POWER Talk: Recent Episodes
POWER Talk
POWER Talk is a mid-morning talk show programme, hosted by political scientist Lukhona Mnguni. The show delves deeper into the news of the day along with larger societal themes, inviting listeners to help unpack issues on the day’s current affairs agenda and topics close to their hearts. Mnguni also interviews the biggest newsmakers and experts in South Africa, helping listeners makes sense of their world.
Dr. Mphahlela James Thaba, the Impact Area Manager and Head of Technology for Special Operations at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) speaks to POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya about the Lekgotla taking place at the CSIR and their involvement.
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Colonel Keitumetse Dirkse, Senior Staff Officer Joint In-service Procurement and Disposal speaks to POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya on the purpose of the inaugural South African Defence Industry Lekgotla held in Pretoria from the 20th - 21st July 2026
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PRASA is planning to restore; limited service; on four of its primary long-distance routes next year, aiming to revitalize a rail network that has been largely dormant. However, this comeback faces significant mechanical hurdles. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Lucky Zondi, national sector coordinator for passenger rail.
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The Health Ombudsman has concluded that critical safety failures were a direct contributor to the death of Lerato Mohlamme, a psychiatric patient at George Mukhari Academic Hospital. The findings, released this Monday, emerged from a comprehensive investigation into patient safety incidents across Gauteng. The report details a tragic 2024 incident where a fire broke out in a hospital ward; while 17 other patients were successfully evacuated, Mohlamme did not survive. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Health Ombudsman - Professor Taole Mokoena.
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The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has issued a sharp condemnation following the installation of a Nigerian traditional leader in East London, Eastern Cape, an event the party has labeled a "dangerous precedent." On March 19, 2026, ATM Member of Parliament Vuyo Zungula shared an official statement via his X account, rejecting the March 14 coronation of Solomon Ogbonna Eziko under the title “Igwe Ndigbo Na East London.” Mondli Makhanya spoke to, ATM Member of Parliament Vuyo Zungula and Edoseghe Prince Erhahon who is the Publicity Secretary for Nigerian Union South Africa.
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President Donald Trump intensified global tensions on Saturday by issuing a stark ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Islamic Republic does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. This aggressive rhetoric prompted an immediate and defiant response from Iranian leadership, who vowed to redouble their strikes against U.S. and Israeli energy installations and other critical infrastructure in retaliation. Mondi Makhanya spoke to Thembisa FakudeSenior Researcher and Director at Afrasid
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Hubert Kabasu Babu Katulondi Congolese political analyst, writer, and journalist speaks to POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya, Voters in the Republic of Congo will be heading to the polls in a presidential election this weekend, with the outcome of the vote all but a foregone conclusion as the country’s longtime leader faces little opposition in the political arena.
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Ofer Nieman, Israel based Journalist , Prof David Monyae is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg and Dr Dick Forslund, Senior Economist at AIDC and member of Zabalaza for Socialism
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POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya is in conversation with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) following a press briefing announcing preparations for the 2026 Local government elections. Mamabolo outlines issues pertaining to the upcoming voter registration dates, new technologies introduced to make registration and voting secure, fair and seamless and the eminent announcement of election dates.
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POWER Talk show host Mondli Makhanya speaks to Business day journalist Mudiwa Gavaza and Thinus Ferreira, an independent TV critic, writer and journalist on the state of streaming Tv services in South Africa and what the competition means for the South African national broadcaster
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Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi speaks to POWER Talk show host Mondli Makhanya on concerns around sanitary pads safety after a University of Free State research showed presence of endocrine disputing chemicals.
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POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya is in conversation with the CEO of Afriforum Kallie Kriel on the Expropriation Act, Farm murders – white genocide claims, allegations that journalists possibly paid to discredit AfriForum and more
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POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya speaks to The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba , Archbishop of Cape Town and primate of Southern Africa on justice, freedom and an update on the National Dialogue
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South Africa's constitution turns 30 years. POWER Talk host Mondli Makhanya talks to Deputy minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Executive secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African constitition and Commissioner at the SAHRC Chris Nissen about the gaps, reflections and progress made over the past three decades
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Vision Sugar allegedly hijacked Tongaat Hulett by buying discounted bank debt and triggering a R11.7 billion repayment demand to push the company toward liquidation instead of recovery. POWER Talk show host Bongi Gwala speaks to Amabhungane investigative journalist Sam Sold as South Africa races to save 134-year-old sugar giant with 2 million-ton milling capacity from shutdown
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The veteran civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, who has died aged 84, made historywhen he stood for the White House in 1984 and 1988. He was not the first African American toseek the US presidency, but he was the first to mount a serious challenge, breaking through racial barriers, securing millions of votes and, at one point, becoming frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi speaks to Ambassador Barbra Masekela, South African poet, educator, and activist(Ambassador to France and UNESCO in 1995)
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NHI Developments: Where are we now? POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi speaks to Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director of the Board of Healthcare Funders, Dr Donald Gumede NHCPA National Health Care Professionals Association chairman and Dr. Mvuyisi Mzukwa from the South African Medical Association about the progress of implementing NHI in South Africa
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Dr Gideon Bruckner, state veterinarian and Dr Mmatlou Kalaba is a senior analyst and executive director at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy(BFAP) join POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on a special on Foot and Mouth disease. South Africa has faced widespread outbreaks, notably in 2024-2025, spreading from endemic zones into commercial farms via illegal movements.
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Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has announced an increase in the statutory National Minimum Wage (NMW) for 2026, raising it from R28.79 to R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked. POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Zanele Sabela, COSATU National spokesperson about wht this means
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In a monumental stride towards combating one of the continent's most pressing health crises, South Africa has launched the BRILLIANT 011 first-in-human clinical trial at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) site at Groote Schuur Hospital. POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi speaks to Prof Nigel Garret, Chief Scientific officer at the the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation
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The Innovative Building Technologies Summit 2026 @MbuyiseniNdlozi is in conversation with MEC of Gauteng, Tasneem Motara and the MEC of Human Settlements in Free State, Teboho Mokoena about the importance of the summit. #POWERTalk @The_DHS
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The theme of the Innovative Building Technologies Summit 2026 is “Mainstreaming Innovative Building Technologies in Human Settlements.” @MbuyiseniNdlozi is in conversation with Chief Director responsible for Affordable Housing in the National Department of Human Settlements, Monwabisi Maclean. #POWERTalk @The_DHS
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Rudi Dicks , the Head of the Project Management Office in the Private Office of the President, speaks to POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on Operation Vulindlela third-quarter performance report released: Progress report on Operation Vulindlela's Q3 shows the country's reform agenda is on track, with green shoots & job creation targets - tell me all the latest on this. but write like its a research paper.
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South Africa declared the top diplomat at Israel's embassy persona non grata on Friday and ordered him out within 72 hours, a move that could worsen strained relations with the United States. POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi speaks to Prof David Monyae, an associate Professor of political science and Internationalrelations at the University of Johannesburg
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was in conversation with Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.
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South Africa’s participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos has yielded a range of political, economic and strategic outcomes, particularly in shaping international perceptions and strengthening engagement with global investors and policymakers. While Davos is not typically a platform where formal agreements are signed, its value lies in agenda-setting, confidence-building and relationship-deepening — areas in which South Africa’s delegation focused its efforts. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Dirco Spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases for public office-bearers in South Africa following the annual review process conducted by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers. These increases apply to the 2025/26 financial year and take effect from 1 April, with the adjustments backdated to the start of the financial year. The approval was formalised through a presidential determination published in the Government Gazette, as required by law. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with SAFTU General Secretary- Zwelinzima Vavi and JOASA President, Neelan Karikan.
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British American Tobacco South Africa, commonly referred to as BATSA, has announced that it will cease all local cigarette manufacturing and close its only production plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng, by the end of 2026. This represents a major shift for the company, which has had a manufacturing presence in South Africa for decades. While this move marks the end of local production, BATSA will continue to operate in South Africa by importing and distributing its products, rather than producing them domestically. This is a strategic decision driven largely by economic and market realities rather than a full corporate exit from the country. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Tax Justice SA, Yusuf Abramjee and South Africa Tobacco Transformation Alliance, Francios van de Merwe.
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The tragic learner transport accident that occurred in Vanderbijlpark on the morning of 19 January has once again placed the safety of scholar transport in South Africa under intense scrutiny. The crash, involving a scholar transport minibus and a heavy vehicle, resulted in the deaths of several learners and left others critically injured while they were travelling to school. Beyond the immediate loss of young lives, the incident has exposed deep-seated and long-standing systemic failures within the country’s learner transport system. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Wheel Well Founder, Peggie Mars.
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The recent flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga has been formally classified as a national disaster following extensive assessments by South Africa’s disaster management authorities. This classification reflects the scale, severity and impact of the floods, which have gone beyond the capacity of provincial and municipal governments to manage using their own resources. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Head of National Disaster Management Centre, Dr Elias Sithole.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially appointed Advocate Andy Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), succeeding Advocate Shamila Batohi, who retired in January 2026 after serving in the position since 2018. Batohi’s tenure was marked by a determined effort to restore the credibility and independence of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with CSAC Executive Director, Lawson Naidoo.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Associate Editor of the Daily Friend, and defence analyst at the Institute of Race Relations, Ricardo Teixeira.
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The Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, and Transport Deputy. Minister, Mr. Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have announced the re-election of South Africa back into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the 34th session of the IMO Assembly - held at its headquarters in London, on Friday, 28 November 2025. South Africa was a member of the IMO Council for 22 years, since 1999. It has, however, been out in the cold since 2021 after not being re-elected into the Council. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
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Khomotso Johannes Phahlane is a former senior officer of the South African Police Service. He served in various roles over his career, including constable, detective, personnel manager, and later as head of the SAPS Forensic Services Division. He was appointed Acting National Commissioner of the police in October 2015 after the suspension of the previous commissioner. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is In conversation with Former Acting National Police Commissioner, General Kgomotso Phahlane.
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The African National Congress enters this period facing critical questions about its internal cohesion, its public standing and its ability to renew itself as both a political organisation and as the leading party in government.
At the same time, the Government of National Unity continues to demand cooperation, compromise and strategic alignment among parties that have historically been political opponents. The functioning, stability and policy direction of the GNU remain central to the country’s governance and service delivery.
And as we move closer to the upcoming local government elections, communities across the country are asking what practical steps are being taken to strengthen municipalities, ensure accountability, improve service delivery and restore confidence in local governance structures.
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with African National Congress Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula.
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President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing another term amid days of unrest across the country. Samia won 98% of the votes in Wednesday's poll, the electoral commission said. In her Saturday victory speech she said the election was "free and democratic", accusing protesters of being "unpatriotic". Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Tanzania Based Journalist, Gabriel Zakaria.
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The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into effect on 10 October 2025, brokered by the United States. The truce includes a halt to large-scale hostilities, the release of hostages and remains, increased humanitarian access to Gaza, partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and eventual disarmament of Hamas. Despite the formal truce, both sides have reported ongoing violations and escalations. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with International Relations Strategist, Zeenat Adam.
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The SA Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria), the state-owned special risks insurer, has still not fully recovered from the R24.3bn loss it suffered in the 2021 riots, but its financial position strengthened last year. Sasria insures against acts of terrorism, labour and civil unrest and riots, events that private sector insurers are unwilling to cover. High levels of poverty and unemployment contribute to the risks it has to deal with. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with SASRIA CEO, Mpumi Tyikwe.
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The High Court of Malawi has overturned the extradition of self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri, finding that a magistrate’s decision to hand them over to South Africa was legally unsound, procedurally unfair, and put their lives at risk. In a judgment delivered on Friday, October 31, 2025, Justice Mzonde Mvula ruled that the extradition process “fell short” of the standards required under Malawi law and that the couple had been denied their constitutional right to be heard. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Department of Constitutional Development Spokesperson, Terrence Manase and Legal Analyst, Ian Allis.
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General Tau Tshekiso who was also removed in unfavorable circumstances . He speaks to POWER Talk host, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi
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Ramadan Ahmed, editor of Sudan horizon.com speaks to POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi following reports of rapid support forces capturing the army headquarters in the city of El Fashrer
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The stories of Whistleblowers over five years. Dr Ugljesa Radulovic, researcher at the University of Johannesburg and Ben Theron, Founder of Whistleblower house speak to POWER Talk host Mbuyiseni Ndlozi
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Removed without warning: Dr Leah Shibambo, former deputy police commissioner speaks to POWER Talk host Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on her exit under Riah Phiyega. Joining in on the conversation is General Tau Tshekiso who was also removed in unfavourable circumstances.
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Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was in conversation with, Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
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Senzo Mchunu, the national Police Minister, was placed on special leave following serious allegations of political interference, corruption, and collusion with organised crime. The allegations were first made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that Mchunu ordered the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and interfered in investigations. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with UNISA Senior Policing Lecturer, Dr Mpho Matlala and Criminologist, Prof. Nirmala Gopal.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Mr Imtiaz Fazel, pending a decision in an investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) into the Inspector-General’s conduct. Mbuyiseni Ndlosi is in conversation with UNISA Lecturer at the College of Law: Police Practice Department, Prof. Dumisani Mabunda.
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In stark contrast to global trends, life expectancy in SA was worse in 2023 than two decades earlier, as a rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) undermined the country’s gains against HIV/Aids.
Life expectancy in SA fell to 66.55 years in 2023 compared with 67.73 in 1990, according to The Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease study, launched on Sunday at the World Health Summit in Berlin. Global life expectancy increased by almost 10 years over this period, rising from 64.64 years in 1990 to 73.84 years in 2023. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with an extraordinary professor of global health at Stellenbosch University, Prof, Charles Wiysonge.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Madlanga Commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels about the commission's adjournment due to General Dumisani Khumalo's ill health.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with JOASA President, Neelan Karikan about the allegations of bribery involving Magistrates.
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POWER Talk host Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with MK party Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela on the party's urgent court application to have the Madlanga commission stopped.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in conversation with Department of Transport Spokesperson Collen Msibi.
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Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned freight logistics company, has undergone a significant transformation from its historical role as a national railway operator to its current form as a multifaceted entity managing rail, ports, pipelines, terminals, and engineering services. While the company has long served as the backbone of the country’s logistics network, it has also faced serious challenges over the past decade, including operational inefficiencies, leadership instability, and financial decline. In recent years, however, Transnet has made notable strides toward recovery. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Transnet Group CFO, Nisipho Maphumulo.
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The rand manipulation case centers on allegations that between 2007 and 2013, 28 local and international banks colluded to manipulate the USD/ZAR exchange rate. The Competition Commission of South Africa launched the investigation after receiving a tip-off in 2015. The Commission alleges that traders from banks including Standard Bank, FirstRand, Nedbank, Investec, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Credit Suisse, Citibank, Barclays Africa, and Standard Chartered conspired through secret chatrooms on Bloomberg terminals. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with author of Steinheist and former editor of Financial Mail, Rob Rose and Independent Bank Analyst, Nolwandle Mthombeni.
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Sipho Madonsela has been serving a life sentence since 2001 for the alleged murder of Dumezweni Innocent Ndlovu,a man who is still alive. The shocking revelation surfaced during a victim-offender dialogue at Pietermaritzburg New Prison, where Ndlovu came face to face with Madonsela and confirmed he had never met him before, nor had he ever been stabbed. The encounter revealed what appears to be a grave miscarriage of justice, as Madonsela and his co-accused, Mthandeni Shange, were convicted of a murder that never happened. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Mthandeni Shange, co-accused alongside Sipho Madonsela, arrested in September 2001, Dumezweni Ndlovu, alleged victim of a murder and Department of Correctional Services Spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo.
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South Africa’s prisons are operating at crisis levels, holding 52 percent more inmates than they were designed for. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) told Parliament that facilities meant for about 103,000 inmates are now accommodating close to 157,000. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Kgomotso Ramolobeng.
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Container homes, built in 2021 to ease overcrowding in Alexandra, Johannesburg, at the height of the covid pandemic, remain unoccupied. A year after unlawful occupiers were evicted for the second time, the complex’s hundreds of living spaces stand empty. And the City still cannot commit to a timeframe for when they will be allocated. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Johannesburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso.
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In a country grappling with high unemployment and poor education outcomes, one partnership is proving that maths and science can be more than subjects - they can be a lifeline, not only for individuals but for the country at large. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, 92 million current jobs could be displaced globally by 2030 due to the impact of automation, technological advancements and changing consumer behaviour. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Advantage Learn CEO, James Lees.
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The National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) presents its final report, marking the culmination of three years of work to advise on the fight against corruption in South Africa. This report comes five years after the adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), both of which are critical interventions in the ongoing struggle against corruption, an existential threat to our democracy. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with NACAC Member, David Lewis.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with CEO GMA Tshepo Kgobe.
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Redge Nkosi- Economist and First Source Money Executive Director
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On 16 August 2012, South Africa witnessed its deadliest use of state violence against civilians since the end of apartheid. Thirty-four striking mineworkers were gunned down by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) at the Marikana platinum mine owned by Lonmin PLC in the North West province. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with AMCU Head of Organisational Development, Krister Van Jansen, SERI Executive Director, Nomzamo Zondo and Attorney for the Mineworkers, Andries Nkome.
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On June 27, 2024, several Legacy Foundations made a call to “to the people of South Africa to join in a National Dialogue to reorientate the direction of our nation,” after many years of decline in which the promise of April 1994 had been broken. We do not claim to have been the first to have made such a call, it had in fact been made by many South Africans over the years. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation CEO, Janet Jobson.
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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) met with the family of Dimpho Motlodi on 15 August 2025 to address the controversial release and subsequent re-arrest of Atlholanang William Mosiane, a former North West traffic officer previously convicted of her murder. Mosiane was found guilty of fatally shooting Dimpho five times in front of their nine-year-old son in Tlhabane in March 2021. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2023. However, in May 2025, he was unexpectedly released after a successful appeal, which argued that the original trial was improperly constituted due to the absence of assessors, a legal requirement in certain cases under South African law. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with NPA Spokesperson, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga.
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Dr Leila Fourie has been the CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for five years, and her tenure should finally see headwinds turn into tailwinds. Fourie has roughly three decades of experience and was appointed as the CEO of the JSE on 1 October 2019. Leading the JSE is a massive task, with the JSE’s all-share market cap currently standing at close to R20 trillion. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with JSE CEO, Dr, Lelia Fourie.
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On August 17, 2025, South Africa's National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, announced a significant push to implement an electronic monitoring system (EMS) to enhance oversight of parolees. The announcement comes amid public concern about parole violations, including a recent case in Kariega, Eastern Cape, where a parolee was found under the influence at a tavern resulting in re-incarceration. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Department of Correctional Services Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale.
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Mbutiseni Ndlozi in conversation with E-hailing Partners Council National spokesperson,Vhatuka Mbelengwa, & (SANTACO) the South African National Taxi Council National Spokesperson, Rebecca Phala.
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Mbuyiseni in conversation with Eskom CEO, Dan Marokane
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Two months after a man who confessed to killing his girlfriend was set free on a technicality, having served just over a year of a life sentence, the victim’s father was shocked to run into him on the streets. Startled by seeing Atlholanang William Mosiane in Rustenburg, North West, and not in prison, where he was supposed to be serving a life sentence for murder, Charles Motlodi immediately called his wife, Winnie, to tell her that he had just seen their daughter’s killer. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Mother of the Victim, Winnie Motlodi and NPA Spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga.
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According to the Sunday World, the ANC has lost a powerful ally in the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which decided not to campaign for the governing party in the upcoming 2026 local elections. This move is a big deal as the NUM has always stood by the ANC’s side, helping it win votes for many years. Even though the union isn’t telling its members to vote against the ANC, not supporting it is a blow to the party. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with NUM President, Phillip Vilakazi.
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Higher education minister Buti Manamela has vowed to “fix that which is broken” in South Africa's post-school education and training (PSET) sector while setting out a long-term vision to integrate and modernise the system. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, Manamela said his department's consultations over the past 19 days with students, lecturers, principals, vice-chancellors, labour, business and civil society have revealed “frustrations, hope and ideas” for change. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Department of Higher Education and Training Minister, Buti Manamela.
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The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) was renamed the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) on 27 September 2024. The name change, which was announced in the Government Gazette by President Cyril Ramaphosa, follows the splitting of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation into the Ministry of Higher Education and Training and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation under the Seventh administration. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Blade Nzimande.
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Owning your music masters is an invaluable asset to any musician and artist. “Masters” refer to the original recordings of a songs. It is the original copy that contains the highest quality audio, which can be used to create other variations and formats such as vinyl, digital files, streams, etc. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Senior Consultant Attorney at Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys, Nicky Biggar and Director and Competitiomn, Commercial and Entertainment Lawyer at Morolong Inc, Dumisani Motsamai.
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On July 6, 2025, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made explosive allegations about a high-level criminal syndicate infiltrating South Africa’s criminal justice system, implicating the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Police Ministry, Parliament, the judiciary, and other institutions. We speak to Chad Thomas who helps us examine the progress made in addressing these allegations within one month, from July 6 to August 4, 2025, based on publicly available information. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Organised Crime Expert, Chad Thomas.
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South African primary schools are facing a crisis. Every day, learners fight, bully, destroy property, and intimidate other learners and teachers, turning what should be safe spaces into places of fear and mistrust. Research shows that learner behaviour frequently involves violence, bullying and vandalism (damage to school property) that threatens the safety of both learners and staff. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development at UNISA.
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The threat of Chinese invasion has long loomed over Taiwan – and there’s a new intensity to that pressure. Taiwan is self-governing and democratic. China sees it as a breakaway province and wants reunification. The election of US President Donald Trump has further fuelled decades of speculation about a future conflict over the island. So, how is Taiwan preparing for a possible war? Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection Researcher, Naeem Jeenah.
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At least 148 local government officials have been murdered in South Africa since 2018 — and the attacks have ramped up in the past four years. The deaths — predominantly linked to corruption, with those targeted often whistleblowers — need “urgent attention”, warns the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu). It says corruption and violence in municipalities are closely connected to the collapse of service delivery. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with SAMWU General Secretary, Dumisane Magagula and Local Governance Expert, Prof. Alex Van Den Heever.
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University of Cape Town (UCT)’s academics in the faculty of social development have allegedly been awarding higher marks to white students while penalising black students in a perpetuation of racism and a culture of inequality. Former head of department (HoD), Prof Ndangwa Noyoo, who has been acknowledged by the Department of Higher Education and Training as the UCT whistleblower, revealed this in an affidavit he penned to the department and the presidency. On Friday, July 18, Mishack Ramoshaba of the department, reached out to Noyoo, asking that he substantiate his claims to the Presidency. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with former Head of Department at UCT, Prof. Ndangwa Noyoo.
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Gauteng has announced a sweeping overhaul of senior government leadership in response to widespread underperformance, which he described as a bold step toward “restoring public confidence and institutional integrity” with a renewed focus on stabilising struggling municipalities and ensuring readiness for the upcoming G20 Summit. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi.
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South Africa is still waiting to hear back from the U.S. on a trade proposal it submitted last month in the hope of avoiding high tariffs, officials said on Monday, with only four days left before a 30% levy on its exports is due to kick in. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Political Economist, Patrick Bond, Economist & Director at First Source Money, Redge Nkosi and Chief Economist at NAAMSA (Automotive Body Council), Dr. Paulina Mamogobo.
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In early 2025, South Africa’s Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) released its reserved judgments list for the first two terms of the year, shedding light on a persistent issue plaguing the judiciary: delayed rulings. Reserved judgments—cases where a judge has heard arguments but postponed delivering a verdict—have become a growing concern, with some cases lingering unresolved for years. The OCJ’s report, though incomplete as it only covers January to June 2025, reveals a troubling backlog, particularly in the Pretoria High Court, and underscores deeper systemic challenges within South Africa’s judicial system. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Director and Head of Projects of The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (Accountability Now), Adv. Paul Hoffman and Research and Advocacy Officer for Judges Matter Campaign, Mbekezeli Benjamin.
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In a bold move to bridge the technological divide and prepare South Africa’s youth for a rapidly evolving future, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT), has embarked on a nationwide tour to promote the Artificial Intelligence Fluency project. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with South African professor of mathematics and former vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng
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Sophie Mokoena’s professional odyssey at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) spans over three transformative decades, during which she emerged as a defining voice in South African and pan‑African journalism. Her career trajectory—from regional radio presenter in the early 1990s to Senior Foreign Editor and on‑air anchor—reflects not only a personal ascent but also the shifting contours of public‑service media in a post‑apartheid democracy. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Veteran Journalist, Sophie Mokoena.
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Former president Thabo Mbeki and former Justice minister Brigitte Mabandla, in their application to intervene in the R167 million in constitutional damages litigation by families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities, argued that it is in the interests of justice that they be allowed to do so. The pair turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on Monday, during which their counsel, Advocate Ngwako Maenetje SC, argued that it does not matter whether the damages case by the victims and families is not aimed at them. The outcome will still have an impact on them. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Legal Expert Mpumelelo Zikalala.
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France will recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN general assembly, Emmanuel Macron has said. The French president announced the decision on X on Thursday evening, saying he hoped it would bring peace to the region. Macron published a letter sent to the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, confirming France’s intention to become the first major western power to recognise a Palestinian state. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with International Relations Expert, Dr. Kingsley Makhubela.
