The National Pulse

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has petitioned the national government to reinstate the ban on the sale of alcohol. Premier Mabuyane today met with liquor trader associations to discuss how they can fight against alcohol abuse in the province Guest: Lucky Ntimane, National Convener of the Liquor Traders' Association of South Africa

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, NEHAWU's national leadership is at the Livingstone hospital in Port Elizabeth to assess whether the hospital is complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and if their members are not recklessly exposed to the virus. Staff at the hospital has raised concerns over a lack of PPE and a shortage of staff at the facility. Livingstone...

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has fired three senior executives for wrongdoing during the State Capture years. The move has been seen as efforts by CEO Portia Derby, in cleaning up the SOE... Guest: Political Analyst, Writer and Activist, Dr Dale McKinley

In conversation with Thuli Zikalala who has just become the first person in the country to do a sign language podcast. As one of only eleven (11) interpreters in South Africa who are accredited with the South African Translation Institute (SATI), Thuli is passionate about finding creative ways of making the language and skill accessible to a wider audience Guest: Thuli Zikalala, Sign language inte...

A new report released by Friends of the Earth U.S and Oil Change International reveals that South Africa has not been aligned with a job-rich, clean energy future. The report urges South Africa and other G20 governments to stop using public money to prop up the fossil fuel industry, and instead invest in a just and sustainable recovery Guest: Glen Tyler-Davies, South African team leader @350Africa...

On World News today we look at South Africa – Lesotho Bilateral Relations: Our discussion is informed by the fact that the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho Dr. Moeketsi Majoro is currently visiting South Africa following his swearing in ceremony that took place last month. The two leaders we are told will discuss bilateral cooperation, regional and continental issues of mutual interests am...

We hear from the Progressive Student Movement on why they want Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to resign. They are accusing her of incompetence saying that she has long overstayed her welcome and its time the minister considered having an early retirement. Guest: Kabelo Nthekiso, President General of the Progressive Student Movement

Thirty-one schools across the Eastern Cape, mostly in Buffalo City, have been closed after twenty people tested positive for coronavirus. 15 teachers, three learners and two non-teaching staff tested positive. Guest: Loyiso Pulumani, Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Education

The Constitutional Court has declared the Electoral Act unconstitutional - meaning independent candidates are allowed to contest for national and provincial elections without being member of a political party. The case was brought by civil society organisation the New Nation Movement and others. Parliament has 24 months to remedy the Electoral Act. Guest: Pule Mabe, ANC National spokesperson Guest...

Still on the Constitutional Court ruling, we now hear from the New Nation Movement as they are the ones who took this matter to court to challenge the current Electoral Act 73 of 1998, arguing that it infringes on the right to exercise individual political choices. Guest: Bulelani Mkhohliswa, National Coordinator of the New Nation Movement (NNM)

Will today’s ruling affect next year’s elections? Lawson Naidoo explains the significance of the ConCourt ruling and what it means for our young democracy moving forward. Today’s ruling will certainly change South Africa’s political landscape, with the country expected to head to the polls again next year for the municipal elections Guest: Lawson Naidoo - Executive Secretary at the Council for the...

We look at the political implications of today’s Constitutional Court ruling – assessing as to how will this ruling affect different political parties and different political movements in the country. Guest: Professor Sethulego Matebesi, Political analyst from the University of North West

BSS: The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have called on the sector's leaders to ensure that further measures are in place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. This as the number of mineworkers, testing positive for the coronavirus, continues to rise daily. There are now 679 confirmed Covid-19 cases at various mines countrywide. However, the Minerals Council of South...

Domestic flights between O.R. Tambo International, Cape Town International and, King Shaka International Airports have resumed. Airports Company of South Africa says various measures have been put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of passengers and staff at the airport. We now speak to the General Manager at O.R Tambo International Airport, Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana abou...

Parliament yesterday adopted new virtual rules of the House, despite interruptions by the EFF. This was the first time voting was conducted in hybrid platform Guest: Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo

How do we reduce road fatalities in South Africa? According to a report issued by the Road Traffic Management Corporation – South Africa recorded 12 503 fatalities last year, a 3% fall from 12921 in 2018. However, the Automobile Association says that the total number of deaths on the roads is still too high and would remain a problem until government intervenes. Layton Beard, spokesperson for the...

World News today: The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro recently announced that his country will for the first time in many years begin charging for petrol. Venezuela's oil industry is in ruins, forcing the government to look elsewhere for its fuel supplies. Guest: Prof Lyall White, Senior Director of the Johannesburg Business School

We unlock President Ramaphosa’s response on the constitutionality of the National Coronavirus Command Council as we know that its legal standing has been questioned. DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach recently asked President Ramaphosa on "which existing Act of Parliament, regulation or provision of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa" did he rely on when he established the NCCC and from which...

Burundi's outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza has died, the government of the central African nation announced a few moments ago. Last month Burundi elected a new leader, retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was flagbearer for the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Nkurunziza, who has faced accusations of political repression at home and abroad since coming to power in 2005, was due to stay in office u...

Following a reported number of alcohol-related deaths countrywide and a rise in trauma cases in hospitals just a few days into Level 3 restrictions, we ask - did government make the right decision to lift the ban on alcohol? Guest: Lebo Ramafoko, CEO of Tikano Atlantic Fellows

Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts is preparing to subpoena the liquidators of SA Express if they fail to appear again next week. This is after they were absent at today's meeting, where they were scheduled to brief the committee on the progress of the liquidation process. Members felt that the liquidators were undermining the authority of parliament by not informing the committee...

Eastern Cape Covid-19 related deaths are predicted to reach 6,000 in November this year. The prediction is according to a comprehensive report compiled by the Eastern Cape provincial command council. Meanwhile the Health Department in the province has disputed this figure Guest: Eastern Cape health superintendent-general, Dr Thobile Mbengashe

Lawyers for a grade 8 learner, who drowned on a school camp at the beginning of the year, say Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi has never offered them a settlement. Lesufi earlier mentioned that the department was being sued by Enoch Mpianzi's family. He said that the department would likely not oppose the application. Mpianzi drowned after a makeshift raft capsized on the Crocodile River at t...

Labour and employment minister Thulas Nxesi has issued new regulations on Covid-19 that scrap the requirement that employees who have been diagnosed with the disease can only return to work after testing negative for the virus. According to him, this will assist in reducing pressure on the state laboratory Guest: Tibor Szana, Chief Inspector, Occupational Health and Safety at the Department of Lab...

World News today: On Thursday last week, the Burundi constitutional court upheld the presidential election of retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye. According to voter results, Ndayishimiye won the election with 69 percent of the votes. However, Agathon Rwasa, who supposedly won 24 percent of the votes, filed a complaint claiming that Ndayishimiye’s party had committed electoral fraud. Guest : Sar...