Maternity and setswetsi for men  Guest: Prof Kopano Ratele - Chief Daddy of the show  Guest: Prof Mathabo Khau - Editor In Chief: Educational Research for Social Change Online Journal at Nelson Mandela University A continuation of the conversation about maternity and setswetsi for men.

Guest: Malesela Steve Lebelo - Author and historian  We commemorated Freedom Day last week and we had a conversation with author and historian, Malesela Steve Lebelo, about South Africa’s democratic dispensation and whether or not we have something to celebrate?  Twenty nine years later, millions are still languishing in poverty; crime remains a major concern and corruption has also been a major challenge. Is there anything to celebrate considering all these realities most South Africans live under? Do we have the right systems to safeguard the country’s constitutional democracy?

An audit currently being conducted on the estates of Lebo Mathosa and Ray Phiri has brought to the fore that R1.17 billion due to artists, writers, record labels and publishers, is in the hands of four collecting societies. The four collecting societies, each dealing with various music rights RAV (music videos and labels), CAPASSO (authors/composers and publishers), SAMPRA (record labels and performers) had the cash holdings (money available for distribution to members in the main) at their respective 2021 financial year ends as follows: ●     RAV R73 million ●     CAPASSO R353.42 million    ●     SAMPRA R389.80 million   ●     SAMRO R355.33 million    Guest:  Dr Graeme Gilfillan - Copyright lawyer

The DA-led provincial government has warned that they will have Russian President Vladimir Putin arrested by Western Cape Government funded Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers, should he set foot in the province. This is according to Premier Alan Winde who said President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC national government have shown “confusion” over whether or not they intend to have South Africa abandon the International Criminal Court (ICC), to avoid an obligation to arrest Putin if he steps on South African soil. This comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin is expected to travel to Johannesburg later this year to attend the 15th BRICS summit. Winde said the Western Cape government will fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens, but is also willing to show solidarity with Ukraine.

Profile feature: Wandile Molebatsi is a South African actor and musician who began his career as a KTV kid and later starred as laidback tracker Blessing Dlamini in the M-Net soap opera The Wild, from 2011-2013. His early career in film and theatre was suspended for him to complete his studies in Drama and Film at Wits. His musical career began when a group of enthusiastic teenagers at his father's church came together to form the band Embryo. Since then he has honed his self-taught djembe skills and expanded his repertoire to include other percussion instruments. He currently performs for the band Uju, primarily as a performer. He has appeared in the films Gothia Caper and Cuppen and had a walk-on role in the ER episode There Are No Angels Here.

Reimagining freedom South Africa has been in democratic dispensation for 29 years. Millions are still languishing in poverty; crime remains a major concern and corruption has also been a major challenge. Is there anything to celebrate considering all these realities most South Africans live under? Do we have the right systems to safeguard the country's constitutional democracy ?

Guest: Professor Kopano Ratele

SAHRC report on North West municipality The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has issued a final investigative report in the matter of Kebaneile Tumelo Phinda and 2 others on behalf of the Residents of Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa // Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Tswaing Local Municipality. The report relates to the consolidated complaints received on 06 September, 08 September and 11 October 2021 regarding the sewer spillages and lack of basic municipal services including water, sanitation and electricity at Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa. Following an investigation of these complaints, the Commission found that the rights of the residents of Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa were violated by the Local and District Municipalities. The specific rights violated included the residents’ right of access to water and sanitation as well as their right to dignity. Consequent to the above findings, the Commission made several directives that the Local and District Municipalities must comply with. The directives made include the following: The Local and District Municipalities must install a sufficient number of water user connections to supply a minimum quantity of potable water of 25 litres per person per day or 6 kilolitres per household per month to the residents of the Sannieshof, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa at a minimum flow rate of not less than 10 litres per minute; within 200 metres of each of the residents’ households; and with an effectiveness such that the residents are not without a water supply for more than seven full days in any year. The Local and District Municipalities must provide the residents of Sannieshof, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa with toilets which are safe, reliable, environmentally sound, easy to keep clean, provides privacy and protection against weather, well ventilated, keeps smells to the minimum and prevents the entry and exit of flies and other disease-carrying pests. The Local and District Municipalities, in consultation with the Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation, must within one month of the report conduct a comprehensive assessment of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Sannieshof, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa. The comprehensive assessment must reflect the cost implications of rectifying the challenges identified in the assessment. The Local and District Municipalities must engage actively and meaningfully with the residents of Sannieshof, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa on its short, medium and long-term measures to address the challenges relating to the provision of water, basic sanitation, electricity and housing to the residents. The Local and District Municipalities, must within two months of the completion of the assessment submit a report to the Commission, under oath, detailing the steps that they will take in the short, medium and long term to: address the inadequacies of the waste management system, and the sewer network or infrastructure servicing the affected areas; with specific detail in respect of the planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and oversight and accountability measures to be taken. prevent the spillage of raw sewage into the streets and homes; and into rivers. prevent backflows of sewage when residents flush the toilets in their homes. to prevent and/or mitigate the impact of sewage spillages on both the residents and the environment. provide security to safeguard its sewer infrastructure. provide for adequate financial and other resources required to implement the corrective measures identified in the report. ensure the provision of potable water in a manner that is effective and sustainable, including the provision of interim water supply services. ensure the provision of all municipal services in a manner that is effective and sustainable.