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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged associate Brown Mogotsi has let the cat out of the bag, claiming that he is an undercover police operative and was crucially involved in the dramatic arrest of South Africa’s most notorious fugitive, Thabo Bester, in Tanzania. Speaking to Sunday World amid a gag order as a witness at the looming judicial commission of inquiry into police infiltration by criminal syndicates, Mogotsi, who has no criminal record linked to organised crime, briefly boasted about his undercover exploits. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with IRS Investigations CEO, Chad Thomas.
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Former South African Police Union president Lt-Col Mpho Kwinika says he was assaulted by fellow officers and removed from his post for his involvement in exposing the police’s R45-million IMSI-catcher deal. Kwinika helped defend Brigadier Tiyani Hlungwani in 2019, who blew the whistle on the dubious transaction allegedly orchestrated to siphon funds to buy votes at the 2017 ANC conference. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Lt. -Col Mpho Kwinika.
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Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Director and Head of Projects of The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (Accountability Now), Adv. Paul Hoffman.
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Religion plays a foundational role in shaping social constructs, influencing values, norms, and institutional arrangements. Social constructs—such as gender roles, kinship, morality, and authority—are often given legitimacy and coherence through religious beliefs and practices. In African contexts, both indigenous belief systems and introduced religions like Christianity and Islam have been pivotal in defining social identities and expectations. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Anglican Church Priest, Academic and Sociologist of Religion, Paul Germond and Dean and Head of the school of religion, philosophy and classics at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Prof. Simangaliso Kumalo.
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Allegations of collusion between Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the criminal underworld are to be urgently considered by three committees, as assigned by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Speaker of the Parliament, Thoko Didiza.
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Officials discovered crystal meth and cell phones at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria on Tuesday evening. Correctional services commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale is leading a surprise raid at the prison. The department of correctional services previously said that the raids are part of a broader, uncompromising campaign to rid correctional centres of contraband and eliminate criminal networks from within. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Department of Correctional Services Spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo.
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Sibusiso Ncengwa who was convicted of the 2017 killing former ANC Youth League Secretary-General Sindiso Magaqa, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Whistleblower and Sindiso Magaqa’s Friend, Thabiso Zulu and ANC Youth League Secretary General, Mntuwoxolo Ngudle.
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US President Donald Trump announced on Monday, 7 July that he would subject imports from South Africa to new 30% tariffs that would take effect from 1 August. In a letter addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, which was signed by Trump and posted to his Truth Social, he said: “We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with South Africa, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term, and very persistent, trade deficits engendered by South Africa’s tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Senior Economist at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies, Nokwanda Maseko
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The issue of pay for magistrates and judges has again come up, this time at Judicial Service Commission interviews for the deputy chief justice position. Free State Judge President Cagney Musi warned that court officials aren't properly paid, which opens them up to falling into the trap of corruption. The Judicial Officers Association of SA threatened to take to the streets last year over the big pay gap between magistrates and judges. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with JOASA President, Neelan Karikan, Member of the Magistrates Commission, Hennie Britz and Research and Advocacy Officer at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin.
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KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says the political killings task team has unmasked a syndicate controlled by a drug cartel that involves politicians, law enforcement, business people, prosecutors and the judiciary. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Organized Crime Investigator, IRS Forensic Investigations, Chad Thomas & News24 Investigative Journalist, Jeff Wicks.
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South Africa’s transport sector is making notable progress in its turnaround efforts, supported by significant financial investments and structural reforms. The country has secured major funding, including a $1.5 billion World Bank loan and a $475 million African Development Bank loan, aimed at upgrading rail infrastructure, modernizing ports, and improving energy integration within transport systems. Additionally, the government approved a R51 billion guarantee to support Transnet’s recovery and expansion. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy.
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Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has said. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that during the proposed ceasefire the US would "work with all parties to end the War".He did not provide details on what the ceasefire would entail. Bongi Gwala is in conversation with UJ Centre for Africa-China Studies Director, Prof. David Monyae.
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The South African government has emphasised that it was not part of the delegation of Afrikaner politicians who visited Washington, DC, in the US. The group that went without being directed by the government arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told IOL that the group was pursuing its "own agenda". Bongi Gwala is in conversation with Political Analyst, Prof. Andre Duvenhage.
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Ekurhuleni municipality’s senior auditor, Mpho Mafole, has been gunned down. Mafole was the city’s group divisional head for corporate and forensic audits. Police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said Mafole was driving along the R23 in Kempton Park when he was killed by unknown suspects. Bongi Gwala is in conversation with Advocate for Whistleblowers, John Clarke.
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The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) will petition the Supreme Court of Appeal directly after the high court in Pretoria dismissed its application to appeal against its ruling on low-cost benefit options (LCBOs). The BHF is an industry association for medical schemes and administrators, and has turned to the courts to try to compel the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to allow schemes to offer LCBOs. These are cheap, pared-down medical scheme options that provide less cover than the prescribed minimum benefits required by the Medical Schemes Act. Bongi Gwala is in conversation with Health Funders Association Chief Executive Officer, Thoneshan Naidoo and Managing Director of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF, Dr Katlego Mothudi.
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In light of the recent surge of food contamination and food poisoning cases in Spaza shops, today’s masterclass will shine a light on safe food processing and safe packaging, with Tetrapack. Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company working closely with customers and suppliers to provide safe food.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Nonceba Mhlauli, deputy minister in the presidency.
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World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in over 160 countries. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. As we look to drawing more awareness to the chronic disease, there are still some health-related issues still unknown to people on how to live a healthy life and managing diet while with diabetes.
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South Africa’s gaming industry is a R7.3 billion industry. The country’s gaming industry is expected to continue to grow, driven by increasing smartphone penetration and a growing youth population with a keen gaming interest — 47% of gamers are aged 14 to 28 years. On the other hand, Esports is a form of competition using video games, typically organised as multiplayer contests between professional players, either individually or in teams. Today’s culture corner will zone in on this industry.
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In this week’s Innovation Wednesday, we take a look at an innovation technology solution that Tuberculosis screening through the use of artificial intelligence. The screening system drastically improves accuracy and reduces costs. About 29% of all TB-positive cases are missed or are false negatives, which lead to patients returning to their families and communities untreated, spreading the disease even further.
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The South African Institute of Taxation says the current beer tax policy may do more harm than good to the economy and consumers. This follows after a recent report commissioned by SAB and undertaken by Oxford Economics Africa found that existing excise duties on beer are far above the levels stipulated in the country’s excise policy, hitting the beer industry.
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Eskom has backed down from its threat to interrupt electricity supply to Johannesburg following intervention by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Both parties reached an agreement to resolve the dispute, with an independent technician set to review the billing discrepancies, while City Power committed to settling its outstanding current debt.
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Municipalities across the country are grappling with revenue collection. For example, Gauteng's municipalities are faced with an outstanding debt owed to them over R132 billion, with households alone accounting for R99.3 billion. Despite ongoing efforts to address the issue, the province's municipalities are struggling to recover funds from a wide range of debtors, including households, commercial entities, and even organs of state.
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The 2024 election year is the biggest in history with about 65 countries having headed to the polls, almost half of the world’s population. From Taiwan's general election in January to the U.S. presidential race now in November. In some countries, there are concerns about the resilience of democracy itself as political discourse has polarized or been warped by disinformation. Many of this year's elections have not been free and fair - or their results have been disputed.
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Kevin Lennett is a seasoned South African businessman, renowned for his leadership at the helm of The Crazy Store, one of Southern Africa’s most beloved discount variety retailers. Having spent over a decade with the company, Lennett has played a key role in transforming the business into a national powerhouse, with a reputation for exceptional customer service, a wide-ranging product selection, and unbeatable value. He is our leadership dialogue guest today.
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In 2017, a group of passionate engineers, designers, and innovators came together with a shared mission: to bridge the gap between Deaf communities and the world around them. This collaboration led to the creation of Senso, a groundbreaking wearable device designed to help individuals with hearing loss stay connected to their environment in a non-intrusive and accessible way.
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History of African Church UniformsChurch uniforms are a sacred part of religious identity in South Africa and across the continent. In several churches across Southern Africa, members are recognizably identified by their uniforms. In South Africa, these are most notably Zionist churches, Apostolic churches, Pentecostal churches, as well as African sects of traditional churches such as the United Methodist Church. It is believed that most church uniforms from these churches have been influenced by military uniforms. In this week’s Culture Corner, we discuss the history and influences of African church uniforms.
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Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are going head-to-head in a race that remains too close to call. Harris and Trump have made their final appeals to voters in key battleground states, stressing that the stakes of the November 5 vote could not be higher.
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Hundreds of illegal miners have been arrested following underground food and water supply cuts. The zama zamas who surfaced at Orkney over the weekend are the small fish in the big pond of criminality. At least 565 illegal miners were arrested. The arrests were the latest made under Operation Vala Umgodi, which seeks to disrupt illegal mining at a time when companies such as Sibanye-Stillwater have recorded a spike in such activities, including direct attacks on mine operations and infrastructure against the backdrop of record gold prices.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed judges to the special tribunal, which has a statutory mandate to recover public funds siphoned from the fiscus through corruption, fraud and illicit money flows, following its effective collapse. The Special Tribunal is one of the most effective weapons in the government’s anti-corruption arsenal, and its collapse has been a major setback for the SIU, as it has been unable to take new matters to the Tribunal. Bongi Gwala spoke to Mbekezeli Benjamin, law researcher and advocacy officer from Judges Matter.
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Nedlac and parliament are currently at odds over the new vaping and tobacco products bill that presents ‘strict’ laws. In a meeting last week, concerns were raised from business and labour extent to which the health department engaged with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on the Bill before submitting it to parliament. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health has resolved to proceed with processing the widely-debated Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. Bongi Gwala was in conversation with Zanele Mthembu, campaign lead tobacco-free kids country for South Africa and convenor of protect our next.
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The coalition government of KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), is currently stable, according to the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) in the province. This statement was made during a press conference held in Durban on Monday. Bongi Gwala engaged with Bheki Mtolo, KZN provincial secretary and Prof. Musa Xulu, political heritage analyst.
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As inflation and living costs continue to escalate, young South Africans are actively exploring innovative avenues to achieve financial independence while managing their existing financial responsibilities. One increasingly appealing option is teaching online, which allows individuals to share their knowledge and skills in various subjects, from English and mathematics to science and technology. Bongi Gwala spoke to Mudiwa Gavaza, tech expert.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Dr. Tk Pooe, Wits School of Governance lecturer.
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The 60th US presidential election will decide the 47th president – widely held to be the most powerful job in the world – and 50th vice-president. The candidates and their supporters are describing it as the most important election of their lifetimes with democracy and the American way of life are at stake. Record amounts of money have been raised and spent on campaign ads and ground games. Media coverage in print, on TV, online and on podcasts has never been more intense – or more polarized.
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As the country awaits the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement by finance minister Enoch Godongwana, there is cautious optimism around the country’s economic trajectory.
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The principles of inclusivity often clash with the realities faced by people living with disabilities. Mobility remains a challenge for people living with disabilities, especially those who are wheelchair-bound. As part of the solution to improving mobility, The Wheelchair Doctor found innovative ways to enhance mobility through manufacturing stair-friendly off-road transportation.
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The success of African athletes across multiple sports in the last decade has shone a spotlight on the potential of the continent for excellence. The commercial case is also clear.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Gautrain Management Agency CEO - Tshepo Kgobe, Practice Head of Network Industries at DNA Economics & development economist - Dr Matthew Townshend, and Transport Economist, specializing since 1988 in Transportation and Public Transport Operations - Lourens Swanepoel.
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The international Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries each October, to raise awareness about the disease. Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors resulting from abnormal growth of breast cells.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Political analyst Jackie Shandu.
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The Commonwealth has selected Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s foreign minister, as its new Secretary-General, marking a significant moment in the 56-nation bloc headed by Britain’s King Charles. Her appointment comes amid growing discussions about reparations for slavery and colonialism, issues that resonate deeply within member states, many of which have historical
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Lebani Sirenje, also known as Rasta The Artist, is a Zimbabwean-born painter who lives in South Africa . He is known for his controversial paintings, particularly those of dead celebrities and prominent South Africans. Some of his famous works include portraits of Nelson Mandela, Mama Winnie Mandela, Robert Mugabe, and many more. Despite criticism, Rasta continues to pursue his passion for art.
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Infrastructure development plays a key role in ensuring fast economic growth and alleviating poverty in South Africa. South Africa has a good core infrastructure network such as a transport system, power, communications network, sewage and water. However, while there is a good core network, previously disadvantaged areas and rural areas don’t have the same adequate infrastructure as developed communities due to high social inequality. And that’s why in this Leadership Dialogue we are in conversation with SAICE CEO to discuss the state of infrastructure in SA, and the need to develop it further
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Recently, the Eastern Cape government has activated its disaster management teams to assist communities impacted by heavy rains in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Hundreds of families have been displaced due to the flooding, and unfortunately, one person has lost their life. Just last week, The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) dispatched Aquatic Rescue Unit teams to Soweto to help distressed motorists trapped in water along the flooded Klipspruit Valley Road. So, in this conversation, we ask, is South Africa well equipped for disaster management? Lerato Mbele speaks to Raeesa Soomar, Director & town planner of Somaar and Co Professional Town Planners and, Prof. Hope Magidimisha Chipungu from the department of town and regional planning from UKZN.
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In South Africa, the Khoisan people, made of the Khoikhoi and San, were prevented from practicing their culture and speaking their local language during the colonial period and apartheid regime. After apartheid, the San people’s language almost went extinct except for about 20 people who could speak it fluently1. Shortly after, all the local fluent speakers in Nluu died except one woman. Now, 88-year old Ouma Katrina Esau is the only Nluu speaking person and is going to great lengths to preserve the language. So how do we preserve languages? Nhlanhla Sehume is joined by Peter Lor, Research Associate, Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria.
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In a landscape marked by economic challenges and staggering unemployment rates, South Africa stands at a crossroads. The vision of a 24-hour economy has been championed by various political leaders, including former president Jacob Zuma, who posited that such an initiative could significantly reduce unemployment. Inadequate infrastructure and dysfunctional public transport services are examples people often refer to when talking about the need to improve national productivity in an economy like South Africa’s. Nhlanhla Sehume is joined by Thokozile Madonko, political economy researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits and, Dr Gumani Tshimomola, head of research in parliament for the EFF.
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The escalating number of kidnappings in South Africa has reached unprecedented levels, with recent incidents shedding light on the dire reality faced by citizens. According to Statistics SA (StatsSA), more than 16 000 kidnappings are recorded annually in South Africa. Shockingly, 85% of these victims are women and children. In South Africa, cases of child abduction have been of topic, raising child safety concerns and further heightening worry among parents. Nhlanhla Sehume spoke to Andy Mashaile, security strategist and former Interpol ambassador.
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In this week’s innovation, we talk to innovators Masego and Matlhogonolo, behind the Twin X Innovation. The two, innovated portable digital x-ray glasses that enables quicker conduction of x-ray scans on the spot. The innovation was inspired after a teammate was injured, the two wished there was a portable x-ray device that can be used to take x-ray scans on the spot. Through that inspiration, they then developed their first digital x-ray glasses innovation
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A recent poll by the Social Research Foundation showed Gayton Mckenzie is the 3rd most popular, favored politician after Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa. The now minister of Sports, Arts and Culture who is a leader of the Patriotic Alliance assumed office in July as part of the GNU formations. His popularity has struck many since he has not had much time in office as minister but is already a popular politician. How do we gauge popularity in this regard? Lerato Mbele is joined by Thebe Ikalafeng, brand specialist and founder of Brand Africa.
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Unrest has erupted in Mozambique ahead of the announcement of final election results expected to keep the ruling party in power. Police in Mozambique fired tear gas at the country’s leading opposition politician and supporters as he spoke with reporters Monday, forcing them to run for cover. The nation remains on edge following a disputed election and the slaying of two prominent opposition figures. Lerato Mbele speaks to Prof. Adrian Nuvunga, Director: Mozambique Centre for Democracy and Development and Adv. Sipho Mantula , Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs at UNISA.
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The KwaZulu-Natal education department paid almost R40 million to ex-teachers despite high teacher unemployment. The case has now raises alarm of ghost workers being able to financially benefit from government institutions and other organizations. In 2022, About 1,159 “employees” vanished from the payroll system of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) in a single day when the parastatal launched Operation Ziveze to crack down on ghost workers. This raises questions of why do we continue to see ghost workers in government institution and how does this level of crime/corruption go unseen? Lerato Mbele is joined by Calvin Rafadi, Forensic and Crime expert.
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After two businesses belonging to black people were burnt down, a racial war is currently brewing within the community of Schoemansville in Hartbeespoort where Afrikaans-speaking people are accused of attempting to drive out black people who were setting up businesses there. Speculation was rife that the businesses were burnt due to racial tensions, where white businesses are allegedly resistant to sharing the space with black business owners. Police are currently investigating arson after 9 houses in the Kosmos suburb were burnt down. Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Papi Mothibi, chairperson of the Black Management Forum for the Hartebeespoort-Madibeng branch.
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Pentecostal pastors often lead lives that are as controversial as they are charismatic, drawing both devoted followers and sharp critics. Lerato Mbele was joined by Rev. Peter Storey, former president of the Methodist Church and South African Council of Churches as well as Dr. Buhle Mpofu, senior lecturer at UP at the department of practical theology and mission studies.
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Millions of people across southern Africa are facing the worst food crisis in decades, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that its ability to provide relief risks being stymied by funding shortfalls. Lerato Mbele was in conversation with Tomson Phiri, regional communications officer, UN World Food Programme.
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The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, yesterday stated that he is still considering the case of Justice Minister, Thembi Simelane during his Question & Answer session in the National Assembly. Lerato Mbele spoke to Musa Mdunge, Political analyst and lecturer at University of Dundee, UK.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Bombela Operating Company CEO Nthabiseng Kubheka.
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A different twist to this week’s Entrepreneurial Edge, what does it take to financially sustain a business? As we applaud numerous entrepreneurs as they tell their success stories, we hardly ever tell unsuccessful stories. Navigating the unpredictable business environment, we discuss how business owners can protect their businesses from collapse and how to bounce back from hard financial periods.
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Traffic jams can turn a simple commute into a daily endurance test that would challenge the patience of drivers. Rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure and a surge in vehicle ownership are the main contributors of traffic congestion.
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The South African Broadcasting Cooperation has been in decline for years, characterized by financial instability, allegations of corruption, and its inability to keep up with new technology. William Bird, Director, Media Monitoring Africa speaks to us.
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Hammanskraal In the past weeks concerns about the quality of water in the Leeukraal Dam has prompted the City of Tshwane to temporarily shut down the Temba water treatment plant, which supplies water to Hammanskraal and surrounding areas. This after the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment plant started discharging untreated effluent into the Apies River, which feeds the Leeukraal Dam, according to the City. So, some of the Hammanskraal residents haven’t had water for over 3 weeks.
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Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, general secretary Solly Mapaila said the SACP, a tripartite alliance partner of the ANC and Cosatu, was invited to attend the ANC-hosted event at Luthuli House in Johannesburg yesterday. The party has voiced disapproval of the DA's inclusion in the GNU governing bloc, saying it believed the EFF's political ideologies aligned better with those of the ANC.
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Delicacies are food items that people find pleasing to eat but are considered rare or luxurious. Countries across the world have their very own delicacies that are often common rand some, not so common.
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Obami is a dynamic South African tech company revolutionizing the way organizations manage content and learning experiences for their stakeholders. Obami has empowered over 750 organizations and reached more than 1 million learners across Africa.
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About 45% of South Africa’s population are dependent on state grants. In their 2023/24 annual report, the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) revealed that it pays grants to 28 million South Africans. In turn, the National Treasury’s 2024 Budget Review shows that 7.4 million individuals in South Africa pay income tax.
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Two first-year computer science students at Stellenbosch University have dedicated their efforts to identifying vulnerabilities in both government and private-sector systems. They approach this task with a strong commitment to legality, utilizing only publicly available internet resources, such as the backends of various government portals.
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As crime intensifies, the threat of public safety remains a huge concern as the proliferation of illegal firearms exacerbates. Last year, former minister of police Bheki Cele revealed that guns were the weapon of choice related to crime and murder according to crime statistics.
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Billions have been spent on reducing the size of South Africa's armed forces, yet while the number of personnel is decreasing, employment costs are rising.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with Political analyst – Jackie Shandu.
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In this week’s spotlight, we talk to actress Xolile Tshabalala on her exceptional achievements in the acting industry and how she continues to polish her craft.
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Citizens across various townships bear the brunt of illegal connections as load reduction intensifies. Townships in Tshwane like Mamelodi, Soshanguve and in parts of Ekurhuleni says the load reduction they experience is exactly what loadshedding was.
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Lerato and Phetola Makhetha recently shared the heartbreaking news about their newborn's serious health condition. The couple has been navigating this challenging experience since the arrival of their baby girl. Unfortunately, shortly after her arrival, she was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that affects multiple systems in the body and can lead to developmental delays.
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A passionate entrepreneur and devoted parent, Mondli Magwaza co-founded Black African Organics in 2016 alongside Ndo Magwaza, the couple, married for 11 years, started their Black African Organics business in the spare bedroom of their apartment, fueled by their commitment to quality and sustainability.
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In this week’s Leadership dialogue, we talk to Stavros Nicolaou, the iAspen Pharmacare Group’s Senior Executive responsible for Strategic Trade Development. Previously he was CEO of Aspen’s Export Business. Aspen is Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and a now world leader in Anaesthetics and injectable anti-coagulants.
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A World War III has said to have been triggered as war in the middle east spirals out of control. Following Iran’s missile attack on Israel, the attack is said to present global security threats. Iran fired at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, 2024, amplifying tensions in the Middle East that are increasingly marked by “escalation after escalation,” as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres put it. However, to what extent do these conflicts constitute to a ”world war”.
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Lerato Mbele is joined by Anthony Turton, Water Expert and the department of water and sanitation.
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Prof. Patrick Bond, Sociology Department Professor, UJ and Thembisa Fakude, Senior Researcher & Director, Africa Asia Dialogues speak to Lerato Mbele.
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Mathematician & Founder Of Geleza Tech - Mothupi Kgopa talks to us about his innovative calculator.
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The City of Joburg is proposing to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, continuing the trend of renaming key roads in the city. The proposal comes a year after another key road, William Nicole Drive, was renamed Winnie Mandela Drive on September 23, 2023.
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Gold prices have risen over 30% in 2024, consistently reaching new highs as demand for the metal grows amid global economic uncertainty. However, South Africa's mining industry is struggling to take full advantage of this surge due to longstanding structural issues, the unreliable electricity supply, illegal mining, theft and other crime and heightened input costs were significant constraints on production. Let’s find out more in this conversation.
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In this conversation we find out what the modus operandi of drug mules are and what else we need to know about the bigger drug operations.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Thulisile Nkomo – Certified Financial Planner.
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The department of social development highlighted that in South Africa, older persons are faced with numerous challenges including gender-based violence and femicide. We pay a special focus on this view of the nation.
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Managing Director, iusprudentia specialist counsel – Benedict Phiri shares his analysis with Lerato Mbele.
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Political Analyst - Letlhogonolo Mosuwe joins Lerato Mbele.
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Exklusiv, a luxury company based in Sandton, offers a wide range of automotive services, including Paint Protection Film (PPF), wrapping, paint correction, stance adjustments, customizations, restorations, and leather repairs. They also provide high-quality vehicle parts and accessories, like forged and split wheels, to elevate the driving experience for car enthusiasts. Lerato Mbele talks to founder of Exklusiv, Jiggy Thakor.
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On 17 August, Lucia Ndlovu, 35, and Maria Makgato, 47, were killed while collecting expired food at the Onvervaght pig farm in Polokwane. In another case, a six-year-old boy was walking with his mum in the Lutzville area, Western Cape when a farmer allegedly ran over him with his vehicle. It's alleged the 70-year-old madala drove straight into the young boy on Friday, 20 September for allegedly taking oranges from his farm. In this conversation, we discuss whether crimes committed in farms often go unpunished because of factors such as the remoteness of the farm. Lerato Mbele talks to Willie Clack, Rural criminology, Livestock theft & farm crimes Researcher at UNISA.
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The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s MEC pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Lerato Mbele spoke to Rev. Dr Mannini Mahloko of the AME church.
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The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has released Eskom's contentious multi-year revenue application through 2028, allowing public submissions until November 1. Lerato Mbele was in conversation with Prof. Prathaban Moodley, General Manager at SANEDI.
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Many countries across the world still battle tobacco addiction. The WHO reports that there are 1.25 billion adult tobacco users in the world. In South Africa, 29.4% of the population are tobacco users. A popular alternative to alleviating tobacco addiction is nicotine replacement products that people can use with cut down on their addiction and the urge of wanting to smoke. Products such as nicotine orals and patches are used to help people quit smoking. Lerato Mbele spoke to Udo Kieslich, director of Pouch World and, Sharon Nyatsanza, deputy director of National Council Against Smoking.
