The National Pulse

To get some insight into how South Africans are coping in terms of their work and home lives, their views on the handling of the Covid-19 lockdown by the Government, and their understanding of the disease, Consulta surveyed more than 1 000 South Africans who are part of its online research community - known as ConsultaPanel - between 6 - 10 April 2020. Guest: Charlene van Niekerk, Project Director...

Exco Board Members say the muteness by the National Department of Health over funding for the NGOs' sector to support the fight against Covid-19, HIV and AIDS remains a distress. Exco say they want the nationally funded NGOs to assist the Department in community screening and testing but due to a lack of funding the NGO's sector is unable to help. Guest: Oupa Dlamini, Spokesperson for Exco

Corruption Watch is questioning Eskom’s media statement of 15 April 2020 on the chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer and they are arguing that a full forensic investigation did not take place in this matter and Eskom’s rush to clear its COO is both curious and concerning. They are also of the view that the release of the media statement before affording the whistle-blower an opportunity to revi...

Community Safety in Limpopo says law enforcement officers have the right to turn away and impose fines on people who attempt to access shopping malls The Department of Community Safety in Limpopo says law enforcement officers have the right to turn away and impose fines on people who attempt to access shopping malls and complexes far from their areas, during the lockdown. Some residents complain t...

Plans are afoot to offer on line education to all matriculants in the rural parts of the Eastern Cape during the lockdown period. MTN has partnered with the provincial Education Department to distribute 72 000 sim cards loaded with data to Grade 12 learners. Guest: Loyiso Pulumani- Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Education Department

The Competition Commission of South Africa has reiterated a warning that companies, accused of excessive pricing on essential goods, could be slapped with hefty penalties. This after the Competition Commission referred its first case of excessive pricing to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. Complaints were laid against the firm Babelegi Workwear for the alleged excessive pricing of face ma...

On Monday we spoke to the Legal Resources Centre regarding the demolished homes that were demolished in Empolweni, Makhaza, on Thursday last week by the City of Cape Town. The LRC approached the courts and the hearing was today. Guest: Khensani Motileni- litigation attorney at the Cape Town Regional Office of the Legal Resources Centre

Yesterday, Tiger Brands confirmed in a statement that it has temporarily closed its Durban Bakery as a precautionary measure after some staff members tested positive for Covid-19. According to the company, it has taken this decision in line with best practice protocols and in the interest of the health and safety of all its employees at the Bakery, which is its biggest priority Guest: Mary-Jane Mo...

Following constructive engagement with government officials on its earlier policy recommendations. The Institute of Race Relations will deliver a memorandum on its ‘trim down’ proposal to the Presidency, the Minister of Health, of Trade and Industry, and Finance. The memorandum sets out the significant risks of an ‘all pain, no gain’ lockdown, and makes the case for an alternative approach. Guest:...

After a few weeks away from the classroom, the national lockdown may start to feel like a holiday; but if you are a learner it is important to remember that the academic year is still ticking along. National Education Collaboration trust is tasked with supporting the department of basic education during this time of corona virus and lockdown. They also work with different radio and television stat...

World News today: As South Africa continues to observe the state-mandated nationwide lockdown in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a large majority of Africans find themselves in dire straits. Border closures, scarcity of essential goods and wide-spread food shortages mean that survival necessities are more inaccessible than ever before. To solve this problem, Hello Paisa has created an app...

Running out of alcohol during the lockdown? Dr Eugene Allers, Board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists gives expert advice on how people should cope during the lockdown and how their anxiety can be managed - as it is public knowledge that for many South Africans who enjoy a daily sundowner for stress relief and relaxation, extension of the national lockdown has sparked anxiety ab...

According to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), workers must be paid in full during the nationwide lockdown. The National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) however, believes that the contract of employment between the employer and employee has been suspended for the duration of the lockdown and, just like the employee is not obligated to tender services, the em...

Standard Chartered Bank has warned its staff to avoid using Zoom Video Communications Inc. and Google Hangouts for virtual gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic due to cyber security concerns, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Guest: Toby Shapshak – Editor-in-Chief, Stuff Magazine

Lawyers for Human Rights are considering approaching the Concourt to have waste pickers recognized as an essential service during the lockdown. This after the North Gauteng High Court last week dismissed their application on behalf of reclaimers and waste-pickers demanding recognition as essential service workers. Guest: Attorney Louise Du Plessis, from Lawyers for Human Rights

Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has called on "unscrupulous service providers" to immediately stop sabotaging efforts to provide water to communities across the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. Guest: McIntosh Polela, spokesperson for Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu

Tricia Erasmus joins us to share thoughts on the state of asylum seekers in South Africa and how the national lock-down is affecting them, in particular, the renewal of their visas - as allegations have surfaced that some asylum seekers were instructed by their employers to go on unpaid leave until their visas were renewed. Guest: Tricia Erasmus, Senior Associate and Jacquie Cassette Director and...

Sonke Gender Justice has expressed anger over the City of Cape Town’s decision to carry out evictions despite Minister Lindiwe Sisulu asking municipalities to suspend evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week Saturday, the City of Cape Town evicted occupants in Makhaza, Khayelitsha and left many families homeless, and this Sonke says highlights the City’s disregard of the measures that hav...

Yesterday, former US President Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden for President. He noted Biden’s leadership on health care, climate change, and the 2008 recovery, and said that he believes Biden is the person who can heal the country in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. But is he strong enough to take on Donald Trump? Guest on the line (UK) Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of US politics at the Uni...

Bench Marks Foundation says the South African lockdown has revealed not only the best of our human emotions but also persistent cases of the war against the poor and working people. They are arguing that now more than ever it is a time for compassionate public servants collaborating with citizen volunteers, social movements and people’s organisations, non-governmental organisations and unions to c...

A social media storm has erupted under the hashtag 'celebrities are not teachers', after certain prominent celebrities were used to read books for children during the lockdown. The digital learning initiative, Free Stem Lockdown Digital School, started over the Easter weekend and is aimed to assist pupils with their studies during the extended lockdown, set until the end of April. But some teacher...

The number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19 at East London Correctional facility has increased by 49 cases. The Department of Correctional Services are now activated a Containment and Treatment initiative to curb the Increase of COVID-19 cases. Guest: Singabakho Nxumalo, Spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services

Today Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku visited the Johannesburg Expo centre to check on the centre’s state of readiness to accommodate COVID-19 patients. The Expo Centre has been converted into a facility to accommodate coronavirus patients in order to supplement designated health facilities in Gauteng. Guest: Kwara Kekana- Spokesperson for the MEC of Health in Gauteng, Bandile Masuku

In conversation with the convener of the Total Shutdown Alex. This after a 40-year-old man was assaulted and allegedly killed in Alexandra Township last week Friday. It is alleged that Collins Khoza was beaten to death by soldiers who are tasked with enforcing the national lockdown regulations. Guest: Sandile Mavundla, Convener of the #Total Shutdown Alex

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, will conduct a joint survey looking at how COVID-19 is impacting on health workers. The data from this survey will be used to advise government on how to capacitate health workers to ensure they are able to deliver quality health care services, particularly as Sou...