Electoral Amendment bill The Presidency announced on Monday that Ramaphosa signed the Bill, which allows independent candidates to contest national and provincial elections.The Bill gives effect to a Constitutional Court judgment that was handed down on 11 June 2020. The apex court declared the Electoral Act unconstitutional "to the extent that it requires that adult citizens may be elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures only through their membership of political parties". But it suspended the declaration of unconstitutionality for "24 months to afford Parliament an opportunity to remedy the defect giving rise to the unconstitutionality".Parliament had to approach the Constitutional Court twice for deadline extensions, the final deadline being 28 February. The National Assembly passed the Bill on 23 February with the support of the ANC, EFF, Good party and Al Jam-ah. According to the Presidency, the amended Act now provides for the inclusion and nomination of independent candidates as contesters to elections in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. Notable measures that feature in the Bill are: •         the requirements that must be met by persons who wish to be nominated as independent candidates; •         the inspection of copies of lists of independent candidates and accompanying documents; •         provision for objections to independent candidates; •         the inclusion of a list of independent candidates entitled to contest elections; •         the requirements for the appointment of agents by independent candidates; •         an obligation for independent candidates to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct; •         a revised formula for the allocation of seats and their reallocation in the event of vacated seats; and •         a stipulation for the minister to establish the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel. The amended Act requires the minister of home affairs to establish the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel within four months of gazetting the amendments. This panel will make non-binding recommendations on potential reforms of the electoral system for future elections of the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures after the 2024 polls. Guest: Lethlogonolo Letshele - Electoral Systems Researcher (My Vote Counts 

Guest: Asanda Ngoasheng, Political Analyst  Youth must find their voice in coalition politics:  With the introduction of the new Electoral Amendment bill, the norm of political instability within coalitions. Will the myriad of new players offer any hope to the electorate:

GUEST:  Prof Kopano Ratele – Chief Daddy  Amongst many challenges that come with raising toddlers, potty training is said to be one of the more trying parts. It’s frustrating. It’s messy. But the good news is that, when a child is ready to begin potty training, there are a number of tricks parents can use to help them out. 1. Watch That Daniel Tiger Potty Training Episode Titled “Daniel Goes Potty,” it reminds kids that when you gotta go, you STOP and go right away. 2. Embrace the Tot-on-The-Pot Billed as a creative “play-based” potty training program, Tot-on-the-Pot includes a soft doll with her own personal mini toilet, a comprehensive parenting guide, 20 laminated activity cards, and a Tot on the Pot board book. 3. Turn It Into Target Practice When potty training boys, several dads swore by turning potty training into target practice. Giving their son something to aim at — and making a game out of going — helped them conquer the commode. 4. Read Sesame Street’s “P is for Potty” This board book, in which Elmo teaches little kids the art of going potty is not only written in simple, straightforward, silly language but it also has more than 30 interactive items to pull or push on each page. 5. Buy a Travel Toilet Seat “We had a travel quite a bit when our first daughter was potty training; considering how important consistency is, this was the biggest help,” says Kevin, a father of two in Louisville. 6. Make a Decision and Stick With it When you begin the potty training saga, it may be tempting to have a transitional period where you switch from diapers to underwear and back again depending on the time of day. But that can confuse a kid, and the decision to do underwear all day — including during nap time — helped his kid get with the program.

GUEST: Prof Hartmut Winkler - Professor of Physics at the University of Johannesburg  The year 2022 was marked by the worst power outages in the country’s history. Electricity generation deficits reached up to 6 GW on occasion, necessitating up to 10 hours of rolling electricity blackouts. High outages have persisted through the warmer early months of 2023, and since early January the country has experienced power cuts every day. Are they bound to get worse as the winter season approaches? Is there a lucrative plan in sight?