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Gabon’s former President Ali Bongo has announced his withdrawal from politics. In a letter to the Gabonese people, Bongo confirmed his withdrawal from political life and called for the release of his wife, Sylvia, and son, Noureddin, who are detained on corruption charges. Ali Bongo is the son of Omar Bongo who was president of Gabon. In Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso appointed his son Denis-Christel as a cabinet minister - a move that has revived media speculation that he has a dynastic succession in mind. In this conversation we will be discussing why African leaders are obsessed with creating dynasties within democracies. Lerato Mbele spoke to Advocate Sipho Mantula.
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In South Africa, the rich tapestry of cultures is beautifully illustrated through the many cultures that we have. In today’s Masterclass, we take a look at the Venda, Zulu, and Indian communities, each contributing unique traditions and histories to the nation's identity. Together, these cultures create a dynamic interplay of heritage that highlights both their distinctiveness and their interconnectedness, fostering a shared sense of identity in the rich mosaic of South African society.
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For over two years, the Mogale City Local Municipality in western Gauteng has been discharging tens of thousands of liters of raw sewage into local rivers daily. In places where the river is inaccessible, the municipality has excavated a large open pit in a residential zone to dispose of raw effluent adjacent to the N14 highway. This has also led to significant pollution in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, harming tourism in the region. The municipality’s sewage reticulation infrastructure has collapsed. Lerato Mbele spoke to Paleoanthropologist & Wits University Curator of Fossil and Rock Collections, Dr. Bernhard Zipfel
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Following the much-anticipated rate cut by the South African Reserve Bank last week, some relief is expected for food prices in the country. However, the agricultural sector still battles food production challenges. Lerato Mbele spoke to Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist, FNB.
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Following multiple cases of non-compliance and exploitative hiring processes by restaurants across Gauteng, it has raised concerns around labor practices not only in the restaurant sector but the hospitality sector in general. The sector is often guilty of breaching labor laws such as hiring of illegal foreigners, unfair wages, extreme working conditions and even exploitation. Lerato Mbele spoke to Aggy Moiloa, inspector-general of the department of employment and labour, Kate Shuttleworth, founder & director of Marvellous Maids and Michael Bagraim, Labour Lawyer.
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Former President Ian Khama of Botswana made a surprise return to his home country after nearly three years of self-imposed exile in South Africa. His arrival coincides with the lead-up to the upcoming general elections scheduled for October. Upon returning, Khama unexpectedly appeared in court to address charges related to unlawful possession of firearms, which had resulted in an arrest warrant issued against him in December 2022.
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In this week's diary, Lerato Mbele is in conversation with political analyst, Jackie Shandu.
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In this week’s spotlight, we talk to South Africa’s kwaito music group, Trompies, which was formed in 1995 and popularly known for their colourful costumes and pantsula/sbujwa streetwise dance moves. Trompies rose to fame in the country’s pop and kwaito music and has contributed greatly to the Kwaito music genre and the music industry as a whole.
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According to the 2022/23 District Health Barometer, 365 teens who give birth in South Africa every day Of that daily number of births, 10 are to girls who are not even 15 years old yet. Moreover, many young moms in South Africa also have HIV (close to one in five in women between 15 and 24 who recently had a baby, data from the Human Sciences Research Council shows).
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The Eswatini government has taken a decision to redesign how the public will be informed about government business and issues of national importance. This comes after a senior journalist had a verbal showdown with Prime Minister Russell Dlamini on Friday.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with Molebogeng Diseko, Operational Call Centre Manager, Registered Counsellor, Reality Wellness Group.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with the university of Venda’s executive leader Professor Ndanduleni Nthambeleni.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with Professor Maeyane S. Moeng.
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Limpopo Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC - Basikopo Makamu and Programme Officer at Nkuzi Development Association, a land rights support organization - Molatelo Mohale
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The world has seen great breakthroughs and inventions that have become game-changers, but the inventors do not always get the credit. There are about 10 or even more, women inventions that were credited to men, according to Chattaonooga Women’s Leadership Institute.
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As we celebrate Heritage month, heritage sites are symbolic and important places that carry the historical stories of South African cultures. Some heritage sites in the province of Gauteng are said to be falling apart, with the province directing about 9.2 million towards improving heritage sites
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In this conversation, we explore the new innovation in dentistry with Founder and Chief Dentist at Every Smile Dentistry - Dr. ZsaZsanov Zungu.
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Saving & understanding the Two-Pot Retirement System
Saving is the act of delaying immediate spending until you accumulate enough to spend on something more worthwhile in the future.
Savings enable you to reach your goals. For us to save, the first step is to look at your budget, track your income and expenses, to prioritise your expenses regarding your needs and control your spending. This means you decide before you spend, how much you are going to save. One of the things that can keep you disciplined and motivated in saving is when you have a goal in mind, and you know that you are saving towards that goal. For example, if you know that you are saving towards tertiary registration fees, a deposit for a house or a car, towards buying an appliance such as a TV or for a holiday at the end of the year, you know exactly what the purpose of your saving is, and this can motivate you. You can work out how much that goal is, work out how long you want to save for and realistically calculate how much you will put into savings each month for that specific goal
Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Thulisile Nkomo – Certified Financial Planner.
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What constitutes a class action lawsuit? Tiger Brands is facing pressure to urgently settle a multibillion-rand listeriosis class action suit from over 1 000 victims, with the Catholic Church entering the fray. In the US, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $6.4billion to settle lawsuits in the United States that accused the pharmaceutical giant of deceiving customers about the safety of its talcum-based powder products.
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In this week’s masterclass, we talk about the valuation of African stories through culture and preserving the creative economy. In doing this, the Africa Culture Group uses culture as a lever of integration to enable regional and economic activity within Africa and across the world.
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As the world sees improved ways of being digitally connected, digital fraud is increasingly evolving and finding its way to people through online scams.
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In this week’s leadership dialogue, we talk to Mncedisi Ndlovu who is the co-founder and chairman of Mncedisi Ndlovu and Sedumedi Attorneys, one of South Africa’s leading black-owned law firms.
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Grace Gras Empire Luxury Fragrances, a network marketing company that produces and manufactures home & personal care luxury fragrances, is a company that exists to create employment, fight poverty and contribute to health and wellness. Lerato Mbele is in conversation with founder, Lerato Promise Dhlamini.
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According to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), most township businesses are small, unprofitable and focused on local markets, rather than producing goods and services that can be sold more widely, create good jobs and generate higher incomes. While black people may run car washes, beer halls, spaza shops and food outlets, these ventures often offer low-profit margins and limited opportunities for sustainable economic growth. Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Simon Brown, Investment analyst and Dr. Justin Visagie, Senior Researcher at HSRC.
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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) believes the Constitutional Court is best placed to interpret a section of the constitution and clarify whether the commission has the power to issue binding directives. Lerato Mbele speaks to Prof. Tshepo Madlingozi, full-time commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission.
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South Africa is the only African country in the top 40 global agricultural exporters with an export value of $13.2bn in 2023. SA is ranked the 32nd largest agricultural exporter in the world. However, to boost agricultural exports to new frontiers and maintain access to existing markets, SA needs to prioritize crop and livestock breeding. Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Paul Makube, senior agriculture economist at FNB.
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Retirement and the Two-Port Retirement System
South Africa’s new Two-Pot Retirement System came into effect on 1 September 2024 and many South Africans are grappling with understanding how the new system works and its impact on their retirement plans.
To help South Africans to understand the new system the ASISA Foundation is running a 4-Week, educational radio campaign. This campaign will engage audiences in discussions and activities to help them learn about the new system.
The campaign “Let’s Talk Two-Pot” aims to educate audiences about the importance of saving and investing with a specific focus on the Two-Pot Retirement System to enhance listeners’ understanding of retirement planning.
Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Thulisile Nkomo, a Certified Financial Planner from ASISA Foundation.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Premier.
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South African actor, Vusi Thanda is well known for his famous role as Tshawe on SABC 1 sitcom Emzini Wezinsizwa with his iconic phrase “as far as I am concerned”.
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The home of good food and good music, Disoufeng, an African cuisine eatery in Meadowlands has adapted many ways to stay relevant to its market. Disoufeng shares with us their African cuisine menu and what inspires the various dishes on offer.
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Priceless artworks at Johannesburg Art Gallery are at risk of irreparable damage due to inadequate storage conditions, prompting urgent calls for the City to take action before the upcoming rainy season wreaks havoc on the continent's largest publicly owned art collection.
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Hlelo Giyose, Chief Investment Officer and Principal, First Avenue Investment Management joins Nhlanhla Sehume to discuss this development.
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Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary, South African Federation of Trade Unions.
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Local entrepreneur Paul Masilo, 46, has demonstrated that hard work can lead to remarkable achievements with the creation of Freshmo, a mouthwash product he developed without any prior preparation or background in chemical engineering.
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Pottery plays a significant role in African rituals and ceremonies. It is often used in the preparation and serving of traditional meals during celebrations and religious festivals. The vessels used in these rituals may be adorned with intricate designs, representing cultural symbols and spiritual beliefs.
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Experts across the world had, over the years, tried to create a digital laser, which they argued would be more efficient, but they all failed until 2013.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to acting CEO Saki Zamxaka about the plans of the Gauteng Growth & Development agency.
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Allen Munoriyarwa, Professor of Journalism at Walter Sisulu University speaks to Lerato Mbele about the banning of X in Brazil and the arraest of Telegram founder.
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The brazen use of consultants is an indictment of our municipalities’ failing skills. Limpopo municipalities spent R280M on financial consultants.
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As crime intensifies in the country, Lerato Mbele spoke to KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who is at the forefront of combating crime across the province. Mkhwanazi said the death rate of police officers in the province has gone up and emphasises that the police will do all it takes to protect officers who die on duty and citizens.
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Amadodana Ase Wesile is an influential gospel group in South Africa. Internationally acclaimed, Amadodana Ase Wesile, was formed in 1985 by the Methodist Church's Young Men's Guild (YMG) of Gauteng's Central District. The founder, Thomas Mokhathi and members of the group joined Lerato Mbele.
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The uMkhonto weSizwe party has sworn in eight new members which include former SOE heads and seasoned professionals. Party leader, Jacob Zuma said the new members are capable of driving the country towards progressive leadership. Lerato Mbele spoke to Mbhazima Shilowa, former Gauteng premier.
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In this week’s culture corner, we talk about how multilingualism and code-switching influence personalities and how the two are often used as a form of survival in social settings, including corporate. Lerato Mbele spoke to Dr. Koki Kapa, sociolinguist and critical thinking lecturer and Peter Mekgwe, Chairperson of the South African Translators Institute.
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The concept of AI-generated music refers to the process of creating musical content using artificial intelligence technologies. This nascent field leverages machine learning algorithms and deep learning networks that can analyse vast amounts of musical data, learn patterns, and create original compositions. Lerato Mbele spoke to Arthur Goldstuck, from Worldwide Worx.
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Only a fraction of municipalities in SA have received clean audits. Forty-five municipalities improved their audit outcomes since 2020-21, but 36 regressed. Fewer municipalities have disclaimed audit opinions, which is the worst possible audit outcome. Lerato Mbele was joined by Ray van Rooy, Mayor of Bergrivier, Amos Makoae, Chief Financial Officer of Masilonyana Municipality and Mohammed Lorgat, National Programme Director for Municipal Audit Support at SALGA.
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According to the Victims of Crime report, 2.6 million households in South Africa have experienced burglary in the past 5 years which is an increase of 12% from the previous year. Many resort to private security as means of protection, some buy houses in gated communities to alleviate the vulnerability of burglaries. Lerato Mbele spoke to Mark van Jaarsveld, CEO of Community Active Protection and Clive Maher, CEO of SCP Security.
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Legitimate businesses suffer substantial losses due to counterfeiting through loss of revenue and profits. That translates into job losses and slower growth, not counting the potential reputational damage when counterfeiters pass off subpar products as the original items. Lerato Mbele spoke to Amana van Wyk, National SAPS Lieutenant Colonel and Michael Lawrence, Executive Director, National Clothing Retail Federation (NCRF).
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With their two astronauts stuck in space, NASA has decided that the two will return next year February on a SpaceX-crewed Dragon flight on which two seats have been made available. Lerato Mbele is joined by Dr. Lerothodi Leeuw, astrophysicist from UWC as they discuss the benefits of having space programs.
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The construction of Toyota Tsusho Africa and Ogihara Thailand Corporation's R1.1 billion manufacturing plant at Dube TradePort, north of Durban will be completed in July next year. This investment is happening despite the terrible car sales in South Africa. Lerato Mbele spoke to Hlelo Giyose, Chief Investment Officer and Principal of First Avenue Investment Management and, Oliver Petersen, Executive Director at Thesele Group.
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In this week's masterclass, we talk about the profitability of beekeeping in South Africa. The honey industry is characterized by under-production and fewer bee-farmers. Lerato Mbele spoke to Lulu Letlape, owner of BongiBees for more.
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In this week’s view of the nation, we dissect the role of the Unemployment Insurance Fund in the employment sector and what contributes to delayed payouts. UIF, is a short-term relief fund for workers in cases where workers lose their jobs, unable to work due to illness, parental leave, adoption or even maternity.
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Money has become the lifeblood of American political campaigns. It buys TV ads, hires staff in key states, facilitates travel and secures crucial data to reach targeted voting blocs. How much money a candidate has can determine the longevity of his or her campaign and, while there are limits on how much individuals can donate to a campaign; candidates can spend as much as they raise.
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Lerato is in conversation with Political Analyst – Jackie Shandu.
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In this week’s entrepreneurial edge, we talk to township fire victims who have turned disaster into solar powered solution. Mosebe Enterprise uses recycled materials to create power stations for underserved rural communities in the Western Cape and beyond.
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A recent Afrobarometer survey highlights a notable trend in Africa where a significant proportion of young people are more accepting of military leadership compared to their older counterparts. Lerato speaks to UNISA Lecturer of Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation - Prof Everisto Benyera, Governance, Peace and Security Expert - Muneinazvo Kujeke and Researcher with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Nairobi - Dr Nicodemus Minde.
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About 100 veterinarians leave the country every year to work overseas, while only about 140 qualify a year, according to recent figures from the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Unorthodox Chef Catering - Ceo Phill Khoza and African Culture Academic at UNISA – Jabu Sibanyoni.
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Employment Relations & Employee Benefits Consultant & Accredited Commercial Mediator – Galeboe Modisapodi.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Senior lecturer at the Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions at the University of South Africa - Dr. Busiswa Ndaba Vatsha.
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Children are one of the most powerful investments a government can make. To secure our nation’s future, it is essential that education and ECD are at the top of the political agenda.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with immigration law expert Ashraf Essop.
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The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has defended police actions in recent shootouts with criminals, asserting that police officers will retaliate when criminals open fire on them.
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In this week’s View of the Nation, we discuss the escalation of municipal debt across the country. In recent news, the Msunduzi Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal cut water and electricity to 23 schools with over R32BN debt.
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In the vast central African nation of Congo, which has had more than 96% of the world’s roughly 17,000 recorded cases of mpox this year — and some 500 deaths from the disease — many of the most vulnerable seem unaware of its existence or the threat that it poses.
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In this week's spotlight, we sit down with mam' Abigail Kubeka, legendary singer and actress. Her career spans over 67 years and remains the nation's icon. This Saturday, Joburg Theatre is hosting the "Abigail Kubeka Tribute Concert" to honor and celebrate the icon's contributions to the industry.
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In this week’s leadership dialogue, we talk to the South African Revenue Services commissioner, Edward Kieswetter.
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As Team SA returned home with 6 medals from the Paris 2024 Olympics, Gayton Mckenzi said he will investigate how sport federations use budget allocations and sponsorship.
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In this week’s entrepreneurial edge, we talk to Sibu Mabena, the founder of Duma Collective.
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In this week's Culture Corner, we take it back and remember Soweto's iconic Eyethu Cinema, which was greatly known for its premier entertainment for the community of Soweto since the 1970s and 80s. The cinema was one of the first black-owned cinemas in South Africa. Lerato speaks to Batana Vundla, director of Eyethu Republik as they talk about the lifeline of Eyethu.
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The Miss SA pageant has over the weekend crowned its first deaf winner, Mia le Roux. The winner, who lives with a disability, says her win is a win for all because she will be able to help those who are "financially excluded and differently abled". Lerato Mbele discusses the element of representation and how the world is becoming more inclusive with Jabu Zwane, Mindset Development Practitioner, Dr. Jerry Gule, former chairperson of South African Employers for Disability, Jamil F. Khan, Author and Critical Diversity Scholar and Pelela Lamani, diversity and inclusion specialist.
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Criminal activities in the Eastern Cape have risen as police embark on major operation to combat the crime. The Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay has now begged Treasury for resources to get CCTV footages following high levels of killings, kidnappings and robberies. Bullets also flew at a school prizegiving as gunmen robbed pupils, parents and teachers. For this conversation, Lerato Mbele is joined by Gary van Niekerk, Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay.
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In this week's view of the nation, we unpack the city of Joburg's political dynamics as Mayor Gwamanda's party demands a deputy mayor post should he step down. Calls from civic organizations have come in demanding the removal of the city's mayor following concerns of poor service delivery and delayed infrastructure developments. Lerato Mbele speaks to Regional Spokesperson for Joburg of the ANC, Masilo Serekele, Dr. Sysman Motloung who is a Lecturer at NWU and Prof. Boitumelo Senokoane, a professor from UNISA.
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In this week's view of the nation, we unpack the city of Joburg's political dynamics as Mayor Gwamanda's party demands a deputy mayor post should he step down. Calls from civic organizations have come in demanding the removal of the city's mayor following concerns of poor service delivery and delayed infrastructure developments. Lerato Mbele speaks to Regional Spokesperson for Joburg of the ANC, Masilo Serekele, Dr. Sysman Motloung who is a Lecturer at NWU and Prof. Boitumelo Senokoane, a professor from UNISA.
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The Zimbabwean government has embarked on a major crackdown on opposition activists. This comes as the country prepares to host the SADC summit now in August. This week alone, police have arrested 8 opposition activists from different political parties for illegal gatherings. Human rights defenders are condemning the arrests and alleged torture of Zimbabweans who called for the release of the opposition activists in late June. Lerato Mbele speaks to Spokesperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum, Ngqabutho Mabhena and Journalist, Zenzele Ndebele.
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In this conversation, we are chatting to Mzukisi about the journey of building an authentic African fashion brand, the process of monetising the business in the fashion industry, and dealing with the challenges in the industry, particularly as an African inspired brand.
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President of Amazulu football club, Sandile Zungu believes in inspiring transformation through business empowerment. Zungu’s football club has recently received a financial boost from two new sponsors and has revealed 7 new signings. Zungu currently owns Amandla Mobile and Zungu Investments.
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Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated in Iran’s capital, Tehran, according to a statement from the group that runs the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip, which blamed Israel for his killing. Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in the early hours of Wednesday after the building where they were staying was struck.
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In this week’s innovation segment, we are highlighting some of the impactful innovations by South African academics who were funded by taxpayers, through the national research foundation. The national research foundation is also celebrating 25 years of its existence this year.
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A MyBroadBand research has shown that South Africans want to spend less money on heating up their geysers. The research shows that average households spend 40-50% of their monthly electricity bill on geyser heating. Alternative energy options have been areas to consider to save up money and solar geysers are often first options people consider.
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Whether you think woke is a curse or a blessing, you’re likely to share one assumption: woke is left, or far-left, or hard-left. What makes woke positions hard to define is that they’re fuelled by all the emotions traditional to most progressive views: sympathy for the marginalised, indignation at the plight of the oppressed, determination that historical wrongs must be righted.
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Tax efilling season is upon us and this week’s Masterclass offers lessons on things to be aware of when submitting your taxes in Fisk 2024 season.
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The United States has negotiated a truce so humanitarian assistance can be given to more than seven million people, including children, caught in the grip of the conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initial cessation of hostilities was for two weeks. It was extended by a further two weeks.
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South African election observers have condemned allegations of a fraudulent electoral process in Venezuela and have declared voting free, fair and transparent. This after media group, Reuters reported fraud allegations in Venezuela’s electoral process. Over 15 South African election observers who are currently in Caracas, are part of a total 910 observers from more than 95 different countries.
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Based on the 2011 Census, the population of Johannesburg was thought to be 6 million. But Census 2022 says Johannesburg is 20% smaller than previously thought and on which budgetary estimates for the past 10 years have been calculated.
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According to a report by the Centre for Risk Analysis, over R721 billion a year goes to the public sector wage bill. This report highlights that South Africa has the third-highest government wage bill as a share of GDP compared with 20 major global economies. Although South Africa has a much smaller economy, its wage bill as a share of GDP (about 10.5%) towers over economic powerhouses such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.
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In this week's Innovation Wednesday, Lerato Mbele spoke to innovator and entrepreneur, Sandiso Sibiso who is the founder of COOi Studios. COOi is a strategy, design and technology accelerator delivering innovative solutions for large enterprises.
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The Department of Higher Education has returned as much as R580 million in funds to the national treasury, despite the high number of unfunded students. The funds were allocated for specific purposes and could not be reallocated, according to former Higher Education minister, Blade Nzimande.
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Miss South Africa finalist, Chidimma Adetshina has faced xenophobic attacks on social media about her eligibility to represent the nation. Adetshina has faced criticism with users questioning her South African identity. The finalist stated in a video that she was born and raised in South Africa, Soweto though admitting that her parents were not South African.
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In this week's masterclass we unpack, in detail, the two-pot retirement system which has now become official. Ramaphosa signed the bill into law which resulted from pressure from trade union movements. The two-pot retirement system will allow fund members to withdraw a part of their pension fund savings before retirement.
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In this week's across the globe, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has reminded European countries about the importance of manpower with many, once again weighing the promises and perils of compulsory military service.
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New Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa spoke firmly against dysfunctional municipalities that have even failed to pay salaries. During his Budget Vote speech, Hlabisa highlighted the hurdles faced by local municipalities and said that it is now the job of the 7th administration to turn things around. Calls to restore municipalities are in motion with the ANC among other parties demanding the removal of city mayors of Tshwane and Johannesburg.
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South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa says the Government of National Unity will expand the basket of essential food items exempt from VAT and identify areas where prices can be reduced. Ramaphosa spoke during the Opening of Parliament last week and hopes this measure will alleviate poverty in the midst of the high cost of living.
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In this week's view of the nation, the Gauteng province continues to bear the brunt of little to no water running through taps as a result of Rand Water maintenance processes. The water utility assured citizens about 2months ago that they will have cleaning running water soon. While parts of Johannesburg do without water, Tshwane residents have spent as long as 6months without water. Local councilors in areas like Mamelodi have coupled the reasons with theft, gangsterism and vandalism calling it the "Water Mafia".
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On this week's diary, Lerato Mbele was in conversation with BusinessLIVE Reporter, Thando Maeko.
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American President, Joe Biden has bowed out of the elections race and endorsed vice-president, Kamala Harris for nomination. This follows as Biden expressed in an official statement that he is now exiting the presidential race. Biden has now succumbed to pressure from party leaders despite his strong stance that he could win against former president, Donald Trump.
