa in the eastern Free State. Angry residents were protesting over acute water shortages and frequent water cuts. Police and army were deployed to the protest-hit areas to quell simmering tensions. Guest: Sputnik Ratau, spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation

The American Bar Association has canceled a speech by F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last president during Apartheid. De Klerk was invited by the US Association to speak on racism and other matters. The former president, who was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela for the country's transition to democracy, drew fierce criticism Guest: Dave Steward, Chairman of the FW de Klerk Foundation

The Pietermaritzburg Tourism is working on a strategic plan to resuscitate the tourism sector that has been crippled by the Covid-19 national lockdown. Guest: Dumisani Mhlongo, Director of Pietermaritzburg Tourism

On World News today, we get reaction from the African Diaspora (still on the High Court ruling story) as you may recall that last week Friday, the Pretoria High Court ruled that people who hold asylum-seeker and special permit status may apply for the Social Relief Distress Grant of R350 a month (applicants will need to provide their documents). Guest: Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, Chairperson of the Afric...

Post the Pretoria High Court ruling on asylum-seekers and the Social Relief Distress Grant. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) says it is puzzled that asylum seekers were able to successfully argue that their industries were affected by the lockdown. The party is of the view that asylum seekers should not be competing with South Africans in any economic trading space. Guest: Vuyo Zungula, l...