Guest: Shadley Lombard Shadley Lombard a self-taught photographer, Shadley grew up surrounded by media covering the freedom struggle during the 1980`s. He is a trained television cameraman by profession who freelancers for some of the world’s biggest TV news agencies. In the past he concentrated on current affairs and news, and more recently, he has works on International and South African reality shows.

Guest: Joseph Mosiah, SABC reporter #ThaboBester court update The case against disgraced Dr Nandipha Magudumana has been postponed to 17 April for a possible bail application.  Magudumana made her first court appearance at Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon in connection with convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester’s prison break. Magudumana and Bester – who is dubbed the “Facebook rapist” – were brought in from Tanzania, where the pair was arrested last Friday.

The City plans to open a new 300-bed Safe Space facility in Green Point. Guest: Geordin Hill Lewis, City of Cape Town Mayor The proposed Safe Space for homeless people in Green Point, Cape Town is open for public comment until 8 May. The proposed 300-bed Safe Space is located under the fly-over bridge on Ebenezer Road. This will be an addition to the City of Cape Town’s two Safe Space facilities at Culemborg in the city centre which offers a total of 480 shelter beds. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has said the City plans to spend R77-million this year and R230-million over the next three years on its Safe Space programme

Guest: Prof Kopano Ratele | Author/ Lecturer | Guest: Sir Bongani Luvalo | Cool dads foundation | Celebrating the launch of “Men360 podcast /magazine lifestyle that will was launched on Tuesday the 28th of March. This podcast aims to tackle different challenges that affect men directly and indirectly. From health, to finance. And a decade of the Cool dads foundation.

In September 2021, multi award winning South African guitarist Vuma Levin was named as the  Standard Bank Young artist for jazz. To this end he undertook to create a work commensurate  with the scale of this achievement. The resulting product is his new album titled The Past is Unpredictable: Only the Future is Certain. In April, Vuma will be undertaking a tour of the Western Cape to coincide with the launch of the singles from the album, Yaka Yaka (17 March), Rites (7 April) and Capela (27 April).  Tour dates will include: • 13/04 The Athletic Social Club (Cape Town) • 14/04 The Commons (Muizenburg) • 15/04 The Blue Room (Cape Town) • 16/04 Jazz In The Native Yards (Khayelitsha) The album was recorded across three cities, Johannesburg, Basel and Amsterdam. It features some of contemporary jazz’s most important local and international young voices, including but not limited to) Ben van Gelder (Netherlands, Saxophone) Xavi Torres Vicente (Piano, Spain) Bokani Dyer (South Africa, Piano) Shane Cooper (South Africa, Bass), Sisonke Xonti (Saxophone),  Benjamin Jephta (Bass) and Matthias Spillman (Switzerland, Trumpet). Parenting: Celebrating the launch of “Men360 podcast /magazine lifestyle that will was launched on Tuesday the 28th of March. This podcast aims to tackle different challenges that affect men directly and indirectly. From health, to finance. And a decade of the Cool dads foundation.

GUEST: Dr Mary Nel - Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the Stellenbosch University The United Nations is calling for the establishment of a torture prevention body in SA to protect prisoners. Experts say this would help in the rehabilitation processes and protect the human rights of inmates. The experts offered several recommendations after observing a range of concerns, from poor detention conditions to allegations of corruption, on the heels of the first visit of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) to South Africa, from 26 February to 9 March.

GUEST:  Dr Nokuzola Mndende - “umama o strict, aka jika jiki” (African Cultural Expert) There is an African proverb that says “it takes a village to raise a child”. In a South African context this proverb is linked to the value or principle of “Ubuntu”. People have different interpretations of this value but the key message to take from this value is that no one is an island and we should care for the welfare of others like we do for ourselves. Surely if it takes a village to raise a child the obvious implication is that the success of the child depends on the community. But in the present day, where and when does it still apply? Have our children become a law unto themselves while we are bound by children’s rights and the abolishment of corporal punishment? 

GUEST:  Terence Mentoor - Founder of AfroDaddy As commonly used, the term man flu could be describing a constitutional character flaw of men who, when felled by a cold or flu, embellish the severity of their symptoms, quickly adopt a helpless "patient role," and rely heavily on others to help them until they recover. But scientifically, the possibility is that men actually experience respiratory viral illnesses differently than women; there is precedent for this in other conditions. Pain due to coronary artery disease (as with a heart attack or angina) is a good example. Men tend to have "classic" crushing chest pain, while women are more likely to have "atypical" symptoms such as nausea or shortness of breath. So let’s talk about this MAN FLU! Gents, is it real or do we have a man of blowing things out of proportion?