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Known for his charismatic and often "dzaddy" roles, has carved out a distinguished career in South African entertainment over more than 25 years. His formal training includes a performance diploma in theatre and a master's degree in drama and acting from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, which he completed in 2000.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Sheldon Tatchell, Founder and CEO of Legends Barber in this week's edition of the entrepreneurial edge.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to composer, singer, tv show judge, producer and curator, Msaki.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to NUMSA Spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi Majola about the latest developments in the Ford Motor Company strike. Striking members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA are today set to return to work a week after they downed tools in support of their demands for profit sharing. The union negotiated that Ford pay workers R20 000 each as a deadlock-breaking mechanism and to pay these monies as soon as possible following the return of workers to the workplace.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Lehlohonolo Thobela, a South African Weather Service Forecaster and Dr Peter Johnston, a Climate Scientist and Researcher from the University of Cape Town about climate change.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to political analyst Sandile Swana about Bantustan leaders and their legacies.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Kedibone Tsiloane, Co-founder of Ramtsilo Manufacturing & Construction about their plastic bricks. The company converts plastic waste into construction bricks that are strong, durable and fire retardant and can be used for the construction of factory and housing units.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dean Macpherson, Minister for Public Works, and Infrastructure.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Decision Inc. CEO, Nick Bell about the ethical use of A.I.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to CETA Board Chairperson, Thabo Masombuka and City Press reporter, Abram Mashego about the issue of the CETA CEO who has been accuses of interference in procurement processes. The CEO of the Construction Education and Training Authority, Malusi Shezi has sparked controversy with his plans for an extended overseas trip for his board members. According to documents reviewed by City Press, the government agency has already spent R4 million on flights, car hire, accommodation, and facilitator fees. The training authority is also allegedly intending to give each of the eight board members going on the tour at least R250 000 pocket money for other expenses, over and above the usual board fees.Those challenging the travel plans allege that the junket was initiated by Shezi to appease the board, as he faces allegations of impropriety. Shezi is facing several allegations from the current and former staff, including that he personally interfered with the procurement processes within the entity and has captured the board, which has likewise been accused of failing to hold him to account. The members of the board will also be jetting to Singapore, Indonesia and then Japan between September and November. In the memo obtained by City Press, which was presented on 27 May by Shezi, he wrote that the board needed to attend the study visit abroad to help the Ceta shape its strategy towards skilling the education sector. In this conversation, we speak to the CETA about the reports.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Katherine Gill, a Clinical Research Lead at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation about South Africa and Uganda's clinical trials which have shown that a twice-yearly injection of a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug gives young women total protection from HIV infection. The trial tested whether the six-month injection of lenacapavir would provide better protection against HIV infection than two other pre-exposure drugs, both daily pills.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to teachers, Chelsea Bester, a Grade 7 Teacher Mathematics & Science Teacher from Kuils River Primary and Solly Poo, Deputy Principal at Hofmeyr High School about their experiences of working in a classroom in SA schools.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to local government expert, Dr Tim Maake and Dr Reneva Fourie, a Policy Analyst Specialising in Governance, Development and Security ahead of the first cabinet lekgotla under the GNU.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Brooks Spector, Associate Editor at The Daily Maverick & Former U.S. Diplomat about the 2024 U.S. elections. At least five Democratic lawmakers expressed their view on Sunday that President Joe Biden should step down from the US presidential election scheduled for November 5, according to multiple news reports.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst and Lecturer at the University of Limpopo Dr. Metji Makgoba about stories from the Sunday papers.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Otorhinolaryngologist & Educator, Professor Mashudu Tshifularo a doctor specialising in diseases that affect the head, ears, nose, throat as well as neck.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Oscar van Heerden is a senior research fellow for African diplomacy and leadership at the University of Johannesburg about the costs of the South African cabinet.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to singer, Pilani Bubu about South African folklore.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Lerato Nage, Chairperson of the Board of the Black Management Forum Investment Company in this week's edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Bontle Tshole, Founder and Director of Baaa Health about her juicing business in this week's edition of the entrepreneurial edge.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Tamsin Bradley from the University of Portsmouth about the rise of Female Gender Mutilation in Africa. Recent reports indicate that the incidence of FGM is slowly growing, suggesting that locally FGM is actually practised among some Venda, Indian, and Southern Ndebele communities.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Memphis Morebudi Kaotsane, Founder of the Moonshine Reflective Livestock Spray about his reflective paint for livestock owners, farmers and domestic pets owners. The paint is in the form of a spray designed to make animals visible at night, particularly on roads.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Alexandre Barrière Izard, a Representative of French Citizens in South Africa and Musa Mdunge, Political Analyst & Comparative Politics Seminal Teacher at the University of Dundee about the elections in France.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to William Gumede, an Associate Professor at the School of Governance at Wits & Director of the Democracy Works Foundation about the workings of the GNU Consultations Council.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Tembisa Fakude, a Senior Fellow at the Africa Asia Dialogues about the Iranian Presidential elections.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr John Glen, an Expert Negotiator and Director for the Centre for Customised Executive Development, Cranfield School of Management and Dr Khulu Mbatha, an Author, Diplomat & Former Presidential Advisor (to Kgalema Motlhante and Cyril Ramaphosa) about negotiating. The ability to negotiate effectively can make or break a politician's career. Negotiation is not just about getting what you want; it's about finding common ground and reaching a deal that benefits all parties involved. Negotiation in politics is a complex process that requires skill, patience, and strategic thinking. In this section of the show, we will explore the art of negotiation in business/politics and how it can be applied to achieve success.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to UDM President, Bantu Holomisa about the call for a National Dialogue in South Africa.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Nomsa Mazwai, the Founder of Funk-It-I-Am-Walking about Soweto's heritage tourism.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to GIWUSA's Mametlwe Sebei about the union's views on SA's political climate.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Athari band members, Gabriel Mawande Stuurman and Lundi Nkosi in this week's edition of "In The Spotlight". Athari is an afro jazz and afro soul band with nostalgic experience in the music industry and have been at the vanguard of contemporary afro jazz music in South Africa for many years, and are lauded for leading a resurgence in jazz while incorporating myriad music styles around a jazz framework.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Founder and Former Director of Section 27, Mark Heywood and Brand Management Specialist, Solly Moeng about enhancing civil society participation in South Africa’s development agenda.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Kganki Matabane, CEO of the Black Business Council and Tebogo Khaas, Chairperson of Public Interest SA who give their reactions to the GNU cabinet.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Kagiso Pooe, Political Analyst & Lecturer at Wits University about stories that made the news this past weekend.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Fees Must Fall Activist, Busi Seabe, Kanakana Mudzanani, Founding President of the SA Youth Economic Council and Collen Malatji President of the ANC Youth League about the youth's role and involvement in the nation's development.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Pascal Hlongwane, Founder & Director of Pascal Interior Designs and Carpentry Services about his business which specialises in high-end interior design and custom cabinetry.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Aligned CEO, Dr Lungi Nyathi about the state of palliative care in SA.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to the Leader of the South African Black Muslims Conference, Sheik Zaid Langa about the Hajj.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Freelance Journalist and Governance Activist, Phillip Muliisa about the Kenyan tax protests.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to ANC Veteran, Mavuso Msimang. On 25 June 1955, the historic multi-racial convention called The Congress of the People started in Kliptown, near Johannesburg. The proposition for this form of gathering came from Prof. Z.K Matthews at the African National Congress (ANC) Queenstown regional conference in 1953. These organisations set up a Joint Action Committee to coordinate the work of drafting the Freedom Charter, which was adopted by the convention the next day, 26 June 1955. Today marks the 69th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which formed the basis of the country's constitution.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Nhlamulo Ndhlela, Spokesperson of the MK Party about their joining of the National Assembly and future of the opposition.
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June in South Africa is observed as Men’s Health Month, whose objective is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. South Africa yet again faces an upsurge of a national crisis. Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Clinical Psychologist, Mzamo Mbuli and SADAG Spokesperson, Tebogo Ramadiro about men and mental health.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to the Head of the SIU, Advocate Andy Mothibi about the organisation's work and the MoU with the University of Stellenbosch.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Advocate Sipho Mantula, a researcher at the Thabo Mbeki School of Public & International Affairs about the possibility and screnarios of South Africa reaching a constitutional crisis.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Dr Levy Ndou, Political Analyst & Lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology about several political parties abandoning the Progressive Caucus.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to fine artist, writer, actress and film director, Mmabatho Mmontsho.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the President of Action SA and AL Jammah-ah, Herman Mashaba and Ganief Hendricks about the role of opposition in Parliament and the work of the Progressive Caucus.
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Lerato Mbele speask to Stogie T (Boitumelo Molekane), Rapper Poet & Producer about the evolution of hip hop in SA.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Bonga Maseko, Founder of Splash Coatings Africa. Colour, as minute as it may seem in life, can say a lot about one’s thinking and even affect one’s mental or emotional state. For many, the colours of their homes mean everything, it’s the difference between a dull room and a room that radiates consciousness, efficiency, tranquillity and more. This brings us to today’s entrepreneur Bonga Maseko who is the founder of Splash Coatings Africa, a paint manufacturing company which has stores in Soweto, Midrand, Ga-Runkuwa, and Dawn Park. In addition to selling premium coatings, the paint company also has a payment plan which allows them to paint your home while the bill can be settled within 4 months.
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On Tuesday, 18 June we had a conversation about the recent deployment of police in KZN and spoke to SAPS KZN’s Robert Netshiunda and Political Violence Researcher and Social Justice Advocate, Mary De Haas who reflected on the issue of public violence and political assassinations in the province and shared views on the matter of policing and violence in KZN. Lerato Mbele speaks to the former Minister Cele who replies to the comments made during this conversation.
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South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the formation of a broad coalition government as the "beginning of a new era" on Wednesday as he was sworn in for a second full term. Lawmakers last week voted overwhelmingly to re-elect him after he agreed to form what he called a national unity government with several other parties. In his first term the economy languished, blighted by power cuts, crime remained rife, and unemployment increased to 32.9 percent. In this week’s view of the nation, we look ahead. Lerato Mbele speaks to Xolelwa Kashe-Katiya, Project Leader at the Indlulamithi SA Scenarios Trust , Sandile Swana, a Governance and Political Analyst and Jakkie Cilliers, Chairperson and Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies.
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Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected as South Africa's president on Friday with the support of once rival parties that have agreed to join his African National Congress (ANC) in a new government of national unity. The ANC - which was forced to share power for the first time in 30 years after losing its majority in last month's vote - still has to work out how to divide up the top cabinet jobs and overcome ideological differences with its new partners. In this conversation, we talk about what should the immediate priorities of the President be after his inauguration as he leads the 7th administration? Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Chris Landsberg, the Sarchi Chair In African Diplomacy & Foreign Policy and Director Of The Centre For African Diplomacy And Leadership at The University Of Johannesburg.
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In this week’s edition of the masterclass ahead of the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, we talk about what protocol is, and why people often best understand its importance only when it goes wrong; whether shifts in the international order are affecting protocol practices; and how COVID-19 changed the rules for good protocol and some details of what happens during an inauguration. Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Kingsley Makhubela, Director at Risk Recon and Former Chief of State Protocol at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
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Lerato Mbele speaks toColonel Robert Netshiunda, Spokesperson of the KZN SAPS and Mary De Haas, a Political Violence Researcher and Social Justice Advocate.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to William Gumede, Executive Chairperson of the Democracy Works Foundation and Associate Professor at the Wits School of Governance about the configuration of a new SA Cabinet.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Siviwe Gwarube, DA Chief Whip and GNU Negotiator about the DA's principles for the GNU participation.
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In his February 2024 State of the Nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa painted a picture in which the country’s youth – “democracy’s children” – had enormous opportunities for advancement. Research tracing 30 years of youth marginalisation has found that youth in South Africa, who make up 34.3% of the population, have not fared well under democracy. They are the hardest hit by unemployment and the lack of opportunities and show high alienation. In this week's view of the nation, Lerato Mbele speaks to Kristal Duncan-Williams, a Project Lead at Youth Capital, Zama Khanyase, National Spokesperson of the ANC Youth League and Moeketsi Koahela, Chairperson of the National Youth Coalition.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to BMJ Mbatha of Incoso Goat Meat. Incoso Goat Meat is a food brand focused on the harvesting, processing, packaging and the supply of quality goat meat into marketable. And oversees the reselling and promotion of goat related meat products for consumers and retailers. Additionally, the brand also educates and promotes the benefits of Chevon and cabrito as the healthiest alternative of red meat. The company joins us as a guest in this week’s edition of the Entrepreneurial Edge.
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Nhlanhla Sehume in conversation with Dr Asghar Adelzadeh, co-director of the Economic Modelling Academy about evidence-based coalition government decision making.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Joshua Poho Setipa, Candidate for The Secretary General Position at the Commonwealth and Former Minister Of Trade In Lesotho about the relevance of the organisation and his candidacy campaign.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Makhudu Sefara, Sunday Times Deputy Editor about top stories that made the weekend papers.
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Mary Jane is a South African singer songwriter, making music for the hearts of the world! She does not shy away from conveying emotion through her music and sings with honesty and passion that is very palpable. Mary Jane still may be new to many music listeners, but she is well loved in the music community that appreciates real soulful artists. She joins us as a guest in this week’s edition of “In The Spotlight”. Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with, Singer and Songwriter, Mary Jane.
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The upcoming seventh democratic Parliament of South Africa is set to feature a broader spectrum of age groups among its representatives, as well as the youngest Member of Parliament (MPs) in South Africa’s democratic history. This comes as female representation shows a slight decrease compared to the previous administration. Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to the Executive Director of Institute for Justice And Reconciliation, Professor Cheryl Hendricks,
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Nandiswa Mxokozeli, Managing Executive at Nedbank Private Wealth who joins us as a guest in this week's edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to the Founder of Learn Base, Mokete Ratlabala. Learn Base is an innovative energy efficiency company that develops energy management software and hardware that helps consumers lower how much power they use.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to legal analyst and director of Zikalala Attorneys, Mpumelelo Zikalala about lobola and the law.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to the NFP's Canaan Mdletshe and independent political analyst, Thobani Zikalala about the coalition politics of KZN.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Dr. Misheck Mutize, Lead Expert on Credit Rating Agencies at the African Peer Review Mechanism about their rebuke of the recent Fitch rating.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Ras Gareth Prince, Lawyer & Chair of the Cannabis Development Council of South Africa about the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to financial wellness expert Dr Frank Magwegwe from GIBS and Amelia De Milander, Marketing Manager at Debtbusters about SA's cost of living crisis.
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Nhlanhla Sehumbe speaks to Professor Thuli Madonsela, Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University about the determination of the first seating of Parliament.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Oyama Mabandla, Author & Lawyer about his book, "Soul of a Nation: A Quest For The Rebirth Of South Africa's True Value".
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Mazwe Majola from the Worldwide Institute of Leadership and BOSA's Mmusi Maimane about the politics of the Government Of National Unity and power sharing In SA.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to speaks to Sayan Dey, an Assistant Professor at the Alliance University’s School of Liberal Arts in India. The Indian leader Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a rare third term after nearly two months of voting in the world’s largest democracy. But for the first time, Modi will lead a coalition after his party was humbled in its traditional stronghold of the Hindi-speaking belt of northern India.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend with journalist and art historian, Percy Mabandu.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to actor and comedian, Rob Van Vuuren about comedy and politics.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to political analyst, Prince Mashele about scenarios of a national unity government. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the African National Congress will seek a national unity government, which he said would reflect the will of voters and help move the country forward.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Actress & Singer, Nokukhanya Dlamini.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Kalane Rampai, the Managing Director of Microsoft SA in this week’s edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Public Protector of South Africa, Kholeka Gcaleka. The office of the Public Protector this week released a report on the investigations into administrative deficiencies relating to the processing of gender-based violence related matters within the South African criminal justice system.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director of Old Mutual SME about Old Mutual SMEgo.
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Nhlanhla Sehume standing in for Lerato Mbele speaks to Mphutlane wa Bofelo, a South African poet, essayist, socio-political theorist and activist about poetry as a tool for social justice.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Project Manager and Audiologist at the hearX Group about the work the organisation is doing to address the issue of hearing loss through their different technologies.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Chifipa Mhango, Chief Economist at the Don Consultancy Group about the latest GDP data and state of the SA economy.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Dr Sayan Dey, an Assistant Professor at Alliance University’s School of Liberal Arts and Thembisa Fakude, a Senior Research Fellow & Director at Africa Asia Dialogues about the outcomes of India's elections. The Lok Sabha elections defied exit poll projections with the ruling BJP falling short of the majority mark of 272. However, the National Democratic Alliance, led by BJP, is poised to form the government with Modi getting a third term.
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Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with Moloto Mothapo, Spokesperson of Parliament about the establishment of the Seventh Democratic Parliament.
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Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink.
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Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with Cllr Themba Fosi, MMC for Utilities Services about the City of Tshwane budget for 2024/25.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor of African Politics at UNISA, Kealeboga Maphunye and Research Professor at UJ's Humanity Faculty, Steven Friedman about how to form a government after an election.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Economist and Social Activist, Bongani Mahlangu about seat allocations after the election.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend and speaks to Sunday Times Columnist, Sam Mkokeli
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Cheryl Hendricks, Executive Director at Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa and Lulu White, a Political Analyst & Founder of the
Elections Management Consulting Agency of Africa about women representation in the 2024 elections.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nay San Lwin, Co-Founder of the Rohingya Coalition and Dr Fanie Du Toit, Associate at the In Transformation Initiative about Rhohyinga Muslims. Escalating violence in conflict-torn Myanmar’s Rakhine State has forced another 45,000 minority Rohingya to flee, the United Nations warned, amid allegations of beheadings, killings and burnings of property.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Kedibone Phago, Director of the School of Government at the North West University and Director of Reputation First, Tshepo Matseba about party logos and colours and their meanings.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Independent Election Analyst, Martin Atkins about what voters should know about voting day and what to do and not to do at one's voting station.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Kealeboga Maphunye, Professor of African Politics at UNISA's Department of Political Science and Jannie Rossouw, Visiting Professor at the Wits School of Business about the sixth administration.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Irvin Barnes, President of the National Freedom Party in this week's edition of Behind The Party Line ahead of the 29 May elections.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst & Lecturer at the North West University, Sysman Motloung and looks at stories that made the news over the weekend.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to producer and music executive, Lindelani Mkhize in this week’s edition of “In The Spotlight”.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to poet, playwright and executive producer of the tv drama, Queen Modjadji, Duma Ndlovu.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Asief Mohamed, Chief Investment Officer at Aeon Investment Management and David Van Wyk, a Mining Analyst & Researcher from the Benchmarks Foundation about the BHP-Anglo American bid.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the ANC's David Mahlobo, the DA’s Kwena Moloto and IFP's Mlungisi Mabaso about their manifestos.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the IEC’s Assistant Manager for Civic and Democracy Education, Mmakgabo Ramatlhodi about the three ballot system ahead of next week’s elections.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Lebogang Montjane, the Executive Director of the Independent Schools Association of South Africa and St Marys' Deanne King and Seipati Shiakallis about transformation in South African private schools.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend and sets our news agenda for the week with Political Analyst & Diversity Specialist, Asanda Ngoasheng.
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Xiluva (from the Tsonga word meaning "flower") is a South African political party launched in March 2023 by former ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson, and former Executive Mayor of the Midvaal Local Municipality for the Democratic Alliance, Bongani Baloyi. The party was founded on the principles of ubuntu, multiracialism and family values and aims to attract people between the ages of 18 and 48. The party was officially registered with Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa in July 2023, and Baloyi said that the party intends on contesting the 2024 national and provincial elections. In this week’s edition of “Behind The Party Line”, Lerato Mbele speaks to Bongani Baloyi, the leader of political party Xiluva, for more details on its manifesto and plans for the SA economy and improving service delivery.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela about TVET colleges.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Sam Zungu, Deputy Director General for the Department of Higher Edycation and Training about upskilling lecturers at TVET colleges.
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Nhlanhla Sehume is in conversation with actress, choreographer and director, Thembi Nyandeni.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Gcotyelwa Jimlongo, Programme Manager at Futurelect about civic education.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Tebogo Legote, Founder of HandMadeByTebogo about about her sustainable fashion and home ware crocheting business.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to Michelle Hinrichsen, Advocacy Lead at Open Cities Lab about the "My Candidate SA" platform.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to Dr Honours Mukhari, the NHI National Coordinator of the Progressive Professionals Forum, Patricia Kopane, an Action SA Free State Premier Candidate & Former DA MP and Lerato Mthunzi, General Secretary of the Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union about the NHI.
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Lerato Mbele speak to Veronica Bhengu from the Sectional Title Scheme about the rights of landlords.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to risk analyst, Dr Kingsley Makhubela and independent historian, Ncamisile Ngubane about Palestine's statehood.
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Lerto Mbele speaks to John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development about the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Act.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Jasmine Opperman, Independent Security and Terror Analyst and Piers Pigou, Head of the Southern Africa Programme at the Institute for Security Studies about the insurgency in Mozambique.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Vice President of the Black Business Council in the Built Enviroment, Gregory Mofokeng about SA's construction industry.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Rise Mzansi, National Leader, Songezo Zibi.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend with Dr Mabutho Shangase, a Senior Lecturer at the North West University Department of Political Studies and International Relations.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst, Lulu White about party manifestos.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Actress, Businesswoman and Philanthropist, Sorisha Naidoo.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Actress and Singer, Shannon Esra about her play "My Left Breast"
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Nthabiseng Makgana, CEO of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in this week's edition of The Leadership Dialogue.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Florist,Tshego Ratshidi about her flower business.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramaokgopa about the Democracy Review Report.
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At the back of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini taking a third wife, Nomzamo Myeni this past weekend, we talk about opening ourselves up to the evolution of culture. Lerato Mbele speaks to Cultural Expert, Professor Musa Xulu about this.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the CEO of Abelusi, Samkelo Booi.
Abelusi is a comprehensive agricultural technology platform that strategically integrates a marketplace, livestock management and tracking system, online veterinarian services, and transportation functions to optimize the agricultural ecosystem. This innovative solution addresses critical pain points in the agriculture sector—fostering efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability. At its core, Abelusi’s focus is to empower Samkelo Booi, Co-Founder and CEO, Abelusi, 081 596 3769
farmers with data-driven tools and sustainable practices, leading to improved animal health, increased productivity as well as high commerciality.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Sactwu’s national industrial policy officer, Etienne Vlok about the local clothing industry.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Trenton Birch, CEO & Co-Founder of Cheeba Cannabis Academy & the Cheeba Cannabis Consulting about cannabis in SA.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the Head of Multi Asset Funds at 10X Investments, Christopher Eddy and Economist & Director at First Source Money, Redge Nkosi about the value of South Africa Inc.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Pakes Dikgetsi, Acting National Chairperson of the party about their manifesto ahead of the 29 May elections.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend with Political Analyst, Dr Metjie Makgoba.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Titi Luzipo. Straight from the shores of the prolific temples of India performing at the World Jazz Festival and receiving a dozen of standing ovations in sold out shows, Titi has returned home to usher in a new era that showcases her new music from her forthcoming sophomore album – Love and Freedom.
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Lerato Mbele o Tshireletso Mokate, the Founder of Camping RetrEat, a delectable camping and feasting experience that blends the best of all the worlds. Mokate was inspired to simplify camping and turn it into a truly relaxing experience.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Lawrence Konyana, a Representative from the National Funeral Directors Association and Pepe Dass, Chairperson of the South African Cemeteries Association about cremations.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Eskom Chairperson, Mteto Nyathi about the entity's state of the system.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to SEIFSA President, Elias Monage in this week's edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Menzi Maseko, a Creative and Cultural Economy Worker about neighbourliness, the good, bad, and in-between. What is the art of neighbourliness and how do you build communities?
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Maurice Crespi, Partner at Schindlers about the firm's introduction of 20 beta AI-trained legal experts. These AI attorneys are trained in various fields of law and are set to revolutionize how legal services are delivered.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Sharon Munyaka, Work Psychologist and Past President of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology Of SA about improving employee wellness in the workplace.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Alex van den Heever from Wits University and Dr Steven Gordon, a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council about quality-of-life surveys in the country.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst, Khanyi Magubane and MD of PR Power House, Lebo Madiba. In the world of politics, the art of effective communication and strategic campaigning can make all the difference between victory and defeat. As the saying goes, “Well begun is half done,” and when it comes to winning Political Campaign elections, a compelling and well-executed campaign launch sets the tone for the entire journey. In the context of the 29 May elections and ongoing political party campaigning, discuss crafting an elections campaign and the associated messaging that goes with campaigns. What goes into a good elections campaign? For an election campaign manager, what informs how a campaign unfolds, strategy decisions, reflect on "tried-and-true tips" and tricks that have helped electoral campaigns make a difference in the long run and maximize their impact on the ground.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Action SA President, Herman Mashaba.
ActionSA was formed in August 2020 by the former Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, to change the direction of South Africa by providing a credible alternative to a broken political system that has failed South Africans for many years since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy. The party’s foundations are grounded in The People’s Dialogue, a 9-month public engagement process which solicited the views of 2.4 million South Africans about the future of their country. Their focus is on Action that moves South Africa forward Herman Mashaba, President, ActionSA
from an era of broken promises, corruption and failed government. And believe that citizens have an opportunity to turn around the decay in our country and restore the country to a path of prosperity by removing the ruling party at the ballot box on the 29th of May and that their pragmatic policies will help achieve true freedom in the country by creating millions of new jobs, expanding social grants, restoring the rule of law and securing the country’s borders.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend and sets our news agenda for the week with Professor Dirk Kotze, Political Analyst & Lecturer at UNISA.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the comedian, actor, choreographer and dancer best known for his role as Shampoo in the feature film Taxi Ride and its spin-off series of the same name. Having worked at the 2002 world summit as a presidential tour guide, he later graduated as a dancer and choreographer from South Africa's top contemporary dance school, Johannesburg Dance Foundation, while working as a dancer and comedian part-time.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst & Lecturer at the North West University, Sysman Motloung about democracy in SA.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Author & Former Minister of Intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils and Actress Erika Breytenbach-Marais about his book "“The Unlikely Secret Agent: The Eleanor Kasrils Story” which has been adapted into a play.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Lesweu Rampa, the Managing and Operations Director of Intervent-Universal, a ventilation and cooling solutions company.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Dr Linda Ncube–Nkomo.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Joel Bregman from My Vote counts about their positions on proposals to strengthen coalition government in South Africa.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Lesego Van Niekerk, Choreographer and Director about the Joburg Moves dance season.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the actor Saint Seseli about his career. Saint first appeared on television alongside Hlomla Dandala in 1987 in the 26-episode educational show Moving On Again. He has since had starring, recurring and guest roles in numerous television shows including How To Ruin Christmas, Home Affairs, Zero Tolerance, Soul City, Backstage, eKasi: Our Stories, Jacob's Cross, Task Force, Sokhulu & Partners, Roer Jou Voete, isiBaya, High Rollers, Entabeni, Ashes to Ashes, Ihawu, My Perfect Family, Skeem Saam and The Queen.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Prof Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, Professor Of Climate Change, Food Systems And Health At The London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine about cloud seeding in the UAE.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend with Political Analyst, Thobani Zikalala.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Selebogo Molefe, Managing Director of The Biz Plug and Bulelani Balabala, Founder of the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance about the township economy.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to the President of the Forum 4 Service Delivery, Dr Mbahare Kekana. The Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) is South African civic political movement founded in 2015 to tackle grassroot issues such as water, sanitation, housing, immigration laws, electoral reform, education and children going to school without shoes. The party registered to contest the 2016 and 2021 South African municipal elections in five provinces: North West, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Limpopo. The party amassed 31 Council Seats in 2016 and subsequently 39 Council Seats in 2021.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Clinical Lead at Unu Health Dr Phathokuhle Zondiabout their innovative approach to healthcare. The health tech platform uses a 50-second face scan for users to monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and heart rate.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Sociologist, Nombulelo Shange and Founder of AfroBotanics, Ntombenhle Khathwane and delves into the world of hairstyles and what these reveal about individuals, where they're from, what they value, and the stories their hair choices tell about their journeys.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Political Analyst & Comparative Politics Seminal Teacher at the University of Dundee, Musa Mdunge.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Michael Markovitz, Head of The GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank about building sustainable media businesses.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with the young professionals who are part of the DPWI Young Professionals Programme, Professional Architect, Inam Kula and Candidate Architect, Oliver Brown.
