The National Pulse

We now speak to Professor Steven Friedman to unravel why some democracies - but not all - are better at fighting pandemics. Professor Friedman in a very interesting article argues that when Covid-19 is contained and we have final figures, research may show that some countries did better than others for reasons which have nothing to do with how they fought the pandemic. So what does he mean by this...

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise, says she has reservations on the use of the Zoom platform for virtual meetings. This, after pornographic images were used to hack the National Assembly Programming Committee meeting this morning. A similar incident happened a few weeks ago during a virtual meeting of the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. In the meeting of t...

In case you didn’t know. The N3 Toll Route is a key transport node linking largest port, the Durban Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal to South Africa's economic hub, Gauteng. The Route transects numerous deep rural and agricultural communities as well as small towns and villages. It meanders through four of South Africa’s provinces, namely Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. guest: Bonginkos...

Today marks the end of the grace period that permitted any person who was not at their place of residence, or work before the lockdown period and who could not travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas during the lockdown: Guest: Eric Lubusi – SABC Reporter, Mpumalanga

The Global Drug Survey which is the largest independent drug survey in the world focusing on those who use drugs has launched a survey to look at the use of alcohol and drugs during the Covid 19 lock down. The main thrust of the survey is to determine how the dependence on alcohol and drugs has shifted while people are social distancing and the social meeting places not accessible. Guest: Dr. Keit...

In conversation with former mayor of Tshwane Solly Msimanga, about the state of affairs in the City of Tshwane. Msimanga questions Gauteng government’s decision to seek an appeal against the recent court judgment ruling that said “the dissolution of the Tshwane council was unlawful”. He says this proves that the ANC no longer cares about justice and the constitution. Guest: Solly Msimanga, former...

BSS: Equal Education says the Department of Basic Education has not convincingly demonstrated that all schools will be provided with the necessary resources and support to reopen. Last week Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revised the provisional date for Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners to return to school, from 6 May to 1 June. Equal Education says testimonies of their members (like learner...

Tito Mboweni – Is he being misunderstood or he’s simply not a team player? Those who know him well always argue that Mboweni sually shies away from the limelight except when he makes important announcements about the economy. But lately he has really been making controversial statements that put him at odds with his own political party. For example his views on the nationalisation of the Reserve B...

DA federal council chair Helen Zille says the government's level 4 lockdown regulations is about "control" and "authoritarianism". This after the government announced a curfew and limited time allowed for South Africans to exercise outside their house. Zille has also criticised the Disaster Management Act, which allowed for the creation of the national coronavirus command council. Guest: DA federa...

Should South Africans be concerned by the high number of daily coronavirus cases being reported? In recent days South Africa has seen a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases, with 148 deaths due to the pandemic. But what Impact will the easing of the national lockdown have on the number of Infections? To answer this we're joined on the line by... Guest: Professor Salim Abdool-Karim, Epidemiolo...

Satawu responds to Prasa’s proposed voluntary severance packages: As financial woes continue to batter the state owned company due to coronavirus pandemic - voluntary severance packages have been proposed to union members at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Trade union Satawu is in a state of shock with the attitude that has been adopted by Prasa executives and joining us to elaborate fu...

World News today: “The United States government through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committing funds to support South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic” Guest: Lana Marks, US Ambassador to South Africa

How is Limpopo doing in the fight against Covid19? About seven days ago, the province was reported to have screened 2.7m people for COVID-19. Also the Health MEC in the province revealed that her department has deployed a team of more than 10,000 people to conduct household screening. Guest: Dr Phophi Ramathuba, MEC for Health in Limpopo

BSS: There has been a surge in reports pertaining to the politicization of distribution of food amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In different parts of the country political parties have accused each other of trying to score political points through food distribution and depriving the most vulnerable who are not affiliated to the party. In KZN the IFP have accused the ANC of preventing them from distrib...

A 61-year- old life serving prisoner has died from COVID-19 related complications at the West Bank Female Prison in East London this week. According to the president of the South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation, Phindile Zweni, the Butterworth woman was arrested in 2000 for murder and culpable homicide and was sentenced for life in 2008. Guest: Phindile Zweni, President...

Comair today announced the group will enter business rescue to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the Covid-19 crisis disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan. GUEST: Guy Leitch, editor of SA Flyer Magazine

a day used to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities, thus protecting health care workers and patients from infections. As the world continues to battle Covid19 - the main goal of the Global Hand Hygiene Day campaign is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective actions you can take to prevent infections. Guest: Dr Kgosi Let...

About 4.5 million Italians returned to work Yesterday. Italy as you may recall is one of the countries that were hardest hit by Covid19. Currently, more than 210,000 people in the country have been infected and the government imposed strict lockdown policies on March 9 in its efforts to flatten the curve. Guest on the line (Sweden) Vito Laterza, Associate Professor in Development Studies at the Un...

The British American Tobacco South Africa has given Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma an ultimatum to amend regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products by today or face legal action. Earlier President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of cigarettes would be allowed under Level 4 regulations. However, last week Dlamini-Zuma reversed Ramaphosa's announcement wh...

Latest developments at SAA: This past weekend government confirmed that it was developing a business case to create a “new” national carrier. The plan emerged after the government and union representatives on Friday concluded crunch talks to avert SAA’s collapse following SAA joint business rescuers Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana threatening to quit the process. Guest: Ephraim Mphahlele, General...

Many of South Africa's major banks promised to offer debt relief for businesses and payment holidays for Individuals affected by COVID-19. We now speak to one of these banks, Absa, about the bank's Payment Relief Programme and how many clients and customers they have been able to assist since the launch of the Programme on the 30th of March this year. Guest: Bongiwe Gangeni - Deputy CEO of Absa Re...

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says they are in consultations with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the police. This after some long distance travelers were left stranded and inconvenienced by SAPS and traffic officers who stopped them on the road due to the set Covid-19 curfew. Minister Mbalula has apologized to the travels who were affected over the weekend...

Emergency Medical Services workers based in Khayelitsha have embarked on a strike, arguing that they have never been screened or given adequate personal protection equipment in the battle against Covid19. Guest: Eric Kweleta, Provincial Secretary of Nehawu in the Western Cape

Today is the deadline for SAA workers to choose between terminating their contracts or liquidating the airline. Recently we have heard that SAA’s rescue practitioners and workers’ unions are of the view that the airline is on the verge of being liquidated. To give us an update guest: Ephrahim Mphahlele, General Secretary of the National transport movement

52 The African Christian Democratic Party, ACDP says there is no rationale in risking the lives of our children to complete the academic school year. The party was reacting to the proposed re-opening of schools by the Department of Basic Education. To elaborate further on their concerns, Guest: ACDP MP Marie Sukers