Guest: Dr Kopano Ratele, Author/Lecturer Parenting feature

Co-authors of the first report of the Series, titled Defining and conceptualising the commercial determinants of health Guest:  Priceless SA Director Professor Karen Hofman  Guest: Senior Researcher Dr Agnes Erzse, Senior Researcher The 3-paper Series launching at Wits today is a ground-breaking exposé of the products and practices collectively called the commercial determinants of health. Just four industries account for at least one-third of global preventable deaths. These industries are: unhealthy processed food and drinks, fossil fuels, alcohol, and tobacco. Collectively they cause 19 million deaths annually. These are amongst the findings of a series of reports published by The Lancet and launced in South Africa in hybrid format at Wits University in Johannesburg today, Wednesday, 29 March. The launch featured an eminent panel of local and international public health, civil society, government, scientific, and academic representatives whose discussion will be moderated by Mr Mark Heywood, Founding co-editor of Maverick Citizen. The commercial determinants of health are “the systems, practices, and pathways through which commercial actors drive health and equity.” The Lancet Series comprises three papers of which academics at the SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA, in the School of Public Health at Wits, are co-authors:PRICELESS SA Director Professor Karen Hofman and Senior Researcher Dr Agnes Erzse are co-authors of the first report of the Series, titled Defining and conceptualising the commercial determinants of health.

Landmark 4Racing Transformation Initiative sees 26% of the company transferred to a Grooms and Employees’ Trust, along with a wide range of historic Grooms’ benefits. Guest: Fundi Sithebe , 4-Racing CEO  Horseracing operator 4Racing has started the historic roll-out of a major Transformation Initiative to improve the working conditions and welfare of Grooms, including the upgrading of Grooms accommodation, provision of funeral cover and medical benefits, and a ground-breaking Grooms Trust that will give Grooms and Stable Hands a considerable stake in the 4Racing business. When the Competition Commission approved the transaction between Phumelela and 4Racing on 31 March 2021, 4Racing made a commitment to contribute to the transformation of not only the organisation, but the horse racing industry as a whole. In December 2022, the Competition Commission approved the implementation of the 4Racing Transformation Initiative, which will see a 26% shareholding of the company apportioned between a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Trust (BBOS), the beneficiaries of which will be Grooms and Stable Hands, and an Employee Share Ownership Programme (ESOP) being established for 4Racing employees. 4Racing has appointed an independent Trust Administrator to handle the establishment and administration of the Grooms and Employees’ Trust. A total of 16% of the company’s shares will be issued to the Grooms and Stable Hands’ Trust (BBOS) and 10% to 4Racing Employees (ESOP). Upgrading of Grooms Accommodation Medical and Funeral benefits

Guest:Oliver Meth - GroundUp Journalist On 11 June 2022, a prison warder at Mangaung Correctional Center sent an email to the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Phathekile Holomisa, asking: “Are you aware that the inmate who ‘allegedly’ burnt to death at Mangaung Correctional Center was supposedly assisted to escape by the Mangaung Correctional Center & Department of Correctional Services officials at the prison to escape?” GroundUp has since reported evidence indicating that the body found in the cell was not Bester’s and that Bester in fact escaped. He has been spotted in public several times since the supposed date of his death. The body in the cell has not been identified but that person who died suffered blunt force trauma before being set alight, according to a coroner’s report. 

Brian Mkhona, COPE Tshwane The City of Tshwane will continue to be without a mayor after the council was adjourned earlier today without an election. Tshwane council Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana adjourned the special council sitting to elect a new mayor in order to seek a legal opinion on the status of Congress of the Peopple (Cope) councillor, Justice Sefanyetso.