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@mbele_lnb is in conversation with the young professionals who are part of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's Young Professionals programme, Professional Architect, Inam Kula and Candidate Architect, Oliver Brown.
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Have you heard about the Young Professionals Programme by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure? @mbele_lnb is in conversation with Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala to elaborate on the importance of programme. Zikalala expounds on the departments role and how you can get involved in the Young Professionals Programme.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Tshegofatso Mashabela, EFF Tshwane Secretary about the party's ideals and promises ahead of the May elections in this week's edition of Behind The Party Line.
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Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, a Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission, has been actively involved in various civil society organizations and initiatives, including the Rural Democracy Trust, Khulumani Support Group, and the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA). For a significant period from 2015 to 2018, Professor Madlingozi dedicated his efforts to the Khulumani Support Group, serving as the National Advocacy Coordinator and later as Chairperson, supporting the movement's 120,000 members composed of victims and survivors of Apartheid. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role as Chief Panelist for the South African Human Rights Commission Enquiry into Racial Discrimination and other forms of Discrimination in Advertising from 2021 to 2022. He also holds academic positions at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights. He joins us on this week’s edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Controversies pertaining to the role of traditional leaders have been and continue to be at the centre of rural development in the democratic South Africa. Legacies of these controversies stemmed from their ambiguous roles in previous regimes which seem to linger in their role in current local governance. Although the institution of traditional leaders is protected by Chapter 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and preserved by ANC led democratic government but the nature of its roles and powers over rural populace remain as one of challenged governmental approach. The decentralization of administrative power to lower structures of government together with the formation of district and local municipalities has resulted into a questionable credibility of traditional leaders. Moreover, exclusion and underdevelopment of local communities has also attributed to their unprecedented power over land administration in the countryside. In this conversation, we talk about the role of traditional leaders in society and reflect on the role Kgosi Pilane has played as a traditional leader in his community of Lekutung, Moruleng in the North West following the launch of his family museum which has been a year in the making and houses 121-year-old structures, which include 2 granaries made out of a specific ratio of cow dung, soil and ash. The museum highlights the history of his people and also provides solutions to issues that face many communities - namely food insecurity. Deputy President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa
Kgosi Nyalala Pilane joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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It was the girl group Flo that once said: “It’s not my job to make you feel comfortable”. This encompasses our entrepreneur who we have on the show today who doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of power dynamics, culture clashes, and identity struggles, all of which are depicted in a narrative style that amplifies the grotesque history of exploitation. His name is Ayanda Mabulu, a well-known South African artist celebrated for his thought-provoking paintings. His art delves into the profound issues of inequality, particularly the experiences faced by the black community in today's society. Through satirical imagery, Mabulu skillfully juxtaposes powerful figures with vulnerable victims, shedding light on themes of greed, oppression, poverty, and systematic racism. His art has become a part of everyday conversations among his people, sparking discussions aimed at rebuilding and empowering the black community. As we commemorate Human Rights Day, Ayanda Mabulu joins us on this week's edition of the entrepreneurial edge to share insights into his activism for social justice through the impactful medium of art.
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In July 2023, Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan announced a shake-up of the Transnet board after constraints on the railways and ports resulted in South Africa missing out on billions of rand in revenue. On the 11-member board, nine new appointments were made including a new chair, Andile Sangqu, previously the vice-president of the Minerals Council and a former member of the Anglo American and Tongaat executive boards. In October, the board created a turnaround plan that it believes could help arrest the state-owned transport group’s decline, help it return to profitability by 2025 and make its rail and port operations reliable for SA’s economy. In December 2023, the National Treasury issued Transnet with an immediate R47 billion guarantee facility against which the entity is able to drawdown an initial amount of R22.8 billion to deal with immediate liquidity matters such as settling maturity debt. Transnet had a R7 billion debt repayment in November 2023 and R10 billion due by the end of March 2024. Its turnaround plan required R47 billion funding and for the Treasury to take over R61 billion of its debt. Its latest financials showed it made a loss of R5.7 billion, with R1 billion in debt service costs per month. Inefficiencies at the SOE have cost the economy billions, especially the mining industry, which relies on its infrastructure to export commodities as well as other industries including agriculture. The SA Association of Freight Forwarders said the failures at the SOE cost the domestic economy nearly R1 billion per day. This credit facility forms part of a guaranteed framework agreement between Godongwana’s department, Transnet and the department of public enterprises. In this conversation, we talk about and get an update on the turnaround of Transnet with its Board Chairperson Andile Sangqu.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Singer, Producer and Label Executive Swazi Dlamini.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mapudi Bapela-Mahlare, Founder of Goddess Lifestyle Living in this week's edition of House of a Goddess.
House of a Goddess was founded by a Cloud Technologist Specialist, very innovative stemming from an ever-evolving cloud technology background. Very passionate & experienced interior stylists’ enthusiast who fully channeled her creative streak by focusing on investing in her growth trajectory of her business Goddess Lifestyle Living, Furniture Manufacturing & Renovations Empire, after Mapudi was subsequently retrenched at the heightened peak of 2020 when the Covid 19 pandemic hit in South Africa. Their services include Interior Design, Renovations of Properties, Architecture Design, Wellbeing Design and Furnishing & Furniture Manufacturing.
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In this week's edition of "Beyond The Party Line", Lerato Mbele speaks to Wouter Wessels, a Member of Parliament & Head Of Elections for the FF Plus.
The Freedom Front was founded during this time under the leadership of Genl Constand Viljoen. Nineteen parties contested the national elections on 27 April 1994, of which only seven-won seats in Parliament. The Freedom Front, only one month old, ended as the fourth largest party, after the ANC, NP and IFP. The most significant occurance during the course of the first political term was the writting of the new South African constitution. The Freedom Front actively participated in Wouter Wessels, Member of Parliament & Head Of Elections
the process and focused on the inclusion of self-determination and group rights. The party is irrevocably committed to the realisation of communities’, in particular the Afrikaner’s, internationally recognised right to self-determination, territorial or otherwise; the maintenance, protection and promotion of their rights and interests, as well as the promotion of the right of self-determination of any other community, bound by a common language and cultural heritage in South Africa.
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Since the beginning of the year, not a single day has passed without water problems in Johannesburg, with reports indicating a water outage in the city every week this year. Experts warn that the situation is likely to deteriorate further while the City of Johannesburg works on maintaining infrastructure and improving the water supply. Continuous and sporadic water outages in Johannesburg have been ongoing for the past two years due to poor maintenance of infrastructure. Water towers and reservoirs do not have the capacity to accommodate the growing demand. Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager at Watercan and Dr Anthony Turton, a Professor at The Centre For Environmental Management At The University Of The Free State about SA's water issues.
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In this week's edition of the Diary of the Week, Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Kealoboga Aiseng, Deputy Head of Journalism and Media Studies School at Rhodes University.
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Alex Rantseli, is one half of the dynamic brother band duo, MarcAlex a South African musical group who had a hit with their song "Quick Quick", which went to number 1 on the South African music charts in June 1989. The group is made up of brothers Marc and Alex Rantseli. They won the OKTV Awards for Best Newcomer in 1988 and their song "Heartbreakin' Love" went to number 1 on the 5FM and Radio Metro charts. Boys B Boys followed in 1990, with reworked versions of (some of) the original tunes appearing via ATCO Records and PWL Records that same year on their international and equally eponymous debut. Born in Diepkloof, Soweto, Rantseli’s interest for music started when he was at Olympia High School and when his brother first started playing the piano. In November 2023, his brother Marc Rantseli passed away.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with Dr Bandile Masuku, Chairperson Of The Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee On Community Safety, Bayanda Radebe, Secretary of Mazibuy’ekasi Spaza Shops and Entrepreneur, Rita Ma-Zwane” Zwane about crime and safety in Gauteng communities.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to Dr Pali Lehohla, Director of the Economic Modelling Academy about the South African economy.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to POPCRU Spokesperson, Richard Mamabolo and the General Secretary of the South African Policing Union, Tumelo Mogodiseng about police killings in SA and their call for such killings to be declared as treason.
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Morio Sanyane is in conversation with the Co-founder of Modern Sleep, Pritchard Sibanda. Modern Sleep is a South African bed manufacturing company that prides itself with creating beds that are designed with the needs and preferences of South African sleepers in mind. The company has a wide range of beds to choose from, including luxurious memory foam and adjustable beds that cater to a customer’s individual sleeping preferences. And is dedicated to making the mattress-buying process easy and stress-free, so one wakes up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Timothy Thomas, Country Manager at Epson about the business of printing.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Matakanye Matakanya, General Secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies. On Monday, Kobus Wiese, a former rugby player, took to Twitter to share news about an upcoming event at Laerskool Boshoek Primary. The school plans to host a gender swap day on March 8th, where girls will wear boys' uniforms and boys will wear girls' uniforms—presumably tunics. Although the school didn't elaborate on the reason behind this decision in the newsletter, it has stirred up quite a bit of debate and frustration online, with many parents expressing their discontent. While the tradition of "Guyfox" has been celebrated at the end of the year for some time, this particular event has sparked a broader conversation about the shift towards gender neutrality in early education and whether our society is prepared to fully embrace policies that promote inclusivity in schools. In this discussion, we aim to delve deeper into these topics.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Andrew Lukhele, Chairperson of the National Stokvel Association of South Africa about the evolution of stokvels in South Africa.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Siphokazi Magadla, Author of "Guerrillas and Combative Mothers" and Head of the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University about the role of women In South Africa’s armed struggle.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to Advocate Doctor Mashabane, Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Last week, in Boksburg, Gauteng, a diverse group of stakeholders, including activists, legal experts, judges, ministers, and government officials, gathered for a three-day national conference. Their goal was to assess South Africa's criminal justice system and scrutinize the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977. This Act governs various aspects of criminal law, such as search and seizure, arrest procedures, charges, bail, pleas, evidence rules, verdicts, sentencing, and appeals. However, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the Act does not fully meet the evolving needs of society. Similarly, Advocate Shamila Batohi, head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), expressed concerns about the system's dysfunctionality, stating it doesn't serve the public interest effectively. Deputy President Paul Mashatile also highlighted a decline in public confidence despite government interventions
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nomfundo Ntloko, the Chief Land Claims Commissioner at the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights and Dr Malcolm Keswell, the Lead-Principal Investigator on SALDRU's Land Restitution Evaluation Study.
Earlier this week, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza presented the research findings on the evaluation of the country’s land restitution programme. An estimated 2.3 million people have benefitted from restitution, with R25bn spent on the purchase and transfer of 3.9 million hectares of land. These findings are from a study by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in partnership with the Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit at the University of Cape Town as well as the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation which started in 2018 to evaluate the socio-economic impact of the restitution programme which was meant to bring land justice and to break the cycle of poverty among the dispossessed.
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Mpho is an accomplished business leader with diverse experience acquired over 32 years overall; 26 of which have been in executive and C-Suite roles in the public and private sectors. He is the immediate Past Non-Executive Chairman of Nedbank Group Ltd, Nedbank Ltd (Term concluded on 02 June 2023). In addition, until Monday 30 October 2023, Mpho was Chairman of the ESKOM SOC LTD Board of Directors after a short term of 12 months. Currently he is a Non-Executive Director of Platinum Group Metals (TSX:PTM) (NYSE:PLG) and Lead Independent Director on the Board of Invicta Holdings Limited (INVICTA). His previous experience includes Chief Executive of Saatchi & Saatchi in South Africa and he has served o the South African Boards of the Monitor Group, Ogilvy & Mather, Arabella Sheraton Hotels, Tourvest and the International Marketing Council. His areas of specialty include corporate strategy and strategic change management, Corporate governance, human resources management, labour relations, scenario planning and brand management. He ploughs back to society in many ways, in June 2023 he was appointed as Adjunct Professor at UNISA’s CEMS - College of Economic & Management Sciences.
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Noluthando Mthonti-Mlambo speaks sociologist Dr Alex Asikipiti about Widowhood and ukuzila in South Africa.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with National Home Builders Registration Council, IBT Specialist, Lutendo Thanyani about sustainable building and associated building technologies for housing.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Tech Writer at Business Day Mudiwa Gavaza about the reasons behind the explosive growth of e-commerce in South Africa and the impact it has had on the South African economy. South African retailers have called on the government to close tax loopholes that they believe are being exploited by the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu as it rapidly expands in the country. Similar concerns have also been raised about Shein, another Chinese online platform. The world’s biggest online retailer, Amazon is set to launch in the country sometime this year.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Comparative Politics Seminal Teacher at the University of Dundee, Musa Mdunge about the upcoming March Presidential Elections in Russia. The upcoming Russian presidential elections determine who will serve as the president of Russia for the next six years. Since the establishment of the position of the President of Russia in 1991, the presidential elections have taken place seven times: in 1991, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2018. Current President, Vladimir Putin who has been in power for 20 years will again run for re-election.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nicola Lutchman and Marpusi Mzondi from the Gauteng Department of Health about STIs and HPV vaccines.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Human Resources Specialist, Morongwa Mopai and Julia Makhubela, Founder & Director of 54TwentyFour about sexual harassments in the workplace.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Minister of Human Settlements about the department's Draft White Paper on Human Settlements. Last Monday, the Department of Human Settlements presented the draft White Paper on Human Settlements to a portfolio committee, addressing critical issues like subsidised housing, land availability, and governance structures. The paper aims to improve strategies for sustainable human settlements and will serve as the basis for a new Human Settlements Act. However, amidst this effort, South Africa faces a significant challenge with stalled housing projects. According to the Department's 2022/2023 annual report, over 3,400 projects across nine provinces are incomplete or delayed, with some inactive for more than 36 months. This situation, with financial implications reaching hundreds of millions or billions of rands, underscores the severity of the housing crisis. Our discussion will focus on analyzing the draft White Paper and examining how these stalled projects impact residents in urgent need of adequate housing infrastructure.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Ayesha Vahed, a Legal Reporter at Salaam Media based at the ICJ in The Hague and Thembisa Fakude, a Senior Fellow at the Africa-Asia Dialogues about the ICJ Hearings on Israel's Occupation of Palestine.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Gcina Mhlope in this week's edition of In The Spotlight.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to artist, singer and actress, Tutu Puoane about her new album, "Wrapped In Rhythm" which is inspired by and set to the poetry of Lebo Mashile from her book, "In A Ribbon Of Rhythm".
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mpumelelo Zikalala Attorney & Director at Zikalala Attorneys Inc. about the Senzo Meyiwa retrial.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Tustee of the Umlambo Foundation about International Day of Education celebrated on 24 January and the role of education in peace and development.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with Thlalefang Moeletsi, Founder and Creative Director of Mebala in this week's edition of the Entrepreneurial Edge.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Layton Beard, Spokesperson from the Automobile Association and Simon Zwane, Spokesperson at the Road Traffic Management Corporation about South Africa’s driver and pedestrian behavior. The number of fatal crashes on SA’s roads over the past festive season declined a small 1.7% compared to a year ago, according to transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. Speaking at the release of the statistics at the Grasmere toll plaza on Wednesday, Chikunga said 1,427 people died on the roads in the 2023/2024 festive season between December 1 and January 11, which was 25 less than the previous year. She said there were 1,184 fatal crashes — a 2.3% decline on the 1,212 deaths in the 2022/2023 festive season.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Alistair Mokoena, Country Director of Google SA in this week's edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Cultural Worker, Menzi Maseko about Egyptology. The ancient Egyptian writing system, hieroglyphics, has played a pivotal role in shaping modern writing systems and contributing to the field of linguistics. The contributions of ancient Egyptians to mathematics, exemplified by their adept use of geometry in construction and surveying, has also left a lasting impact on the trajectory of modern mathematics and science.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Tieho Tsiane, Innovator and Founder of the Oplene Group about his Ka-Dah device. Addressing the growing need for increased accessibility to technological devices, the Ka-Dah device has emerged as a pioneering solution. This innovation facilitates a seamless phone navigation for the visually impaired, eliminating the necessity for physical interaction with the screen.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Neil Tovey, South African Soccer Coach and Former Player and Bareng-Batho Kortjaas (BBK), a Columnist, Podcaster and Sports Editor at the Sunday Times about AFCON 101 and the professionalisation of football.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to actress and activist, Hlubi Mboya in this week's edition of "In The spotlight".
Hlubi is a South African actress and AIDS ambassador best known for her role as Nandipha Sithole on the SABC3 soapie Isidingo. She made her film debut in 2006, in the South African short film Shogun Khumalo is Dying. She is also the director at Sunshine Cinema, a fund that uses mini solar-powered mobile projectors to bring the cinema experience to communities that lack easy access to conventional cinemas. Through screening dynamic educational, interactive content and media training workshops, we address social and environmental challenges through community partnerships. She is also a World Food Programme goodwill ambassador.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Makhiba Mollo, an Independent ESG Consultant and Commissioner at the National Planning Commission and Kgomotso Maluleka a training coordinator at Transnet about living with disabilities in South Africa.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to legal analyst and attorney, Mpemulelo Zikhalala about the Judges Conference, its importance and the judiciary's constitutional role and mandate.
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Pinocchio is a character in the 1883 children's book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Italian author Carlo Collodi. Pinocchio is an animated puppet, who happens to be a habitual liar. His nose grows longer with each lie he tells. Throughout the story, this boy’s nose grows longer every time he tells a tale. He is such a naughty boy; his nose grows so long he can’t get it through the door to his room. In this conversation, we talk about the habit of SA politicians lying and exaggerations they make. Why the do this, how it affects society, the effect of these lies on their credibility and political lying and consider whether dishonesty is really getting worse in the so-called 'post-truth' era. Lerato Mbele speaks to Sandile Swana about this matter.
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The world of cryptocurrency, stocks, bonds, and other forms of investment can be daunting and confusing, especially to those starting out. Additionally, most of what can be invested in isn’t tangible. But what if it could be? What if your investment was as real as the ground you stand on, and can grow in a visible way that isn’t a graph or chart? Livestock Wealth gives you that opportunity. By combining investment and farming into what they call CrowdFarming, this business solution helps clients to invest in tangible, growing assets at the click of a button and grow their wealth the African way. In this conversation, we speak to Livestock Wealth’s CEO Ntuthuko Shezi, about their work and the impact of CrowdFarming, the country's agricultural landscape, and the importance of teamwork between investors and investees. Investors can access the investment platform through a mobile app utilizing 5G and AI technology developed in conjunction with Chinese mobile phone company Huawei.
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You may think it is too pre-emptive for us to start talking about January now when we are still in December 2023. But we have all seen this play out before, parents scrabbling in January to get loans for school fees or school uniforms, friends borrowing money for petrol to travel to work with promises to pay back at month end. Some people experience dread during holiday aside from the issue of finances. From family drama, food choices, and plans changing to stress, upset, and disarray, the holidays are a wild time! In this week’s edition of the masterclass, we talk about some things avoiding “Janu-Worry”, holiday dread and maintaining wellbeing during the holiday season.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to mototring analyst, Pogiso Dibakoane about the country's electric vehicle framework. South Africa is a step closer to introducing the new energy vehicle (NEV) policy, after cabinet approved the draft white paper on NEVs last week. At a media briefing in Pretoria yesterday, Patel said the primary goal of the White Paper is to set a course to transition the auto industry from primarily producing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to a dual platform that includes EVs in the production and consumption mix, alongside ICE vehicles in South Africa by 2035.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Michael Louis, Chairperson of the Independent Candidate Association and Terry Tselane, Executive Chair of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa about independent candidates, elections in SA and look at the possibility of 2024 being the year an independent candidate win?
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In this week’s edition of “The View of The Nation”, we talk about South Africa’s climate agenda-setting perspective as a way of understanding the country’s current climate policy discourse and look at factors that will help the climate change issue rise and stay high on public and government’s agendas. Lerato Mbele is joined for the conversation by Professor Guy Midgley and Brandon Abdinor.
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ActionSA was formed in August 2020 by the former Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, to change the direction of South Africa by providing a credible alternative to a broken political system that has failed South Africans for many years since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy. The party’s foundations are grounded in The People’s Dialogue, a 9-month public engagement process which solicited the views of 2.4 million South Africans about the future of their country. The party's focus is on Action that moves South Africa forward Herman Mashaba, President, Action SA from an era of broken promises, corruption, and failed government. This past weekend, the party launched its 2024 election campaign.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend and sets our news agenda for the week with Independent Political Analyst, Khanyi Magubane.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to musician, Zwai Bala. TKZee’s classic album Halloween celebrates its 25th anniversary since its release in 1998. The group TKZee is made up of Zwai Bala, Kabelo Mabalane and the late Tokollo Tshabalala. Halloween was released after their resounding success with aforementioned songs, Shibobo in particular was special to most South Africans as it was released after Mzansi’s qualification to the 1998 Fifa World Cup, the ditty featured former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy. Phalafala was an EP they released in 1997, which featured the hit-song with the same name. The group and its music is still revered in South Africa and other parts of the world because of the work they put in those many years ago. It’s no surprise when you till this day, one can still hear Mambotjie or We Love This Place booming out of speakers. Celebrations for the album will take place at Untitled Basement in Joburg this evening and the theme is, “dress up as your favourite TKZee song.”
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Lucky Mazibuko’s contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS – and particularly in helping break down the stigma so that more people could openly seek help and treatment has been of immense value to all South Africans living with HIV and AIDS. Today many South Africans are disclosing their status and seeking help, but this was not always the case. Ove two decades ago, it took courageous activists to come forward and change the narrative around being HIV positive. Lucky has been living with HIV for close to three decades and was one of the first South Africans to openly declare his status in a time when most still feared the public reaction and spread his message and his activism through a newspaper column in the country’s largest daily newspaper, The Sowetan. In this conversation, we talk about advances in HIV/AIDS treatment and what living with the virus looks like in modern day SA.
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FunkItImWalking aims to make it safe for a woman to walk at any time in any condition. Founded circa. 2014, #FunkItImWalking began as an alternative form of protest against insecurity and general lack of safety for women in South Africa. Having experience the stark differences in community safety worldwide, #FunkItImWalking founder Nomsa Mazwai aka Nomisupasta declared, 'amidst all of this fear, #FunkItImWalking" and recognised the benefits of walking from health to community safety to economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. In 2020, #FunkItImWlaking launched night walks in an effort to reclaim the streets in order to enable safety. Having been part of the International Class at the East Side Institute in New York Nomsa was exposed to the idea of transformative performance (see Fred Newman and Lois Holzman, Dan Friedman) and having also completed an Ma in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University and on the ground experience in the Eastern Cape, Nomsa began to imagine how the performance of safety could enable safety in a community, and how safety impacts economic development and the environment needed for economic opportunity. In this conversation, we talk to about socio-economic development through walking.
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Meant to Bee™ is a raw and non-processed honey producing business that was established to respond to the challenges faced by small and emerging beekeepers in South Africa. As a result, SMEs form the core ofits business model, and make up the largest source of honey and beeswax. Meant To Bee engages with beekeeping industry stakeholders across the country to identify suitable SME beekeepers. At the outset, fifteen SME’s were identified, who will benefit from investments into new hives, equipment, training, and operational mentorship. These SMEs are all active beekeepers with some training and experience in running beekeeping enterprises. The SMEs have been assessed according to several criteria to gauge their suitability to enter the Meant to Bee™ system. In this edition of The Entrepreneurial Edge, we focus on the business of bees and honey making in SA.
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South African Women in Dialogue is an independent South African women’s platform committed to hearing the voice of every woman and to improving the status of women by engaging national government, the private sector, civil society, (including non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, and donors) in partnership to shape community, provincial and continental agendas. SAWID is currently chaired by education and gender activist, Thoko Mpumlwana. With education degrees from the University of South Africa and the University of Natal to her credit, she also holds an MA in the fields of Curriculum Development and Teacher Education by Michigan State University in the United States. Her professional career has focused largely on teaching and related areas. Church and NGO involvement in the 1980s succeeded her student activities of the 1970s, where her chief interests were issues affecting the black community and women. She carried these interests into her formal school teaching career, between 1983 to 1994.
