The National Pulse

World News today: The government of Botswana says that it might extend its state of emergency to six months. According to President Mokgweetsi Masisi, this will enable the state to channel all its resources and energies to fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19). He met with opposition party leaders on Monday in the capital Gaborone. However, the main opposition party, the Umbrella for Democratic Chan...

In the next few days, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s sixth administration will decide whether it will extend the lockdown or not. On the other hand, Dr Ralph Mathekga – one of SA’s leading political analysts, argues that if we fail to control the spread of the virus during the lockdown, we must maintain the lockdown or even impose tougher restrictions than we have done before. Anything short of this...

News24 has apologized to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their 'Africa vaccine' story. News24 published an article which claimed that the Foundation wanted to test a vaccine for coronavirus in Africa, which turned out not to be true. This has since raised questions about fact checking among journalists. To elaborate further on this, we're joined on the line by.... Guest: Mahlatse Mahlase...

The World Health organisation is this year using World Health Day to highlight the work of nursing and midwifery across the world while celebrating this workforce as one of the most valuable resources of every country. Guest: Simon Hlungwani- President of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa)

In the latest evolution of cybercriminals’ attempts to exploit the coronavirus pandemic for nefarious purposes, Mimecast Brand Exploit Protect has found nearly 60 000 coronavirus websites that were established over two weeks ago with the majority of these found to be malicious. Guest: Brian Pinnock- Mimecast cyber security specialist

How do parents navigate around it when they are not living together? What are the children’s rights in such a situation? What are the dos and don’ts? The Department of Social Development issued regulations on 30 March 2020, outlining both the obligations of parents and those others who may have primary residency over their children during the lockdown, as well as their duties towards the parents w...

Vishwas Satgar talks about the importance of promoting a peoples’ driven approach to food sovereignty during the national lockdown. His organisation is demanding that food supermarkets must work with government to ensure the food reaches food stressed communities. Guest: Vishwas Satgar, Board Chairperson Cooperative and Policy Alternative Centre and SAFSC activist

One of South Africa's most popular TV presenters has passed on. Vinolia "V Mash" Mashego, who hosted the 90's SABC 1 youth show - 'Jam Alley' has died in her sleep at her home in Mamelodi, Pretoria. She was also an actress on South Africa’s popular soapy Generations. GUEST: Nimrod Nkosi – Co-presenter on Jam Alley

Celebrating Excellence: Today we celebrate Senamile Masango who made headlines in 2017 when she became the first African woman to conduct an experiment at CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. Guest: Senamile Masango, nuclear scientist And Board Member Of South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)

Today on Both Sides of the Story we ask, are there any limitations as to who should lend a hand during Covid-19? Our discussion is informed by the fact that recently, the KwaZulu-Natal wing of the MKMVA issued out a rallying call to its members to occupy the streets in an effort to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus. However, DA's Phumzile Van Damme objected to this, saying she hopes...

What is the role of Traditional Leaders in disseminating information to rural South Africans on the novel coronavirus? And how are traditional leaders dealing with the outbreak of the virus in their areas and ensuring communities under traditional leadership are adhering to the lockdown restrictions? Guest: Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu, the chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders

The Premier of Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane has established an Economic Commission to assist the business sector in the province after the coronavirus lockdown ends. Guest: Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane's spokesperson Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha

Several motorists have been arrested in a joint operation between Jo'burg Metro Police and Gauteng Traffic Police over the weekend. Law enforcement officers held several roadblocks in Johannesburg and surrounding areas to ensure residents comply with Covid-19 regulations. Guest: Prince Mlimandlela Ndamase, spokesperson for Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo

A U.K. animal charity known as Medical Detection Dogs which trains dogs to sniff out various diseases, including cancer, announced recently that it has begun training dogs to be able to detect people infected with COVID-19. Apparently their dogs are also able to detect subtle changes in temperature of the skin, meaning the dogs could know if a person had a fever. Guest: John Faul, Animal behaviour...

Last week we spoke briefly about the United Nations food agency having negotiated a humanitarian corridor to keep food aid flowing in Southern Africa after many countries shut their borders to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 45 million people in Southern Africa face hunger following a devastating drought and two cyclones last year and there are growing fears the crisis could be...

Last week Friday, Nehawu took legal action against government to compel it to protect its members on duty and at risk of contracting Covid-19. Nehawu said it took this decision after numerous and mounting reports of the government’s failure to develop and implement a rollout plan that includes provision of personal protective equipment and sanitisers to health workers. Guest: Khaya Xaba, National...

Eskom is calling on community members to take ownership of the electricity network infrastructure by safeguarding it and reporting any crimes, including illegal connections and meter bypasses. This after the power utility witnessed an increase in the theft and vandalism of its electricity infrastructure in the Gauteng province even during this crucial Covid19 national lockdown. Guest: Motlhabane R...

The United Nations food agency has negotiated a humanitarian corridor to keep food aid flowing in Southern Africa after many countries shut their borders to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 45 million people in Southern Africa face hunger following a devastating drought and two cyclones last year, and there are growing fears the crisis could be compounded by the outbreak of COVID...

Shabir Ahmed joins us to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the mining sector. South Africa’s mining sector is particularly exposed to the spread of Covid-19. According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, the industry employs a workforce numbering almost 420,000, many of whom are underground on any given day. Guest: Shabir Ahmed, Industry Advisor for Mining at SAP Africa

North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro outlines steps and programmes that the North West Provincial Government is implementing to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the national lockdown. Guest: Professor Job Mokgoro, Premier of North West province

Eskom is calling on community members to take ownership of the electricity network infrastructure by safeguarding it and reporting any crimes, including illegal connections and meter bypasses. This after the power utility witnessed an increase in the theft and vandalism of its electricity infrastructure in the Gauteng province even during this crucial Covid19 national lockdown. Guest: Motlhabane R...

World News today: Time now for World News. We will look at Africa's fight against the spread of COVID-19 and its Impact on the continent. The coronavirus which was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, WHO has forced countries around the world to take drastic steps such as national lockdowns to curb the spread. In March, Africa's COVID-19 cases by country were in the single...

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, has appealed to municipalities and private property owners to suspend evictions during the current national lockdown. Guest: Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation

We now speak to the department of Social Development which has issued a warning to NPO’s of a COVID-19 fraudulent scam that purports to “accredit and convert NPO certificate to NGO certificate to qualify for an international funding worth millions of rands”. To date, a number of NPOs registered in terms of the NPO Act (Act No. 71 of 1997) have fallen prey to this elaborate scam which seeks to frau...

SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus. He now joins us to elaborate further on how he got exposed to the virus. Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions