The National Pulse

Companies across Africa have taken rapid steps to initiate community emergency relief efforts in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for ongoing social relief will be front of mind for a network of African purpose-led Shared Value companies and leaders, who will participate in the continent's first ever virtual Shared Value Leadership event from 2-5 June 2020 to discuss challenges faced by...

The SA Youth Chamber of Commerce has been assessing the Impact of the Covid-19 national lockdown on small businesses in South Africa. As the country officially enters level alert three of the lockdown, the Youth Chamber of Commerce says many businesses have suffered unrecoverable costs and some are on the brink of closure. We now speak to the President of the Youth Chamber of Commerce, Thapelo Mal...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the Advocates Ouma Rasethaba and Rodney de Kock as the deputy national directors of the National Prosecuting Authority. The pair will start their duties effective from today. Ramaphosa has also appointed Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga as the Special Director of Public Prosecutions in the office of the NDPP Shamil Batohi. Advocate Mhaga will provide legal advice to t...

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has just concluded tabling the Provincial Government's 1st ever Virtual Budget 2020 for the Office of the Premier. His speech also focused on the latest developments on the Coronavirus pandemic Guest: Sihle Zikalala, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal

Moving further afield: European Union and UK negotiators begin their final round of scheduled trade negotiations today. For more details on this, let’s hear from the BBC’s Europe Editor Katya Adler. Guest: Dr David Monyae - Director at the Centre for Africa China studies at the University of Johannesburg

We look at the recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal against the South African Reserve Bank. On Friday last week, the Supreme Court of Appeal found the decision by the South African Reserve Bank to refuse access to the records requested by the South African History Archive and Open Secrets in respect of the late Brigadier Blaauw, Robert Hill and Vito Palazzolo in terms of the Promotion of A...

BSS Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, says schools must keep a Covid19 file, to record their work plan and incidents affecting the institution amid pandemic. Motshekga has apologized for rescheduling last night's briefing - on whether schools would reopen today - amid on-going consultations. Speaking during a media briefing in Rustenburg, in the North West, Motshekga says schools must res...

I’m sure many of you may have heard or read about some worrying reports that suggest that South Africa may run out of burial space due to Covid19. The spread of coronavirus infections has already prompted a number of changes to our daily lives, including how communities conduct funerals. But the changes made for funerals might even be further removed from what we have known. The demand for burial...

South Africa was not better off under the depraved system of apartheid this according to the Institute of Race Relations. The Institute was responding to claims made by Unathi Kwaza, who was elected this year to the IRR Council, who tweeted over the weekend that: 'Black people were better off under apartheid. It's time we admit this. At least those of us with honour.' Meanwhile the Institute's CEO...

Moving further afield now, we look at the sad story of George Floyd which has made international headlines. The death of George Floyd in police custody last Monday has spurred a nationwide explosion of grief and anger in the US. Rev Todd Yeary who is the Senior Vice President of the Rainbow Push Coalition joins us to unpack the events of the past week, including what has been happening recently. M...

Unisa’s Prof Malik Maaza has been awarded the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE)—a major recognition at a continental level for his pioneering work in science and technology. Guest: Prof Malik Maaza, an African physicist and an accomplished researcher and educator

We now speak to the Black Business Council who recently met with National Treasury over the 200 billion loan guarantee scheme. The meeting was to explore how the scheme can cater for and include non-bank small, medium and micro enterprise businesses Guest: Bonolo Ramokhele, Treasurer General of the Black Business Council

As lock down restrictions are slowly being lifted. We hear from Xolile Sizani on what companies need to do, firstly to prepare themselves and to promote best practices around hygiene and cleaning. Sizani is of the view that there is no need to panic, but there is a need to focus on taking a long term and positive view of what lies ahead. Guest: Xolile Sizani, Group Chief Executive Officer at Serve...

Meanwhile, the Black First Land First (BLF) say they are not surprised by the North Gauteng High Court's declaration of Ms Dudu Myeni as a delinquent director for life, as she is being "Punished for Transformation" Guest: Zanele Lwana, Deputy President of Black First Land First (BLF)

Former SAA chair, Dudu Myeni intends to challenge a High Court decision which declared her a delinquent director, in terms of the Companies Act. Myeni had been accused of plunging the national carrier into financial chaos while she was chairperson. So what are the legal ramifications of being labelled a delinquent director? Guest: Tebogo Malatji, Managing Director of Malatji and Co.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the alert level for the whole country will be lowered from level 4 to level 3. We hear from the Mayor of uMsunduzi Municipality who joins us to share the city’s lockdown compliance assessment and the state of readiness into alert level 3. This after various videos of overcrowding emerged on social media, something that is very disturbing inde...

Following City Power’s announcement that it may be forced to cut electricity to certain areas of Johannesburg – we hear from its spokesperson Isaac Mangena on what informs this decision. Apparently the cuts will be implemented everyday between 16:00pm and 22:00pm in areas where monitoring suggests infrastructure is at risk Guest: Isaac Mangena, Spokesperson for City Power

We are now in conversation with the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, also known as FAIS, who promote consumer protection and contribute to the integrity of the financial services industry by resolving complaints. We are going to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on insurance policies and investments. The Institution also says that consumers need to know that the FAIS Ombud Office is...

In other news ... Judgement has been reserved in the DA's application to have the last month's court decision regarding the Tshwane Metro implemented. The High Court in Pretoria overturned the Gauteng's provincial government's dissolution of the Tshwane Metro. The DA wants the ruling implemented while the appeal process continues. The ANC controlled provincial government had asked the High Court i...

The SABC has confirmed that operations at its Durban office will resume on Friday. The building was shut down yesterday after staffs were informed that an employee tested positive for COVID-19. UKhozi FM DJ Tshatha Ngobe yesterday informed his employer of his initial positive results. But a call from the JDJ Diagnostics laboratory in Durban today- where Ngobe was tested- confirmed that his initial...

On Both Sides of the Story we speak to Bishop Bheki Ngcobo, from the Durban Zionist Church, who is demanding compensation for churches who lost revenue due to lockdown regulations. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa announcement that places of worship will reopen in alert level 3. President Ramaphosa says there should be only 50 per religious service under stringent restrictions to curb the spre...

Eastern Cape police have arrested two suspects for allegedly defrauding the provincial education department of over three-million rand. The ten year-old case has finally been transferred to the Hawks. Guest: Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha

The Tobacco Transformation Alliance has called for an inquiry into alleged links between illicit tobacco traders and high profile politicians. The Alliance has also called for government to lift the ban on the sale and distribution on tobacco products when the country reverts to alert level-three of the nationwide lockdown Guest: Shadrack Sibisi, Chairperson of the Tobacco Transformation Alliance

Dr Anthony Turton from the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State joins us to explain how South Africa can use sewage to test for Covid19. He says what is known to scientists, but not yet apparent to the public, is that the virus is shed in human waste. Guest: Dr Anthony Turton, from the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State (UFS)

One South Africa Movement says they are heading to court to ensure the safe reopening of schools on the first of June. This after the department of basic education and the presidency failed to respond to their letter which asks for clarity on how the government will ensure the safety of teachers and students… Guest: Mmusi Maimane, Chief Activist for One South Africa Movement