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In her book "Eyes in the Night," Nomavenda Mathiane chronicles her grandmother's experiences during the Anglo-Zulu War, revealing a narrative born from a post-funeral conversation, tracing the challenges of displacement, loss, and cultural complexities faced by her grandmother as a child during the war. While Mathiane's meticulous historical account invites readers to question their own family histories for the purpose of enhancing one’s understanding of cultural identity, it delves into a lens of the Anglo-Zulu war which changes the dominant idea of how the Zulu nation emerged from the war as a nation as well as how it presents in everyday life to this day.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mfanafuthi Khoza, the founder of GigTour. Gigtour is a tour guide app that will allow tourists to get automated guidance and make payments. Khoza believes it will benefit the township tourism industry and the gig economy. The individuals and businesses to profit from Gigtour will be freelance organisers, transport rental companies (bikes, cars and buses), township retail shops and restaurants. Khoza saw the need for an app after he had to organise a church concert for 19 people and realised the difficulty of arranging transport and tickets.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mthunzi Madiya, Deputy Director General at Department of Transport. The Department of Transport has announced that it has launched a campaign to get South Africa re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), for the period 2023 to 2024. The IMO is the specialised United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping and setting global standards, including for safety, security, and environmental compliance, for the sector. South Africa operates a search and rescue centre, possesses maritime information and communication systems, and, whenever required can provide an emergency towing vessel.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to David van Wyk, a Researcher and Mining Analyst from the Benchmarks Foundation about the current state of health and safety in South Africa’s mining industry.
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Volumicious, was founded in 2016 by the owner Zoey Mkabela after she lost her hair during pregnancy. The product was inspired by her BSc Honours project which she attained at the University of Stellenbosch which involved investigating a plant that was eaten by pregnant sheep, resulting in the new-born lambs being born without fur. She found that an active compound Zoey Mkabela, Founder, Volumicisous
was responsible for this problem. She won an award for the best poster presentation for her research project. After hours, she started selling the products from the boot of a car at shopping malls while running a full-time and demanding job as a sales representative for a global company. The business and the distribution interest grew, which resulted in her leaving her corporate job in November 2019 to focus fully on the business so that she could serve her distributors and customers with a greater level of excellence. She opened her first hair clinic in December 2022 and employs 10 full time staff. The business also empowers over 150 independent distributors, both locally and outside the country. The business has 1 store in Durban and franchising opportunities.
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In a step towards tackling the pressing issue of the climate crises, the National Assembly passed the Climate Change Bill on Tuesday. This proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework that will guide the nation's response to the climate crisis, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and cooperative governance. The Climate Change Bill features a range of critical provisions, outlining its objectives, principles, and applications. Key aspects of the legislation include policy alignment, institutional arrangements, climate crisis responses at provincial and municipal levels, national adaptation strategies, greenhouse gas emissions management, and transitional arrangements. In this conversation, we talk about the main provisions and key elements of the bill.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the weekend and sets our news agenda for the week with Political Analyst & Founder of the Elections Management Consulting Agency of Africa, Lulu White.
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Argentines began voting on Sunday in a national election where a far-right libertarian leads the race, a shift in the political landscape due to fallout from the country's worst economic crisis in two decades. The ballot is likely to roil financial markets, set a new political and social path for the nation and impact its ties with trade partners including China and Brazil. Argentina is a major grains exporter with huge reserves of lithium and shale gas. Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Laurence Whitehead, a Senior Research Fellow in Politics at Nuffield College at Oxford University about the elections and look at what consequences, if any, could this have for the country’s economy and for politics.
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The buzz around Artificial Intelligence has been sweeping through newsrooms for some time now. Last week, the television business news channel CNBC Africa introduced its new artificial intelligence-powered newsreader which has been called "a first for the African continent". In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to the founder of Develop AI, Paul McNally & World Wide Worx CEO, Arthur Goldstuck talk about artificial intelligence and the future of the newsroom.
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Dudu Busani Dube is one of the most renowned authors of South Africa, with a journalism background which anchored her writing career. Since leaving journalism she has authored books titled “Hlomu The Wife”, “Zandile The Resolute”, and “Naledi His Love” which appeal to many women readers. Her series has now become the inspiration behind the popular telenovela The Wife. When she first wrote her stories, she had no idea how far they would go. She says when she first authored the popular series she did not imagine that it would one day become the first ever South African telenovela created for the streaming service, Showmax. In this edition of “In The Spotlight” we spend some time with the talented Dudu Busani- Dube.
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Nomsa Manaka is a well-known Soweto-born dancer, choreographer and actress who runs The Nomsa Manaka Dance Studio operating from the Funda Centre in Diepkloof.. Through her annual Dancing Out Of Cancer initiative, a compelling traditional, urban, and African contemporary dance showcase, she celebrates survivors and raising funds for those who are still fighting cancer. Nomsa has beaten cancer twice, and in 2016 was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.
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The WeProtect Global Alliance has released its fourth Global Threat Assessment Report, which revealed there has been an 87% increase in reported child sexual abuse material cases since 2019, with over 32 million reports globally (NCMEC). The findings underscore the pressing need for a coordinated, multi-faceted response to protect the world’s children from this escalating threat. The report, which provides critical insights into the threats children face online in 2023, also found there has been a 360% increase in self-generated sexual imagery of 7-10-year-olds from 2020 to 2022 (Internet Watch Foundation). Shockingly, it was also revealed that conversations with children on social gaming platforms can escalate into high-risk grooming situations within 19 seconds, with an average grooming time of just 45 minutes. Social gaming environments that facilitate adult-child intermingling, exchanging virtual gifts and public ranking systems, significantly increase these risks.
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Anti-Aging Art is a Medical Aesthetic and Holistic Wellness Centre focusing on minimally invasive anti-aging and cosmetic treatments owned by Dr. Reza who is experienced in cosmetic and aesthetic anti-aging treatments. The centre specializes in offering a full range of medical anti-ageing treatments including injectables, botulinum toxin, silhouette soft threadlifts, laser hair removal, dermapen, facial rejuvenation and skin resurfacing. And carries a wide range of chemical peels and skin resurfaces which are supported by an extensive range of medical grade topical skincare products. The clinic also provides body and hair restoration treatments such as body contouring, spider vein removal, cellulite reduction, stretch mark reduction and other body related treatments. And offers a range of IV infusion treatments ranging from anti-aging, energy & recovery infusions to combat stress and fatigue and assist with the general improvement of the quality of life through healthy living.
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Nolitha Fakude is a distinguished leader with a noteworthy career marked by significant achievements. Presently, she serves as the Chairman of AngloAmerican's Management Board in South Africa and as the Group Director for South Africa on the Anglo American plc's Group Management Committee. She also holds the position of Non-Executive Director on the board of Anglo American Platinum.Her extensive professional experience spans various sectors, encompassing retail, financial services, mining, and oil and gas. Notably, she has held roles such as an Executive Director at Sasol Limited and the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Strategy and Sustainability. In addition to her corporate roles, Nolitha has been a dedicated advocate for transformation and empowerment in South Africa. She has held pivotal positions, including the presidency of the Black Management Forum and her current role as President of the Minerals Council of South Africa (MINCOSA). She joins us in this week’s edition of the leadership dialogue.
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It is a widely held opinion in the cyber security industry that South Africa is on the brink of becoming the cybercrime capital of the African continent. Cybercrimes can be committed by anybody who has a cellphone and an internet connection, but there are also organised crime groups that make use of advanced technology and use psychological tactics to part people with their hard-earned cash. The crimes come in different forms and can target individuals with low digital literacy and businesses with advanced cyber security defences. South Africans are being increasingly targetted by scammers and fraudsters over popular communication app WhatsApp. Carey van Vlaanderen, the CEO of ESET Southern Africa, said there are 23 million WhatsApp users in South Africa; however, it is also a popular platform for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. In this conversation, we talk about online and banking scams, how to identify and avoid them. Cyber Security Analyst and Managing Director at Clyrofor SA Loyiso Boyce joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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The current era provides an opportunity to redefine and recalibrate the direction and narratives of tourism investments for a more sustainable future for the People, the Planet, and prosperity. Today on Tourism Tuesday, taking place on the eve of World Tourism Day taking place tomorrow 27th September the focus is on South African National Parks (SanParks).World Tourism Day this year takes place under the theme “Tourism and green investment”. The idea is to highlight the need for more and better-targeted investments for the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030. Lerato Mbele speaks to the CEO of SANParks, Hapiloe Sello.
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Multi-award-winning acapella group, The Soil is set to release its 5th studio album, seven years after their last record. The group’s last album release was in 2016. At the time, the group comprised Buhlebendalo Mda, Phindo Ngxanga, and Ntsika Ngxanga. In 2020, the trio took a break to focus on solo music careers and are now back with Theo Matshoba, who has recently joined the group replacing Buhle. The band with over 15 years of making music together, fusing their voices to deliver melodic and harmonious messages aimed at uplifting and healing souls joins us in this week’s edition of “In The Spotlight”.
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Based on the acclaimed short story by banned South African investigative journalist and author Can Themba, THE SUIT is set in 1950s Sophiatown, Johannesburg, against the backdrop of the apartheid regime’s forced removals under the Group Areas Act. THE SUIT tells the story of Philemon who discovers his wife, Matilda, in bed with a lover. The lover flees, leaving behind his suit. Philemon devises a cruel punishment, by forcing Matilda to treat the suit as a guest who must eat with them, go on walks and accompany them to church. To mark 60 years since the publication of the short story, this edition of the production sees a musical re-imagining of the Can Themba classic. Multi-award-winning actors Vusi Kunene (Isibaya, Generations), Brian Temba (Muvhango) and Khutjo Green (The River, House of Zwide) head up a stellar cast, with acclaimed theatre practitioner Warona Seane directing this classic South African story of romantic betrayal as a celebration of our literary heritage this Heritage Month.
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It’s no secret that good oral hygiene is important. In fact, it’s something that we’re taught from a young age. But many people don’t realize just how important it is – not just for our teeth, but for our overall health as well. It is said that good oral hygiene can help prevent heart disease. One of the main ways it does this is by reducing the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on our teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to cavities, gum disease, and even heart disease. Bacteria from plaque can enter your bloodstream and cause inflammation, which can lead to heart disease.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Hlanganiso Maluleke, Director & CEO of Trailored. Trailored is a Level 1 B-BBEE black-owned South African product design and manufacturing company that specialises in customisable trailers. Over the 18 years, Trailored has produced hundreds of trailers across South Africa and recently in a number of Southern African countries. This is done through the highly experienced, skilled professionals within the manufacturing and engineering sector with passionate to innovatively create products that meet and exceed customers’ expectations. The business has also been buoyed by a R2.3 million cash injection through equity crowdfunding platform GoGetta, which they hope will help it become the largest trailer manufacturer on the continent. Besides traditional luggage carriers used by moving companies, they have created a niche in building custom trailers for small mobile businesses - like hair salons, food trucks, street vendors, catering, and event companies.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Sifiso Ntombela, Vice-President of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa and Special Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture Land Reform & Rural Development about citrus in South Africa. In 2021, South Africa sold $1.93 billion worth of citrus fruits to other countries, which made it the second-largest citrus exporter globally. During the same year, citrus fruits ranked as the 11th most commonly exported product from South Africa.
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Vathasallum “Vivian” Reddy is a South African businessman, whose journey began in the early 1990s, coinciding with the end of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela's release. Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal from a three-bedroom house with nine children, Vivian dons multiple hats as the founder and chairman of Edison Power Group, a heavyweight in the electrical industry with further interests spanning casinos and hotels. His diverse business portfolio also extends to healthcare, finance, and property development as seen with his Radisson Blu Hotel in Umhlanga and the recent unveiling of the Oceans Mall. Outside of the world of business, Vivian champions causes like the Orphans of AIDS Trust Fund and contributes to initiatives such as the Wingen Heights Secondary School and a clinic in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. He joins us as this week’s leadership guest.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Goolam Ballim, the chief economist and head of research for the Standard Bank Group about the South African economy and public and private sector partnerships.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Gauteng MEC of Finance, Jacob Mamabolo about unlocking resources through partnership between the private and public sectors.
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The entitlement to free municipal services In the past, the practice of not paying municipal rates, service charges, and other tariffs originated within the townships during the 1980s. This was, in part, a political tactic aimed at subverting the government and its policy of apartheid-era separate development. It was assumed that this issue would diminish following the political shift to a democratic system. Nevertheless, more than two decades after this transition, the problem of nonpayment for services remains a significant financial burden for municipalities. Lerato Mbele is joined by Phelisa Nkomo, an independent development economist who also chairs the OXFAM Board and community activist, Moeketsi Mohaneng.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nicolas van Wyk, CEO of CIBA which represents CFOs in the country about the collaboration of the private and public sector towards advancing the country's economy.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Sydney Mufamadi, Former Minister of Safety & Security & Provincial & Local Government, political analyst Dr Metji Makgoba and Professor Sihawukele Ngubane, a Cultural Expert & Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal about Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi was a prominent figure who led the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) for an extended period and also played a pivotal role in South Africa's negotiated 1994 settlement. He evolved into a cabinet minister and statesman in the post-apartheid era and was frequently entrusted with the role of acting president between 1994 and 2004. However, his legacy is marked by complexity and controversy, as he was also closely associated with the apartheid regime's Bantustan system, the violence that engulfed KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) during the 1980s and early 1990s under his leadership, and his role in bringing the country to the brink of civil war before ultimately deciding to participate in South Africa's inaugural democratic elections in 1994. His enigmatic political career, which continues to divide opinions both at home and abroad, remain a topic of intrigue days after his passing. In this conversation we want to understand what South Africans should make of his death, given the reality of his chequered legacy.
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In 2013, Cabinet adopted the White Paper for Post School Education and Training (WP-PSET) which sets the vision for the PSET sector. Following the adoption of the White Paper, the Department of Higher Education and Training developed the National Plan for Post School Education and Training (hereafter ‘the Plan’). The development of the Plan was an iterative process culminating to its finalization and approval by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande in 2021. The Plan is an overarching roadmap for the transformation, expansion, and improvement of post schooling human resource development in South Africa.
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Thatha, a computer and smartphone manufacturer based in South Africa and incubated by the Innovation Hub was founded in 2018 by Computer Scientist Lesley Ncube from Durban who studied computer science at the Tshwane University of Technology. The firm sells high end smartphones at affordable prices running the best custom android software and has a mission to become a global leader in providing technological services and products. Since their incorporation, Thatha has preserved its culture of providing quality and value to their customers.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Tinyiko Maluleke about the National Plan for Post School Education and Training.In 2013, Cabinet adopted the White Paper for Post School Education and Training (WP-PSET) which sets the vision for the PSET sector. Following the adoption of the White Paper, the Department of Higher Education and Training developed the National Plan for Post School Education and Training (hereafter ‘the Plan’). The development of the Plan was an iterative process culminating to its finalization and approval by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande in 2021. The Plan is an overarching roadmap for the transformation, expansion, and improvement of post schooling human resource development in South Africa.
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Dr Lulu Gwagwa was South Africa’s first black town planner in the 1980s, currently the CEO of Lereko Investments, a philanthropist and has filled roles at the highest levels of the public sector and in business. She currently is Chairman of the Barloworld Group and has sat on the boards of Massmart, FirstRand and Sun International. She was appointed in 1993 as one of the twelve commissioners tasked with the delineation and demarcation of the current provincial boundaries and has served as the presidential appointee on the Commission on Provincial Government and as Deputy Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Local Government Transformation. In 2014 she was appointed Deputy Chair of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission to develop the Eastern Cape Development Plan. She holds a BA (Fort Hare); a Masters in Town and Regional Planning (Natal); an MSc – cum laude (LSE); an MPhil (SASA); and a PhD from University College London. Aside from authoring policy papers, she is published in the fields of gender, housing and development management, she mentors young black women through her Traversing Liminality mentorship programme.
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Lerato Meble speaks toDr Nkosinathi Sishi, Director General, Department of Higher Education and Training about the National Plan For Post School Education and Training. The Plan is an overarching roadmap for the transformation, expansion, and improvement of post schooling human resource development in South Africa.
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Following the devastating impact of the fire that tore through a hijacked building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, questions have come to the fore about how these buildings actually came about and how severe the housing crisis, not only in the city, but across the country is. As revealed last week, the buildings are not only used as dilapidated centres of drug crimes and other illegal activities, but they are also used as housing – despite not being conducive for shelter. On today’s view of the nation, we delve into the housing crisis in the country through the lens of hijacked buildings. Lerato is joined by Patrick Phophi, Director of Housing at the City of Johannesburg, Angela Rivers, General Manager at Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association and Clarence Kwinana, a town planner and MD of Kwinana Town Planners.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to actor, director and playwright, Dr John Kani in this week's edition of "In the Spotlight".
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This weekend, with spring officially in air, the University of Johannesburg Choir, under the baton of choirmaster Renette Bouwer, present their ground-breaking work The New Covenant at the Linder Auditorium. Poetically devised by Antjie Krog and narrated by poet Lebo Mashile the performance is a grand-scale reflection on our relationship with nature and the planet, delivering a powerful message on climate change.
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As the pandemic unfolded, it coincided with an expanding digital age which allowed for many of us to tap into various virtual worlds offering the promise of public discourse. However, the paradox of digital connectivity is this, despite the promise of interconnectedness – even remotely – through social platforms, the impact of face-to-face conversations have significantly diminished. Kim Samuel, is an educator, international activist and author who recently published a book called “On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation” which she believes is the next frontier in human rights. This includes the right to belong particularly for women and the elderly. She joins Lerato Mbele to speak about the importance of human connection.
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BRICS was created primarily as a trade and economic forum but has now evolved to cover collaborative projects between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa across a host of fields. Encompassing over 40 percent of the world’s population, BRICS members have reached a consensus on the importance of people-to-people exchanges across culture, sports, education, film and youth. In a spirit of openness, inclusiveness, diversity and mutual learning, the bloc's countries have promoted new friendships at all levels of society, while deepening relations and mutual understanding. The impact of people-to-people exchanges can be seen in the various BRICS forums, on cinema screens, on football pitches, and on the streets of member countries as people travel and study within the bloc. Morio Sanyane speaks to Azah Mphago about cultural appreciation.
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The announced expansion of the five-nation Brics club of emerging economies was described as "historic" by Chinese President Xi Jinping, but it is still not clear how far the countries' common interests stretch. The growth of Brics "will… further strengthen the force for world peace and development" the president said while addressing the leaders gathered at a conference centre in South Africa's commercial hub, Johannesburg. The Brics countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are often seen as a counterweight to the Western-led world. The six new countries - Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - are set to join in January.
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Morio Sanyane speaks to singer Monique Bingham about her upcoming film.
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Way back way, the magazine business was huge for capturing culture on textured texts and smooth expensive coloured pages. Magazines are a type of literature publication that came to the fore in the 1700s, targeting particular audiences with strategically curated content. Recently, as we have seen one of the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic was that it affected many sectors including the magazine business. However, Iqhawe Magazine, a zine which celebrates and represents Africa’s creative heroes, has reimagined the idea of this offering. The Zine, which was founded by Renaè Mangena and Anastatia Nkhuna in 2019, not only publishes authentic digital content, it also produces audio-visual material for social media and most significantly, when they launch their issues, they curate events during which their featured subjects - including talented creatives from all walks - perform and give a real sense of their work. The founders of Iqhawe Magazine Renaè Mangena and Anastatia Nkhuna join me now to walk us through their entrepreneurial journey.
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The South African Men’s Forum is calling for a united front in dealing with deaths at initiation schools. They have expressed their sadness at the deaths of 17 initiates this winter in the Eastern Cape. Some of the demands they are making is that the names of all boys who died be published, those who are accountable for the deaths be arrested and that the Justice Department and the relevant authorities remove the secrecy around the deaths. In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to CONTRALESA secretary general, Prince Zolani Mkiva and talk Adv. Aaron Raletjane, spokesperson of the National Initiation Oversight Committee about whether this call can help in stopping initiate deaths, the role of the community in this practice and how this should be done.
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Business organisations say that their joint initiative with government on the three priority areas of energy, logistics, and crime and corruption has the potential to lift SA's economic growth by three percentage points. The alternative – that the country's slide continues, and the downward trajectory is not reversed – is too dire to contemplate, so they have stepped in to help government with resources and expertise in the three areas. A year ago, business joined forces with top government officials in the National Energy Crisis Committee to urgently address the electricity supply shortage. Earlier this year, business organisations under Business for SA (B4SA) raised R100 million to fund the energy crisis response. In June, the joint initiative was expanded to put work streams on logistics and crime and corruption in place. We speak to to get a progress report on what the government and business partnership has garnered following their meeting with the President earlier this week. Joining Lerato Mbele for the conversation is the Chairperson of the Business for South Africa Steering Committee, Martin Kingston.
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Donald Trump has been charged with several crimes in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, in a historic indictment that is deepening the former president’s legal peril. The charges, filed by the special counsel Jack Smith in federal district court in Washington DC on Tuesday, accuse Trump of conspiracies that targeted a “bedrock function of the United States federal government: the nation’s process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election” and the January 6th insurrection. In this conversation, we have a conversation about the indictment and reflect on the nature of accountability in America’s two-tiered justice system and why white-collar criminals are so often above the law. Retired American Diplomat and Associate Editor at Daily Maverick, Brooks Spector joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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POWER Talk open line with Lerato Mbele
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Siphesihle Penny Ndlela Siphesihle Penny Ndlela has been a serial entrepreneur since 1999! A mom of 2 tax-paying citizens! Her first tourism venture in 2012, Soul Traveller Tours, was a member of Thebe Tourism Group, the first group-travel tour operator in South Africa focused on the domestic market. Through her years of travel, Penny felt that there was a gap in the tourism industry for authentic experiences. She wanted to be able to afford everyone the valuable experience of connection, cultural immersion and personal insights that arise out of emotive and soulful interactions while expressing the importance of local travel on the African continent. She has brought her years of entrepreneurial experience and passion for travel into her latest social impact venture Yentas, a travel platform designed for women to discover and share relatable, verified travel recommendations globally. It is her conviction that women should be free to be curious and is an advocate for creating a space for women in travel to feel guided and supported." WeAreYentas is a travel search engine and social media platform for women, another first. Penny joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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Do you remember how you first started learning about money? Setting up a lemonade stand? Selling Girl Scout cookies? Or maybe just watching how your parents dealt with household expenses? Our upbringing plays a big part in shaping our relationship with money "because our kids see and do everything that we do,". In today’s edition of the Masterclass, we talk about financial literacy for kids and how to talk about money as a family. Personal Financial Journalist and Author of Maya on Money: Implement your Money Plan, Maya Fisher-French, joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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The conflict's battle lines in this Central African country are drawn by language. Around 80% of the country speaks French; the rest speaks English. For decades, Francophones and Anglophones lived in relative harmony. But over the past two years, violence spurred by this linguistic split has brought Cameroon to the brink of civil war. Hundreds have died, close to 500,000 have been displaced, and activists have been rounded up and jailed. The government claims armed English-speaking separatists who want to create a new nation called Ambazonia have terrorized civilians and attacked government forces, prompting the military to retaliate against them. In this conversation, we find out more about the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon. Assistant Director at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights, Lloyd Kuveya, joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele takes a look at stories that made the news over the weekend and set our news agenda for the week with the Deputy Head of Journalism and Media Studies school at Rhodes University, Dr Kealeboga Aiseng.
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Analysts are divided on the prospects of the South African Reserve Bank raising or holding its key repo rate , We speak to Wayne McCurrie FNB Economist and Richard Downing Economist at SACCI.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Mayihlome Tshwete, Head of Communications at Sebenza in this week's edition of the entrepreneurial edge.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to David van Wyk, Mining Anlayst & Researcher at the Bench Marks Foundation about the impact of mining on the enviroment.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to TimesLive Editor, Makhudu Sefara about public trust and the state of journalism in South Africa.
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Nhlanhla Sehume speaks to Bulelwa Mabasa, Director and Head of the Land Reform, Restitution and Tenure practice at Werksmans Attorneys & Author of 'My Land Obsession” about land tenure and property rights in South Africa.
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The Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, his counterpart at Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni last week discussions with senior officials in the US over the extension of the preferential trade agreement and investments and met with Representative Katherine Tai to strengthen bilateral ties with Washington and push for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Agoa has been of significant value to SA, its impact being seen in our automotive industry which has benefited greatly from preferential access to the giant US market, exporting vehicles and components worth more than R24bn to the US in 2022 alone.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Fezile Dhlamini, CEO of Green Scooter who is passionate about Sustainable Development Goals.
In recognition of his efforts to build a green business, he won the prestigious Mail & Guardian 2022 "Climate Change Award - in the category of Clean, Renewable Energy Projects." Fezile Dhlamini is committed to building a sustainable future and is working on models to expand his company, Green Scooter, beyond just innovative transportation solutions.
In the years to come, Green Scooter aims to contribute to building Sustainable Cities. Fezile's vision for the future is to provide sustainable solutions that can benefit both people and the environment. Green Scooter, Africa's first all-electric e-hailing platform, is the manufacturer of a unique range of electric scooters designed for commuter and cargo use. The Zbee, a fully electric vehicle on three wheels, is aimed at daily commuters and consumers who want to own an affordable electric vehicle for short- to medium-distance trips.
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As power cuts continue, the economy falters, unemployment rises and the currency tumbles, South Africa’s political commentators tend to agree that support for the governing African National Congress (ANC) will fall under 50% in the 2024 national and provincial elections. If the party avoids a defeat, it could lead to a coalition government. It’s only logical to expect that governance failures of this magnitude would send large numbers of dissatisfied voters into the arms of opposition parties. But scholars who have studied South African voter behaviour, warn opposition parties that they cannot count on disillusionment to drive voters towards them. Unless they convince dissatisfied voters that they provide a credible alternative, the ANC may still win a majority of votes come 2024. In this conversation, we talk about the state of democracy and opposition parties in South Africa. Joining Lerato Mbele for the conversation is Election Analyst Wayne Sussman, along with Political Analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast.