Guest: Josepho Mosia - SABC Journalist  This afternoon, members of parliament debated the removal of National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the developments regarding the Phala Phala committee. It says Mapisa-Nqakula is “irresponsible and acted unconstitutionally” on February 9 when police entered the chamber to remove EFF MPs who stormed the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa was making his state of the nation address. EFF leader Julius Malema wrote to deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli to consider the motion to remove Mapisa-Nqakula in terms of the constitution and rules of the National Assembly. Cue: Malema kicked off the debate with a celebration of Monday’s national shutdown, which he described as a success [MALEMA 1] Cue: Moving to the essence of the debate itself, Maleme characterised the speaker of the National Assembly as an instrument of violence and corruption [MALEMA 2]

Open ended discussion on corporal punishment as a form of discipline. Guest: Kerry Morrison, Parent and member of The Vent

In his recent budget speech, finance minister Enoch Godongwana missed another opportunity to put the brakes on binge drinking and save the country billions of rand each year. Heavy drinking can be reduced by introducing stronger regulations and the right pricing instruments. Even though less than a third of South Africans consume alcohol, we are a nation of heavy drinkers. This is because more than half of those who drink are binge drinkers, defined as having more than five standard drinks in one sitting. As a consequence, our country has the fifth highest alcohol consumption rate in the world. Heavy episodic drinking poses a serious threat to our health, society and economy, together costing us an estimated R277bn per year, according to research conducted in 2014. Adjusted for inflation, this amounts to a potential drag of R433bn on the SA fiscus. Studies also show that one in 10 deaths nationally can be directly attributed to alcoholism, and we have the highest reported prevalence of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world. The main driver of binge drinking is the availability of cheap alcohol and studies have proven that regulating the cost and availability of liquor will reduce consumption. Guest Nicklaus Bauer, Columnist

Universal Dignity: moving from the R350 grant to universal basic income makes BIG sense, is a documentary about what the R350 Covid grant meant to recipients and how a universal Basic Income Grant (BIG) could transform our future. Directed by Diliza Moabi and produced in partnership with UNICEF SA, the documentary captures the stories, hopes and disappointments of R350 grant applicants and beneficiaries as the policy unfolded. The narrative is supported by five key experts talking about the policy sense and battles for the future of the R350 grant, and for many, the call for a universal basic income grant to put bread on the table and to tackle the hopeless ness for millions of people against an unsustainable inequality that will, some of the experts argue, be the undoing of the South African democratic project. Multidimensional poverty is well captured on film. The sights and sounds of the hardships associated with deprivation provide a backdrop as beneficiaries invite us into their homes and their lives. Guest: Diliza Moabi, Documentary Producer 

Wits University students have taken to the streets of Braamfontein. The students were protesting what they allege is a lack of adequate support from the university for unhoused students and those with outstanding fees. Students have served the institution with a notice, demanding that all students owing R150,000 or less be allowed to register for the 2023 academic year. Guest: Karabo Asala, Wits SRC Outreach officer 

Guest: Prof Kopano Ratele | Author – Lecturer Parenting feature

Former Lagos governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won Nigeria’s presidential election, officials said early today, marking a victory for the ruling party despite the unpopularity of its outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari.  The opposition, including the campaigns of outsider candidate Peter Obi and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to contest the results, saying that a new election should be held under a new elections chief.  Just hours before the results were announced, the opposition alleged widespread technological problems, delays in poll openings on Election Day, violence and voter intimidation, and manipulation of results.  Pockets of protest, including in the capital, Abuja, emerged Tuesday, and political analysts warned it could spread. Leaders of the opposition and ruling parties urged calm.  • Tinubu, 70, known as a kingmaker in Nigerian politics, received 36 percent of more than 24 million votes cast, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).    • Turnout was lower than in 2019, according to election officials, with 27 percent of people casting ballots Saturday compared with 35 percent four years ago.   • Nigeria, a country of 220 million, usually has low turnout for its elections, but analysts warned it could be even lower this year because of a nationwide cash shortage caused by a currency redesign.  Guest: Collins Athuhegbe, Channel Africa correspondent in Nigeria 

“Proton Beam Therapy is changing the game in cancer treatment, offering a level of precision and effectiveness that was once thought impossible. This cutting-edge therapy uses proton particles to target tumors with pinpoint accuracy while sparing healthy tissue and reducing the risk of side effects. Johannesburg, March 02, 2023: In line with a vision to touch billions of lives with advanced cancer care across the globe, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), the first and only proton therapy centre in South Asia and the Middle East, enhances access to Proton Beam Therapy, one of the most advanced cancer treatments, to cancer patients in South Africa. Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons, which are positively charged particles, to treat cancer. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which uses X-rays or gamma rays, PBT delivers a precise dose of radiation directly to the tumour while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. This therapy is particularly effective for treating tumours that are located near vital organs, such as the brain, spine, and prostate, where minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue is critical. It may also be used to treat paediatric cancers, as children's developing organs are more sensitive to radiation. Proton Beam Therapy has some advantages over conventional radiation therapy. Since it is more precise, it can deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumour while reducing the risk of side effects. It may also be able to treat some tumours that are difficult to treat with other forms of radiation therapy. According to the 2021 Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) report, the most common cancers in South Africa are breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving cancer outcomes in South Africa. The government and private sector have been working to improve cancer awareness, provide cancer education, and support cancer patients and their families across the country. Guest: Dr Srinivas Chilukuri, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncologist | Apollo Proton Cancer Centre