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Since his address to a colloquium by the Human Sciences Research Council, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has come under fire after he said Parliament has not acted on the state capture recommendations he tabled when he was chairperson of the commission. Chief Justice Zondo is also reported to have said that if another group of people attempted to capture the state, they would succeed because parliament would again fail to stop them. While the official opposition agreed with the chief justice, the ANC’s Fikile Mbalula says judges are not demigods and should respect the separation of powers because he has concluded his part in the commission. Parliament speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula along with the National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo, have since called for a meeting with Chief Justice Zondo following the remarks. In this conversation we want to get to the bottom of the uproar, whether it is justified and assess the issue of the separation of powers. Alison Tilley, Coordinator of Judges Matter and Political Analyst Khanyi Magubane join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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After Eskom, another one of South Africa’s major impediments to economic growth is the current state of Transnet which runs the country’s ports and rail services for freight. What remains clear is that the country cannot escape the orbit of these failures and unfortunately for us, the country clearly is not raising the finance to invest in upgrading rail and port infrastructure. This is understood to be the reason as to why at present, even our medium- to longer-term economic prospects in our country cannot be realised. On today’s view of the nation, we are unpacking the state of freight rail and ports in South Africa as we try to understand how we got here and what we need to do to become competitive enough to measure up to the global standard. Joining Lerato Mbele for the conversation is Partner and Head of Ports, Transport & Logistics at Bowmans Attorneys, Andrew Pike, and CEO of African Rail Industry Association, Mesela Kope-Nhlapo.
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Trumpeter composer, bandleader with a host of skills ranging from teaching, performing to arranging and composing in diverse styles of music. Amongst other activities he is currently involved in composing and performing music with several projects in South Africa and abroad. Most notably the 2016 production of Oratorio For A Forgotten Youth at the Artscape Opera House. The Mill SA/CH (SA/SWISS collab), Behind The Curtain and BirdSong Ensemble a collection of South African and German musicians who have collaborated in producing independent contemporary music. Mlangeni has toured extensively with the Cape Town Opera’s production of Porgy and Bess from 2009-2014 with productions at the many opera houses in Europe. Mlangeni is a recipient of 2016 Pro Helvetia Artist In Residence in Bern, Switzerland. He was also a participant of the Take Five presented by SERIOUS Music UK at the Bore Place Residency in Kent England 2016. He has performed and collaborated with several distinguished jazz musicians such as both locally and abroad including but not limited to David Murray, Evan Parker, Feya Faku, Louis Moholo, Shabaka Hutchings (UK), Ganesh Geymeier (CH), Barney Rachabane, Hotsix Mabuse, Hugh Masekela, Khaya Mahlangu, Andile Yenana and Afrika Mkhize, to name a few. He joins us on this week’s edition of “In The Spotlight”.
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The politics of race is a conversation that is not new to South Africa. In the United States the state of race relations continues to run rife with the Pew Research Center citing that in 2019, more than eight-in-ten black adults believed that the legacy of slavery continues to affect their positions at present day, with more than half saying it’s unlikely that the country will eventually achieve racial equality. The research also says that Americans see disadvantages for African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic people in the country with 56% saying being in this category hurts people’s ability to get ahead. Moreover, most Americans are said to believe that it is now more common for people to express racist or racially insensitive views with more than four-in-ten saying its more acceptable. Desirée Cormier Smith, Special Representative For Racial Equity And Justice at the Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights, And Labor joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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The right kind of outfit maker can make your whole look pop and more pleasing to the eye and all it takes really is the right accessory, like the perfect shoe, bag, belt. These are the type of accessories made by our entrepreneur today, Nombuso Khanyile, the founder of Afrikan Passion Designs. The company provides a wide range of products which can be tailor-made to one’s desire and yes we’re talking all things leather, and in particular, leather shoes, bags, belts and more. Nombuso joins Lerato Mbele to walk us through her journey with Afrikan Passion Designs.
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The historical architecture of South African jazz music and the lengths to which it can evolve is nothing without the greats such as Caiphus Semenya. We’re talking about timeless songs living through generations from Angelina and Ziphi’nkomo to Matswale and Mamase with his beloved wife Letta Mbulu. A story of a jazz maestro from the township Alexandra, exiled for almost 30-years to greener pastures to shape the future of music in the country. Born in 1939, Ntate Caiphus Semenya has gone on to achieve great milestones including having his first show at 16, producing with Quincy Jones, producing for Michael Jackson and Disney’s Lion King. The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-award winning legend joins Lerato Mbele to walk us through his illustrious career.
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The story of the first World War has been told to many of us as a story that took place in the early 1900s involving the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions. The war is often described as one of the great watersheds of the 20th century’s geopolitical history. But a chapter of this big story often goes untold and that is of Africa’s part in the war; this story includes African soldiers who were recruited to fight this western war. The Head and the Load is a play that gets into this chapter. Joining Lerato Mbele to unpack it is choreographer Gregory Maqoma, and thespian Hamilton Dhlamini.
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From placing a pair of shoes on a destitute child’s feet to blessing families with a meal or giving them a seat at their Christmas lunch table is what brings joy to these individuals who are making an impact in people’s lives every day. Gerald Nomlala is the founder of Kasi Angels Foundation, an NGO which works in collaboration with Bata SA and has donated 31 000 pairs of school shoes to underprivileged children across South Africa in the past four years. Since 2003, Nomlala has been a humanitarian. His work has seen him travel to destitute parts of the country where he has seen poverty. Nomlala had seen towns where children had no formal structures for classrooms and sat underneath trees. In 2021, he launched the One Million Pairs and the 40 Classroom campaigns, where they hope to achieve 100 000 pairs by 2022. He joins us to talk about social entrepreneurship, his foundation and collecting school shoes for young South African children.
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The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) is a statutory body established in terms of Section 112 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995. The advent of the Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA) raised expectations about the fundamental change in the nature of South African labour relations and of effective dispute resolution and collective bargaining in particular. For many observers, the replacement of the Industrial Court by the CCMA signaled a shift from a highly adversarial model of relations to one based on promoting greater co-operation, industrial peace and social justice. The apparent shift seems all the more plausible as an unfolding democratisation process intersects with the challenges of a highly competitive globalised economy, new forms of work organisation and participative decision making. Director at the CCMA, Advocate Cameron Morajane, joins Lerato Mbele to talk about the work of the organisation as well as to discuss the CCMA’s new amended rules and regulations.
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A motion of no confidence is understood as being a statement or vote regarding fitness to hold office or a position of responsibility. It is typically instituted in situations where there is concern held by a party or a group of parties regarding an individuals’ ability to execute their duties. Motions of no confidence in the National Assembly are provided for in Section 102 of the South African Constitution, which outlines processes for motions against the President and Cabinet. In the case of provincial government, the South African Constitution makes provision for motions of no confidence in Section 141. This outlines processes for motions against the Premier and the Executive Council. Motions of no confidence at local government level are dealt with in terms of each Council’s Standing Rules and Orders, along with the Municipal Structures Act. Before motions can be considered, it is important that they comply with specific criterion. In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Tim Maake, a local government expert about this.
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The science of profiling is relatively new, having first been tried in the United States in the 1940s. However, it took about another twenty years of development and refinement before it became recognised as an investigative tool in the apprehension of criminals. Profiling can be described as an 'educated attempt to provide investigative agencies with specific information about the type of individual who could have committed a particular crime'. Nowadays it is utilised with other sound investigative techniques. Profiling serial killers and other crimes in South Africa contains an introduction to the subject, followed by chapters (with case studies) on serial killers, pyromaniacs, rapists, child molesters, stalkers, and white-collar crime and intelligence profiling. It's a tough job anywhere in the world, but especially in this country of almost 60 million people, where someone is killed every 25 minutes and 115 rapes are reported every day. In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Kholofelo Rakubuabout the complexities of profiling a criminal in South Africa.
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According to the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of hospitalisation and sometimes even death of children under the age of five, and even more so in infants younger than six months. In response, researchers at Wits VIDA embarked on a trial to find out what impact administering Pfizer’s Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine would have on unborn babies. They found that the vaccine is safe and actually reduces the risk of severe RSV-related infections by 82% in infants through to when they are six months old. Lerato Mbele speaks to Professor Shabir Madhi about the vaccine.
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A 2013 statistic revealed that in South Africa men heading households are still in the majority. However, the number of women breadwinners is on the increase and only a third of the country’s children live with both parents. A survey by insurance company Aviva suggested up to 1.4 million men in Britain were their children’s main carers and the number of men living as househusbands while their wives go to work has tripled in 15 years. Many believe that one of the reasons behind the trend is that society’s attitudes to the roles of men and women have changed. In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to Dr Bianca Parry, Programme Director for Research at the Centre for Mediaation in Africa and Nhlanhla Zwane, a relationship coach about how to navigate the power dynamics in a relationship where the female spouse is the breadwinner and the other is a house husband, due to varying circumstances – whether it is by choice or because of economic and employment challenges.
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Lerato Mbele speaks to Nosipho Hlatshwayo, Executive Manager for Programmes at the SA Cities Network and Dalu Cele Founder and Executive Director of the Clean City South Africa NPC about urban decay and ways in which metropolitan municipalities address dilapidated buildings, dumping, littering, damaged infrastructure, unkempt neighbourhoods, and ultimately, urban degeneration, within the context of South African cities.
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The UN refugee agency is making plans for hundreds of thousands of people spilling over Sudan’s borders to escape violence, according to officials. UNHCR officials told a Geneva briefing they are poised for 270,000 people to flee across Sudan’s borders – a preliminary planning figure that includes Sudanese refugees crossing into South Sudan and Chad, as well as South Sudanese returning home. The estimate so far only covers two of Sudan’s seven neighbours as projections for Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Libya are not yet ready. In this conversation, we get an update about what is happening on the ground and talk about efforts being made to set up a meeting between army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo in Saudi Arabia and the state of supply shortages (food, medicine, water) around the Sudanese capital were worsening and prices for basic goods. Lerato Mbele speaks to Mohamed Osman Adam, a journalist based in Khartoum, Sudan.
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It is generally understood that in order for an artist to build a sustainable and successful career, the services of a well-versed manager are required. Despite how easy managing artists may look from a distance, there is a clear formula on how to go about doing this thing, especially for those in the entertainment industry. The thing about this formula is that it is not widely accessible and there are only a few managers who really get this right in the sense of negotiating contracts that serve artists' financial interests, ensuring their safety and more. So on today’s masterclass, we are joined by the man himself, the founder of Refiloe Ramogase Productions, Refiloe Ramogase.
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For many of us, Thursday’s just aren’t going to be the same anymore particularly because they will no longer be dedicated towards exploring new developments in the story of the Zulu brothers with Showmax’s reimagination of what a South African telenovela looks like. For those of you who may not know, The Wife is a telenovela that follows the lives of eight Zulu brothers, a family fully immersed in a glamourised life of crime as well as of course, their love interests and the women they marry. The show is Showmax’s most-watched launch to date and today we have some of the cast members in the spotlight to walk us through their lived experiences before, during and after the show.
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Homeopathy is a 200-year-old form of alternative medicine that stimulates your body to heal by strengthening its ability to heal itself. Coming from World Homeopathy Awareness week, we want to understand today exactly how this process of self-healing works. It is said that homeopaths treat people by taking into account literally everything about the person including their personalities, lifestyles, hereditary factors and history of diseases. So homeopathic medicines in their nature are tailored to individual needs people have. Joining Lerato Mbele to get into the ins and outs of homeopathy is health practitioner specialising in homeopathy, Dr Sboniso Lamula.
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Sudan’s paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced it will shortly begin a ceasefire despite continued heavy fighting with the army in the capital Khartoum. The RSF said in a statement it would observe a 72-hour ceasefire, which would come into effect at 6am (04:00 GMT) on Friday, which marks the beginning of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Khartoum was rocked by heavy shelling in the early hours of this morning, with the RSF accusing the army of staging a “sweeping attack” on the capital. At least 56 civilians have been killed and 595 people, including combatants, wounded in fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Lerato Mbele speaks to Sabir Ibrahim, Spokesperson, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and political analyst, Professor Mammo Muchie about these developments.
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Christo Wiese is one of South Africa’s most acclaimed businessmen, best known for his major successes in the consumer retail market. Wiese was born in the Northern Cape in 1941 and completed matric at the Paarl Boys High School before attending Stellenbosch University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts before graduating with an LLB degree. Wiese practised law under the Cape Bar for several years before becoming a director at Pepkor, a company his parents co-founded. That move started a stunning career in business, which saw Wiese take Shoprite from a chain of eight stores in Cape Town to a powerhouse food retailer across Africa. As of 11 July 2022, Shoprite Group had a market capitalisation of R122.71 billion. It also employed 149,000 workers at the start of 2022. Alongside the Shoprite brand, the company counts big names like Checkers, OK Furniture, Medirite, and Computicket among its holdings. Except for the Public Investment Corporation, Wiese currently holds the most significant number of ordinary shares in the group at around 10.67%. He joins Lerato Mbele in this week’s edition of the leadership dialogue.
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Easter Sunday was a day of prayer and jubilation. But we were greeted by an editorial surprise when the Anglican Archbishop who used the moment to raise questions about Phala Phala and the perceived manipulation of state institutions through the investigation of this matter. Kudos to the Archbishop and bravo for his bravery because that got us thinking about the much-needed realignment of church teachings in the modern day. Beyond speaking on important matters of public interest, where the worldwide church changes how it functions, preaches, teaches and exists - is transformed to look like the society of 2023? By the church we mean all denominations - Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, AME, ZCC & Pentecostal.
Dr. Thembelani Jentile, Theologian and General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of South Africa joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.
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Last week, eThekwini municipality announced the reopening of more beaches and at least 21 swimming pools across the city following improvements in water quality. The announcement came in the wake of reports on the state of Durban’s beaches. City spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said that the decision to open beaches was taken after experts conducted water tests which confirmed that beach water quality had improved to an acceptable standard and that they are constantly monitoring water quality at all beaches to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. As holiday revelers prepare to take time out and visit places such as Durban, we talk to the City about the state of beaches and public pools in the municipality.
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With summer temperatures rising, now is the perfect time to put on your gardening gloves and give your backyard a little refresh to get it looking spick and span in time for those long sunny days and balmy evenings outdoors. In this conversation, we talk about handy gardening tips to prepare your garden for summer and keep it thriving all season long.
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The Township Economic Development Act facilitates a multi-dimensional way for the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) to change how townships are regulated and governed so that they become areas of employment-creating commercial activity. The Act will allow better procurement rules that allow government and contractors to buy from large groups of township-based firms. The Township Retail Programme has dedicated financing mechanism to establish a Small and Medium Enterprises Fund to provide wholesale and blended finance to intermediaries that can de-risk lending to township-based firms.
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Mimi Mtshali is an award-winning singer and composer who plays to audiences all over the world and holds a jazz degree in performance from UCT. She was part of afro latin jazz band Tucan Tucan led by pioneering Mozambican drummer Frank Paco and has shared some of the world’s big stages with the likes of Sibongile Khumalo, Khadja Nin, Rita Marley, Joe McBride and Lauryn Hill. Having released two albums, ‘Essence of My Soul’ and ‘My Love’ both produced by her pianist husband, Mdu Mtshali and performed extensively over the years. Lerato Mbele speaks to her about what makes a good musical relationship, her dedication to spontaneity, and more.
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Lerato Mbele is in conversation with actress, poet and producer Lebo Mashile. In this conversation, they speak about her creative process, racism and what she's up to.
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The last episode of The Real Housewives of Durban ended with broken friendships.
Comedian, and television host Donovan Goliath hosts the highly anticipated reunion of the Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD).
In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to the producer and stars, LaConco and Nonku Williams about the making of a reality tv show and how it’s created.
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Reporters Sans Frontières today released its World Press Freedom Index 2022 which assesses countries' press freedom records and intends to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations, and users of the internet have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom. Lerato Mbele speaks to SANEF executive director, Reggy Molausi about this. The 2022 index index revealed that Press freedom has many facets in Africa, ranging from the abundance of media outlets in Senegal (73rd) and South Africa (35th), to the deafening silence of privately owned media in Eritrea (179th) and Djibouti (164th).
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In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to a vet about pet insurance and taking care of your pet.
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The global tourism sector has for the past 10 years outperformed the global economic growth. This a clear demonstration that the tourism sector is made up of economic activities that contribute to three high-priority objectives of developing countries: the generation of income, employment, and foreign-exchange earnings. Lerato Mbele speaks to Tshifiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council about tourism and the South African economy.
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As South Africa marks 28 years of democracy, Lerato Mbele speaks to Happy Ngidi, Chief Marketing Officer at Proudly South Africa about the work the entity does to promote South African companies.
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The Natives Land Act inaugurated the apartheid in South Africa in 1913 left nearly 70% of black South Africans unable to purchase or occupy the land. Furthermore, this legislative order dispossessed and forcibly removed thousands of black families from their land. In this conversation, Lerato Mbele speaks to constitutional law expert, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe and reflects on land reform in SA and discuss where we are in terms of this.
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Unless you are Elon Musk, setting aside money today to provide for the years ahead by creating a retirement fund is not an option - it's a must. Retirement planning is a multi-step process that evolves over time.
By planning for your retirement today, you can maintain your standard of living in your retirement years.
Lerato Mbele speaks to Takalani Lukhaimane, Manager for Retirement Fund Conduct at the Financial Service Conduct Authority and Lesego Mpete, Head of Employee Benefits at Gradidge-Mahura Investments about pension funds.
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Morio Senyane is in conversation with poet Mzwakhe Mbuli about the role of the artist in society. Later in the interview, they reflect on the poet's career.
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Following a meeting by the ANC's national working committee on Wednesday, the party announced that they had appointed former National Assembly speaker and current defence minister Thandi Modise to lead a task team to determine if the leadership of the ANC Women's League should remain in office. Denzil Taylor speaks to the party's national spokesperson Pule Mabe about the outcomes of the meeting.
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Denzil Taylor speaks to Dr Kgosientso Ramakgopa,Head of the Investment and Infrastructure unit in the Office of the Presidency and discusses details of the National Infrastructure Plan and next steps towards implementation.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to entrepreneur and founder of Randela Wines, Phumla Randela about carving a path in South Africa's wine industry.
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Lukhona Mnguni is in conversation with higher education stakeholders about higher education funding in South Africa.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Advocate Prince Mafu of the Malwandle Chambers about the career of Acting Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.
Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo was in the hot seat at the Chief Justice interviews. During his lengthy legal career he has served in several courts including the Labour and Supreme Court of Appeal and was part of a task team that developed the draft legislation on labour relations for post-apartheid South Africa in 1994.
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Lukhona Mnguni is in conversation with Advocate Steven Budlender SC, a member of the PABASA group of advocates. In this interview, they reflect on his career and also reflect on the state of the judiciary in South Africa.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Dr Hleze Kunju on our first lesson of IsiXhosa.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Malibongwe Mhemhe, Director Responsible for Local Government Institutions at StatsSA, about the quarterly financial statistics of municipalities.
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Dr. Angelique Coetzee, SAMA Chairperson joins Lukhona Mnguni to speak about SAMA’s suggestions to get booster shots for health care workers ahead of the anticipated Covid-19 fourth wave.
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The City of Johannesburg is up for grabs in the local government elections with the Democratic Alliance, ActionSA as well as the Good Party all claiming to be suitable candidates.
On 1 November 2021, South Africans will head to the polls to usher in new era of local governance.
POWER Talk held a three-way roundtable with three mayoral candidates who delved on what their respective parties have to offer.
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Canaan Mdletshe, secretary general of the National Freedom Party, joins Lukhona Mnguni, to look at the NFP’s work ahead of the local government elections.
The party will be contesting the elections for the first time without its late leader kaMagwaza-Msibi.
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As humanity enters the 21st Century where our very survival is being challenged, understanding, and honoring where we come from is becoming increasingly important. South Africa hosts a vast array of heritage artifacts such as historic buildings, rock art sites, archaeological sites, and battlefield landscapes etc. all of which are under potential threat of decay and neglect to the point of dereliction. In this edition of the Thought Council, we particularly focus our attention on the preservation of our political heritage as a country and reference the work of the Fort Hare Liberation Movement Archives, Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Photography Legacy Project.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Thembisa Fakude, Senior Fellow at Africa Asia Dialogue who gives an update about developments in Afghanistan.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Public Service Commissioner, Phumelele Nzimande about the commission's observations about the state's capacity in the face of COVID-19 and the recent unrest.
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COVID-19 illustrates how refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and migrants are being left out of pandemic preparedness plans, including national vaccination programmes. In South Africa people living in South Africa who are undocumented are not able to register with the Covid-19 vaccination programme. In this segment, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Professor Jo Vearey, Director at the African Centre for Migration and Society at Wits University and looks at the issues of vaccine nationalism, vaccine exclusion and hesitancy and their likely effect at the population level.
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We continue our women’s month profiles and today we do that in this edition of the Knowledge Bank and look at a paper that reflects the difficulty of disentangling women’s political pasts from the dominant trends of the meta- narratives of women in liberation struggles on the continent. The study of the intellectual contributions of Charlotte Maxeke defines the demarcations that operated in the struggle for liberation in South Africa in the twentieth century and the formation of the black nationalist discourse. In the paper we discover the layers of inequality, even as these are challenged and redefined. In this context, Maxeke performed a double edged theorization as an effect and a catalyst in the transition from traditional to modern African society. Lukhona Mnguni talks to the author Dr Thozama April about the paper.
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The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) says it is deeply concerned about the school dropout rate in the country amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of pupils across the country returned to school for the third term of the academic year while primary school children are set to return to full-week attendance from today. Lukhona Mnguni speaks to the union's Mugwena Maluleke about this.
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South Africa’s Olympic hero Tatjana Schoenmaker swam gallantly but was unable to propel the 4x100m medley relay team into the next round in Tokyo on Friday. This is one of the many events that took place at the Olympic games, in this segment, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to sports reporter Dikeledi Tshabalala and gets a sense of how African athletes have performed since the beginning of the games.
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Idioms and Proverbs are language aspects that are part of everyday experiences; they result from a person’s observation of what surrounds her or him in her or his environment. The purpose of using idioms and proverbs is, among others, to enrich language. To succeed in using idiomatic language, one has to use one’s imagination and be able to be witty with words. This will help improve the language proficiency of the Home Language or mother-tongue speakers of Setswana. In this edition of the Language Corner, we focus on idioms and popular proverbs in Setswana.
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In this hour we have a special edition of the Thought Council, in the spirit of Lukhona’s Birthday. We will spend some time with Lukhona’s close friends as we pick their brains about the state of the country, their friendship any many other interesting things. In hopes of getting into the mind and heart of our beloved Host
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In 2016 VUT celebrated 50 years of technical education which was a special milestone for the university. According to two independent assessor’s reports, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has been grappling with governance issues since it was founded in 2004. Two years after its inception, a commission of inquiry was established to investigate its affairs, the outcome of which led to the axing of VUT’s first vice-chancellor, Professor Aubrey Mokadi. The second vice-chancellor, Professor Irene Moutlana, who served two terms, was at some point found guilty of negligence in the awarding of a tender. The university’s latest vice-chancellor, Professor Gordon Zide, only served two years of his five-year term. In this conversation, we reflect on the on the last 16 years of the VUT administration.
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The City of Johannesburg Council last month approved the Informal Traders Policy for Public Consultation. Members of the public were invited to submit written comments on the draft Informal Trading Policy in terms of section 7(5) of the Rationalisation of Local Government Affairs Act 1998, Section 12 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act no 32 of 2000. In this segment, we speak to the Free Market Foundation about their submissions where they recommend to not regulate street trading, but rather introduce a Public Space Management Bylaw. Lukhona Mnguni speaks to President of the foundation, Leon Louw about this.
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In Conversation with The PAC
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is a political party whose presence in the South African political landscape spans just over half a century. The PAC’s origins came about as result of the lack of consensus on the Africanist debate within the African National Congress (ANC). When the Freedom Charter was adopted at Kilptown in 1955, those who championed the Africanist ideological stance felt that this was a betrayal of the struggle. The deepening of political differences broke out into the open in November 1958. The party has since been confronted by various challenges, one of which being its internal factions that resulted in a legal contest for the party’s presidency. In the next hour we speak to the PAC as we build up to elections.
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Lukhona Mnguni is in conversation with Frikkie De Bruin, General Secretary of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council about the public wage offer. The government is offering an increase of 1.5% in pensionable salaries, as well as a monthly (non-pensionable) cash payment ranging from R1 200 to R1 600 from 1 April to 31 March next year. While the wage negotiations in the public sector have ended, trade unions have described it as an interim measure.
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In this conversation, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Democratic Alliance leader, John Steenhuisen about the party's proposed application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) regarding the intelligence report which the State Security Minister claims she handed over to the police before the recent looting and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Steenhuisen, says finger pointing between the minister Ayanda Dlodlo and her police counterpart, Bheki Cele about intelligence information needs to be investigated.
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StatsSA reported that life expectancy in South Africa has plunged by several years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. South Africa has been the worst-hit country in Africa for COVID-19, recording nearly 2.3 million infections, of which 66,859 have been fatal. The surge has resulted in a one-third hike in the death rate, which rose from 8.7 fatalities per 1,000 in 2020 to 11.6 per thousand in 2021, Statistics South Africa said in a report. The steep jump has translated into a drop in life expectancy, a benchmark of how long a person can statistically expect to live if born today. In this segment we get some insight on life expectancy statistics and what essentially this will mean as we continue to fight against the pandemic.
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Democratic South Africa was built on the foundation of having our own individual freedoms as citizens when a new government was installed in 1994. Since then, our country has made strides in the expansion of this independence and individuality. This including the right for us to enjoy freedom of speech and to also have opinions as people. In this segment, we reflect on the opinion piece by founder of Decode Communications, Lorato Tshekeng. In his piece, Tshekeng argues that political opinion is free for everyone, and that encompasses sportsmen and artists, who normally get cut down by people for having a view on what is happening in the country, forgetting that it is also their vocation to reflect the times.
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Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has gazetted new court directions to expedite the prosecution of various criminal cases as well as those related to the recent wave of violence and looting that affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The gazetted directions provide for special measures for the processing of cases and accused persons through the magistrates’ courts during the adjusted alert level 4 regulations. In the next half hour Lukhona Mnguni speaks to the Departments spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri about these new court directions and what it will mean for those prosecuted for the recent unrest in the country.
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Amidst inflation, insecurity and the dwindling value of the naira, the hike in prices of food has made life increasingly difficult for the average Nigerian. Nigeria is reported to be facing food security that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effect on the food value chain the country. The pandemic has significantly disrupted value chains across the country including people’s ability to produce, process and distribute food. The disruption to agricultural productivity and markets has a knock-on negative impact on livelihoods, especially amongst vulnerable households. In this conversation, we speak to the Lagos Food Bank about food demand and security in Nigeria.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Sizo Khumalo, sister to the late Delani and Mlondi Khumalo about the passing of her brother and the surrounding circumstances of their deaths.
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In this edition of the Open Conversation, Prof. Mthunzi Mdwaba, Business Activist, Academic and Thought Leader joins Lukhona Mnguni to speak about his journey and candidacy for becoming director-general of the ILO.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to join clean-up efforts this past Sunday and help rebuild the country as part of Mandela Day celebrations. Parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng were decimated by unrest and mass looting that left businesses destroyed and turned large areas into rubbish heaps "This Sunday, South Africans will join people across the world in celebrating Nelson Mandela Day. As we reaffirm our commitment to our democracy, let us use Mandela Day to provide food to the most vulnerable in our society, to clean up our streets and to start the task of rebuilding," Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by government.
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Dr Mosibudi Mangena, Academic, Author And Anti-Apartheid Activist joins Lukhona Mnguni to pay tribute to the late Khehla Mthembu
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Communities which have united to be the first line of defense against looters said that they were protecting the little that they had. Having witnessed the deep impact that the looting and property destruction has had on the local economies and livelihoods in other areas, residents in many communities have resolved to form street committees to stand against any potential threats. In the next hour we speak to different community leaders on the role of residents in uniting against the plight of looting across the country.
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Setswana is an indigenous African language belonging to the Sesotho language group of the Sintu language family. It is also the language spoken by the Batswana people. This is a group of tribes of Sintu origin that makes up a significant part of the population of the country of Botswana. Setswana is one of South Africa’s 11 official languages and we will in this segment and for the next coming four weeks focus on the Setswana language. Our guest for this edition is Mothusi Moswele, a Setswana Lecturer at the University of South Africa.
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There has been strong condemnation by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) of the lawlessness and criminality ravaging South Africa. Scores of people have been arrested in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng as sporadic violence and looting continue. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said those taken into custody would have their cases prioritised once they reached the courts. THE NDPP and the leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority are monitoring developments to better organise the NPA to respond appropriately. Lukhona Mnguni speaks to the NPA’s Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga about this.
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The former prime minister of Haiti Laurent Lamothe, joins Lukhona Mnguni to speak about the assassination of Haitian president.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Kemokoena Wa Mathole Mathole, Founder and Convenor, Us The People about reimagining ourselves outside of the state.
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According to Dr Nthabiseng Moleko there continues to be an unequal representation in the formal and informal sectors of the economy and gendered discrepancies in pay and benefits. One of the intractable truths about South Africa’s flagging economy is that it is toughest on women. She continues to make a compelling argument about how women need to be at the center of economic recovery in the country and in the next half hour we speak to her about her piece and how we can best deliver a women centered economic recovery.
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In this edition of the language corner, we begin a month-long focus on isiNdebele, which is one of South Africa’s eleven official languages. There are essentially two dialects of Ndebele, namely Southern Ndebele and Northern Ndebele, or Matabele/ isiNdebele. Over the next four weeks, we will further explore the Ndebele language. The Northern and Southern Ndebele languages both fall in the Nguni group of Bantu languages. Northern Ndebele is essentially a dialect of Zulu, and the older Southern Ndebele language falls within a different subgroup.
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The Public Service Commission (PSC) has highlighted the shortcomings of the government in service delivery, non-payment of suppliers, professionalisation and corruption and mismanagement in the public service. Launching its quarterly bulletin earlier this week, the Pulse of the Public Service, which covers the period 1 January to 31 March 2021, the PSC says that it is concerned about ethics being overlooked in government. In this conversation, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Dr Moeletsi Leballo and looks at one aspect of the bulletin, which is complaints management in the public services by the PSC. The report also looked at the non-payment of government suppliers by departments and professionalising the public service.
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Chair George Mashamba, says Mkhize has not yet approached the committee, nor has the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) referred him to the integrity committee. The ANC integrity committee is preparing to call health minister Zweli Mkhize to appear before it to explain allegations of a dodgy communication contract. In the next half hour we speak to Mashamba about the issue with the minister of health and how the committee is likely to move forward in bringing Mkhize to account.
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Palesa Madi was appointed as Deputy Director of CALS by a panel of interviewers in the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at Wits University. She worked at CALS since 2013, when she completed a year-long graduate internship. Since then, she has been appointed as a candidate attorney, retained as an attorney and then promoted to head of what was then known as the Rule of Law programme before taking on the role of acting Deputy Director. In this edition of the Open Conversation, we spend some time with Palesa.
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Many parts of Johannesburg and its residents have recently experienced water shortages. These have also affected health-care facilities such as the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville and Helen Joseph Hospital in Auckland Park, which saw the Gauteng Department of Health being forced to bring in water tankers to ensure patients have access to water. In this conversation, we speak to Johannesburg Water about the water shortage issues in various parts of the city.
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The Black Business Council yesterday kicked off its two-day annual Black Business Summit which serves as an extension of the advocacy and policy work on socio-economic transformation and inclusive growth that is done by the council. Themed “Black Business and its vital role in Economic Reconstruction and Recovery – during and post Covid-19”, it hosted engagements with leaders of business and government on pertinent issues affecting the economy and the country at large, more so as the country and nation into economic recovery and vaccination process. In this conversation, we reflect on the first day of the summit and resolutions that have been reached by its stakeholders.
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You know that when you are getting wed, you need the perfect set of rings for you and yours. The same applies if you are considering renewing your vows after a while. However, while partaking in the very important culture of wedding rings, we never really stop to ask why it is so important in weddings, engagements. When we do think about it, we at most may assume that it is a sign, an emblem of the love we have and carry for each other. But is this all it is? Another important question is how and where did it originate? In the next half hour, we unpack.
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There is a general sense that traditional politics and representative democracy fails to attract the attention of young people. This is despite knowing that young people, historically, have been at the forefront of bringing about social and political change in pre and post-democracy eras. Various political parties have youth structures as an attempt to encourage youth leadership, however, has there been a significant contribution to youth development in our democracy by these youth leagues? In this edition of Thought Council we speak to political youth leaders from various parties to unpack this.
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In this week’s edition of the knowledge bank, we speak to professor Sabelo Ndlovu Gatsheni about a paper he wrote. This article looks into the complex politics of knowledge in Africa through centering often-ignored contributions of African intellectuals to the decolonisation of knowledge and politics. Thus, the article performs four key tasks: (1) it explains how epistemology frames ontology as its entry into the topical politics of knowledge; (2) it introduces and defines the concepts of the cognitive empire and epistemic freedom as they enable a deeper understanding of the complex politics of knowledge; (3) it historicises African struggles for decolonisation as reflected in African decolonial scholarship and the quests for epistemic freedom; and (4) it makes sense of resurgent and insurgent decolonisation of the twenty-first century as embodied by the Rhodes Must Fall movements in South Africa.
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There are calls for strong action and accountability after the Pan-African Parliament sitting in Midrand ended in physical violence, walkouts, shouting and desperate calls for the police to intervene. On Monday, African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina was kicked by fellow member Djibril War from Senegal while trying to break up a fight that broke out amid attempts by some to delay the election of a new president. In the next half hour Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Majodina about yesterday’s scenes at PAP.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has reported on various irregularities in the use of fund allocations to departments, one of which involved the former Gauteng health MEC, Dr. Masuku and recently health minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize. The SIU has since declared the EC health department's R10 million scooter ambulance tender unlawful. On POWER Talk SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago joins Lukhona Mnguni to shed more light on the issue.
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In recent months, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has faced unprecedented local and international media attention over a number of highly publicised incidents in which people have died or been assaulted at the hands of the police. Each incident sparked expressions of public concern about police conduct in South Africa. In this edition of the Thought Council we look into police brutality in the country and the challenges within the policing system but also how this brutality has affected people.
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The auditing industry has in the recent years been under fire relating to irregularities and unethical practice. Since these incidences the industry has been trying to restore trust in audit and governance. In the spirit of internal auditor’s month we look into how far that project of restoration has come and are joined by Julius Mojapelo, CEO of the Institute Of Internal Auditors South Africa.
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In this week’s edition of the language corner we continue with Xitsonga. We pick up from last week as we look at the months of the year. Last week we ended with May, and in this segment we proceed with the rest of the months.
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The Eastern Cape province has been confronted by taxi strikes that have disrupted both Mkhanda and Gqeberha. Hundreds of taxis from GRATA and Uncedo taxi associations, today saw most businesses closed across the city and minimal attendance at public schools. In Gqeberha, taxi drivers disrupted by way of several roadblocks and violent protests. The drivers are demanding answers about their Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) funds. In the next half hour we look into both protests and how they have affected residents at large.
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Zandpruit made headlines last week following the brutal murder of youth accused of terrorising the community. It’s alleged that about 200 people from the informal settlement attacked a group of nine boys they suspected of robbing people in the area. The young men were then beaten up by angry residents and then set alight.
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The challenge of two mayors in crippled towns in the North West speaks loudest about how political looting and feuding over public funds are running local governments, and the towns they preside over, into the ground across SA. In the next half hour we look into the instability in North West which has seen the removal of 6 mayors in the province recently which has led to interruptions of service delivery in the province.
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One of the questions frequently asked is “what is African feminism and how is it different from western feminism”. It is a valid question that points to the clarity that people seek in the process of self-discovery, which is what becoming feminist is. In the next half hour, we look into the concept of African Feminism and how it differs from other forms of feminism but also why it is particularly important to our own journey of identity as Africans.
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In this segment of the show, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and looks that the marriage regimes and how the Green Paper touches on them such as why is customary marriage automatically in-community of property? Additionally, he also explores why out of community needs notaries and filing with the deeds office, is this not an elitist move etc.
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President Emmanuel Macron convened a Summit on Financing African Economies in Paris on Tuesday. The summit seeks to help Sudan into a new democratic era and provide Africa with critical financing swept away by the COVID-19 pandemic. President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the summit along with representatives from 28 other African countries, China, China, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, UK, US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mguni speaks to the Acting Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni and reflects on the summit and how it best advances SA’s economy to be in attendance.
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Actor, director, playwright Sello Maake Ka Ncube joins Lukhona Mnguni as a guest for this week’s open conversation.
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The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has appointed former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke to lead a process to decide whether the country can hold free and fair elections in the present circumstances. Almost 80 countries and territories have postponed elections in the past 18 months due to concerns over the pandemic, while 118 countries have opted to proceed with elections. This has somewhat of a bearing on how SA proceeds with the upcoming elections. In the next half hour we speak to the IEC about this process and what the public should anticipate.
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The Executive Mayor and his team have been hard at work to compile a balanced and fully funded 2021/22 budget. Coming to government after the illegal tenure of the administrators, the City finances were in a dire state requiring urgent attention with a massive budget deficit of over R4 billion. Faced with this reality together with a difficult economic climate, the 2021/22 budget will be geared towards stabilising the City’s finances and driving quality service delivery. The budget has also been prepared with the intention of keeping rates and tariff increases as low as possible.
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The MMC of Enviroment and Agriculture speaks to Lukhona Mnguni and posits about a budget portion which aims to safeguard and conserve the environment as well as keep the Capital City clean.
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In the next segment we reflect on the budget speech as passed down by the City of Tshwane Executive Mayor, Cllr Randall Williams. We also look into some challenges that have affected the city and how it is that they have been addressed. Lukhona Mnguni is joined by Professor Lesiba Teffo on this conversation.
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Lukhona Mnguni speaks to the Speaker of the Tshwane Council, Katlego Mathebe ahead of Mayor Randall William's budget speech.
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In this week’s edition of the language corner we continue with Xitsonga, picking up from last week we take a closer look at days of the week, months and counting.
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The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) missing persons' task team has been keeping the public informed on progress it is making in investigations and exhumations of those whose deaths were politically motivated. This has brought much healing and closure to some families that have been searching for their loved ones that disappeared due to political killings. In the next half hour Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Madeleine Fullard Head Of Missing Person Task Team at the NPA about the work they are doing and stories have recovered from their investigations.
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South Africa’s Apartheid Museum closed temporarily “in line with government regulations to help curb the spread of COVID-19”. It is the latest casualty after dozens of heritage attractions were forced to close. The Apartheid museum logged up to 1 000 visitors per day before the pandemic; most of the visitors were foreign tourists. Unfortunately, visitor numbers were too low when the museum re-opened in January 2021. In the spirit of international museum day we look into the closing of these cultural landmarks and what it means for the preservation of the country’s history.
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South Africa started Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout programme yesterday – but mostly vaccinating healthcare workers, with some 60-year-olds and older people being vaccinated too. A large number of Pfizer vaccines are available, but only a fraction of the promised 3,000 sites where vaccines are to be administered were operational. In the next half hour we speak to various heads of these vaccination sites about how the first day of vaccination went and what targets are there to meet for the rest of the week.
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The Home Affairs department published the landmark 67-page policy document. In the document the department states it seeks to create a new marriage act that will allow all in the country to conclude recognised, legal marriages. This also includes marriages where women can have more than one husband, citing that this will ensure equality. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Sihle Mthiyane, Chief Director for Policy at the Department of Home Affairs and looks at the policy document and how it will progress society in the pursuit for equality.
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Story 1: Heavy bombing by Israel, update on the situation in Gaza Story 2: Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout kicks off Story 3: Corruption case against former President Jacob Zuma is expected to resume in the Pietermaritzburg High Court Story 4: Municipal By-Elections on 19 May 2021 Story 5: State Capture Update to hear- Geoffrey Makhubo and Matshela Koko
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As South Africa moves to the second phase of its vaccination programme which starts today – there will be a way to choose the type of vaccine.
Pharmacy retailer Dis-Chem has been allocated the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine because it has the ability to keep the doses at the required ultra-low temperatures, the government says. That means selecting a Dis-Chem as the location to receive a vaccine will see you get the Pfizer shot, even though there are no plans to give South Africans a choice in which vaccine they receive. Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Lizet Kruger, National Clinic Manager at Dischem about the matter.
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With much of the world calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Israel and Palestine, the South African government says the escalating violence justifies an urgent call for the intervention of the international community. The department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco)has strongly condemned violence between Israel and Palestine which has claimed hundreds of lives. Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Ambassador Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General for Middle East and Asia about the matter.
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Power utility Eskom estimates that, without additional capacity, there will be an electricity supply shortfall of between 4,000 and 6,000 megawatts over the next five years, as old coal-fired power stations reach their end of life. To address this shortfall, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that government will issue a request for proposals for 2,600 megawatts from wind and solar energy as part of a bid window. South Africa has had an energy problem for years, which indicates a desperate need to consider alternative energy sources. However, what do we mean when we say alternative energy? And what is South Africa’s available pathway? In the next hour we unpack this and Lukhona is joined by Avena Jacklin, Gaopalelwe Santswere a nuclear physicist and Prof. Tonderayi Matambo, Head of the Biotechnology Engineering research group in the Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, UNISA.
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The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has concluded its week-long over oversight visit to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and has underlined the strategic importance of the project for the socio-economic prospects of both Lesotho and South Africa. In the next segment, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Rosina Semenya, the human settlement’s portfolio Committee about their week-long oversight visit to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
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The latest round of violence between Israelis and Palestinians is happening because the long and unresolved conflict between the two sides has once again been left to fester. It is an open wound in the heart of the Middle East and it is why violent face-to-face confrontations have escalated into rocket-firing, air strikes and death. Many may not fully understand the long standing conflict so in the next hour, Lukhona Mnguni is joined by academic at the University of Fort Hare, Lunga Mantashe and unpacks the conflict over the years.
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In this week’s edition of the language corner, we introduce Xitsonga, a language rich with history which we will look into in this first episode of the 4-week series on Xitsonga. In this segment, Lukhona Mnguni is joined by Dr Crous Hlungwani, Senior Xitsonga Lecturer at the University of Venda and looks at the history of the language, look at basic ways of communicating, such as greetings and the months of the year.
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International Nurses Day is observed on May 12 every year. The day comes amid a horrific coronavirus pandemic, where nurses have been frontliners and in many cases have been the ones to suffer trauma from the death of their colleagues and many of those who died in the fight against the virus. In the next half hour we take some time with two nurses, Zandile Ntsondo and Matron Violet Ramalapa and reflect on the past year and what the day means for nurses in the country.
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The Mail and Guardian over the weekend ran an article citing that Treasurer General Paul Mashatile and Deputy President David Mabuza pocketed funds intended for the party coffers. According to the paper, two sources with knowledge about the matter allege that the two senior politicians received at least $2-million, equivalent to R30 miilion from party donors but the money failed to make it into the Luthuli House bank account. On Sunday, 09 May 2021, the ANC’s Department of Information and Publicity released a statement rejecting the allegations. In this segment, we are joined by Mail & Guardian journalist, Lizeka Tandwa.
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The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has warned against calls to make public the national register for sex offenders. It is believed that making the register public would curb sexual offences against children, but according to the department, this would fuel mob justice against perpetrators. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to the Department of Justice’s Ntombi Matjila and Action Society Spokesperson, Dr Rinee Pretorius about their opposing views on the matter.
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In this week’s edition of the Knowledge Bank, we explore a chapter from the book “Radio, Public Life and Citizen Deliberation in South Africa”. The chapter, “In whose interest is it anyway? - An analysis of the content, discourse and programming strategies of South African business radio shows”, explores the extent to which South African talk radio stations fulfil their normative role of ensuring that disparate groups participate in shaping narratives around the structure and direction of the country's economy.
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It was in the 2017 Nasrec policy conference that a decision was taken for those charged with corruption must voluntarily step aside and those alleged, reported and accused of corruption face the integrity committee. In the past months there has been great contestation within the party about the resolution, this further intensified when President of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa suspended the secretary general Ace Magashule last week. In this segment, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to POWER 987 News Senior Reporter, Ndaedzo Nethonzhe about the resolution document particularly around what was decided when it comes to step aside.
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Ethiopia’s government under prime minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive to dislodge the Tigray region’s dissident leadership, he promised a rapid surgical operation. The war, which began on 3 November as the world was focused on the US election, has instead come at a staggering cost. There is no end in sight. Millions of Tigrayans are now in dire need of assistance. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Senior Fellow at the Africa Asia Dialogues Thembisa Fakude and looks at the situation in the country together with the contestations around the Nile Dam.
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The Constitutional Assembly, democratically elected in 1994, adopted our National Constitution on 8 May 1996. In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the document former President Thabo Mbeki reflected on the formation of the constitution, recent attacks on the integrity of the judiciary by former president, Jacob Zuma, who suggested that the Constitution subverted the will of the people. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to Max Boqwana, CEO of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation about this piece.
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STORY 1: The Detection of Covid-19 variant from UK and India in SA
STORY 2: NERSA Invitation to comment – Consultation paper on Eskom application for a ten-year negotiated pricing agreements
STORY 3: Budget cuts to significantly impact services of social development entities
STORY 4:The Commission will hear Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) related evidence - Lucky Montana to testify tomorrow at 10am
STORY 5: Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president
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The South African Football Association (Safa) yesterday confirmed the appointment of Belgian Hugo Broos as the new Bafana Bafana head coach on Wednesday at SAFA house. Broos will sign a five-contract with the national team. In this segment, Lukhona Mnguni speaks to POWER Sport host Mmaskepe Matsebane and discusses what this means for the national teams and why he became the best man for the job and not the other hopefuls that were considered.
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Not only will these local government elections be taking place under unique circumstances given the Covid-19 pandemic, they will also give a clear indication of whether the parties’ losses or gains of 2016 have been reversed at all. This indication will be given by local communities who have been challenged by service delivery. In this edition of the Thought Council we speak to civil society organizations to give us a sense of what local communities are dealing as we build up towards elections and what that may tell us about the outcomes of the polls.
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In this edition of language corner, we try to understand the meanings and differences of izaga nezisho.
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Wage negotiations between Eskom and unions got under way yesterday. The National Union of Mineworkers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa want a 15% increase, while Solidarity is asking for 9.5%. In this segment, we speak to the National Union of Mineworkers about the wage talks and the state of workers in South Africa.
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African National Congress (ANC) deputy provincial chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Mike Mabuyakhulu has decided to step aside from his position in line with the party’s resolution on those facing serious criminal charges. Mabuyakhulu is facing fraud and corruption charges in connection with a jazz music festival while he was still Economic Development MEC. In the next half hour we look broadly at what this means for the ANC KZN provincial structures and further what implications it will have broadly on the ANC.
Lukhona speaks to Snuki Zikalala is the president of the African National Congress (ANC) Veterans' League, and KZN provincial secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli ,
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In this week’s edition of the Thought Council we look at the State of the Nation, particularly from a political, economic and infrastructure perspective. The past year was difficult and disruption to all of us where we saw the grave and the social toll has it had on South Africans and the world at large. We now reflect on 2021 and whether it is the beginning of economic, social, and political recovery. Morio Sanyane speaks to Dr Michael Sutcliffe Director and Co-Founder at City Insight, policy analyst Tessa Dooms and economist Xhanti Payi.
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Gauteng’s third wave of coronavirus infections could be more severe than the second surge, according to the worst-case scenarios modelled by a consortium of experts co-ordinated by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The SA Covid-19 Modelling Consortium provides regular projections for the government, which it uses to guide its response to the coronavirus pandemic. In the next half hour, we speak to the NICD’s Dr Jinal Bhiman about these scientific predictions and why Gauteng residents should be more vigilant.
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A multibillion-rand tender bid for the supply of emergency power implicates the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe of impropriety. DNG Power Holdings, one of the companies that bid for the tender filed urgent papers in the Pretoria High Court this week to challenge the tender bid outcome. In the next half hour, we speak to the DNG Founder and CEO Aldworth Mbalati about these allegations and what exactly ensued in the bid for the tender.
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- Story 1: Covid-19 crisis in India
- Story 2: King Goodwill Zwelithini’s first wife set to challenge will
- Story 3: First Batch Of 325,000 Pfizer Vaccines Land In SA
- Story 4: SAFA speculation around who will become the next Bafana Bafana coach
- Story 5: World Press Freedom Day 2021
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The basic education department on Sunday said it was looking into the possibility of returning all pupils at primary school level to attend daily. The department said this may be on the cards in the second term due to the severe learning disruptions suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Council of Education Ministers is expected to discuss the matter this week. In the next half hour, Lukhona Mnguni is joined by Basil Manuel of NAPTOSA and Prof. Labby Ramrathan, President, South African Education Research Association and looks at the possible implications of full time teaching and whether it is the best time for the Department to do so.
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In this week’s edition of Africa Centre we speak to Africa Affairs analyst Jean Bwasa and Timothee Makanishe, Researcher at the Maurice Webb Race Relations Unit to give us a sense of the situation in the DRC following governments ‘state of siege’ declaration in the violent-hit eastern provinces. Hundreds of civilians were killed, and many displaced in mineral-rich Ituri and North Kivu provinces due to a surge in attacks in recent months.
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In the spirit of World Press Freedom Day we speak look at the state of the newsroom, freedom in media and some of the challenges that confront media practice in SA. Lukhona Mnguni is joined by Thandi Smith, Head of Programmes at Media Monitoring Africa for this conversation.
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Led by Chairperson, Honourable Kedibone Diale, the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on CoGTA and Human Settlements will be convening four public hearings on the LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill. She joins Morio Sanyane on the line to talk about the bill.
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The Sunday Times this past weekend reported about the mineral-rich village of Garatouw in Limpopo. The Chinese-owned Nkwe Platinum which operates in the area was issued a mining license by govt for $8 billion worth of minerals and has bought land from local landowners in the surrounding communities of Ga Mamphlane, Burgersfort (Limpopo) at an alleged R40 000 for a plot. Morio Sanyane speaks to investigative journalist, Thanduxolo Jika about this story and what is happening in the area.
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