South African Deputy President David Mabuza tendered his resignation to parliament ahead of Cyril Ramaphosa’s anticipated cabinet reshuffle. Mabuza sent a letter to parliament on Tuesday confirming that he’s stepping down. Mabuza had written to Ramaphosa in early January offering to resign to make way for the party’s newly elected deputy leader, Paul Mashatile, to become the nation’s deputy president. Ramaphosa said he needs time before making a final decision about who to appoint as his deputy. Mabuza’s resignation may now compel Ramaphosa to make changes to the executive. The vacant position of minister of public service and administration and the new position of electricity minister are among the positions that need to be filled. The president is also expected to name a new transport minister after the incumbent, Fikile Mbalula, was appointed to the full-time position of ANC secretary-general. Ramaphosa will make an announcement “in due course” about the appointment of a new deputy president, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement. Guest: Dr Sthe Mbethe, Political analyst - Politics & Int’l relations lecturer (UP)

Guest: Mercedes Passant

 Tebogo Tlhopane is a serial entrepreneur. He is a founder and CEO of Biomuti (Pty) Ltd (biomuti.co.za), a botanical wellness company that specialises in complimentary herbal medicine, including cannabis. He is also the Chairperson of the Cannabis Traders Association (ctaa.org.za), an organisation that strives to recognise and regulate cannabis-related products for health and well-being, paving a way forward for this job-creating sector. Tebogo Tlhopane comes from a family of healers, both his Grandmother and Mother are Traditional Doctors. He grew up in South Africa surrounded by plant medicines. His earlier career took him into the technology space, software development, communications and payment services & systems. He pioneered the world first handheld payment device in South Africa in 2002, For a period of four years (2003-2007), Tebogo lived in China implementing & managing massive payment gateway systems and consumer-shared services. Tebogo spent over 9 years in Thailand, where I founded a jewellery manufacturing business and precious stones beneficiation facility. Tebogo has engaged development agencies with cultivation projects that will create over half a million direct and indirect jobs for young people in South Africa. Gueat:Tebogo Thlopane 

As the 2023 academic year kicks off at higher education institutions, student protests have been ramping up at various universities in the Western Cape and of late, the Northern Cape. The disruptions are believed to have stemmed from student accommodation placements, food issues, registrations and payments. (UWC, UCT, Sol Plaatjie). Guest:Mandla Notywa

Parenting: Prof. Kopano Ratele (Co-host) Guest: Prof Kopano Ratele, CoHost Should a child always bury their father even if that father was not present? Is that too much

Guest: Lungi Mtshali , COGTA spokesperson The government has declared a National State of Disaster to enable an “intensive, coordinated” response to the floods that have devastated parts of seven of South Africa’s nine provinces. Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West had been affected by flooding, which was brought on by heavy rainfall as a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape had been affected the most. Guest: Lungi Mtshali , COGTA spokesperson

Guest: Donna  Rachelson, Co-founder  IgniteHer   There are promising changes in the number of female leaders both in South Africa and internationally. But at the same time, women are leaving senior roles. Why? According to findings from the 2022 Women in Business Report published by Grant Thornton, there’s been an increase in the prevalence of women in senior management roles around the globe. The report provides important insights into the results of 10,000 mid-market organisational leaders spanning 29 global economies. Its findings show that, since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the disruption to workplace practices and regulations has actually benefited female employees and managers, making it easier for them to transition into leadership roles. Based on Grant Thornton’s findings, the percentage of women in senior management roles increased to 32% in 2022 from 31% in 2021. Africa has been a trailblazer here, boasting more women in leadership positions in 2022 (40%). South Africa has been no exception, seeing an increase of women in senior roles for CEO, CMO, HR director and partner.

Last week Eskom board member, Mteto Nyati, announced that the power utility and its board is working on five key priorities to improve the performance of power stations and ease load shedding as swiftly as possible. Nyati said there are priorities that require day-to-day focus, whilst others require the power utility to be “slightly more strategic”. The five priorities include the 24-month generation recovery plan, which has two key elements i.e. to make sure that we have and we guard the performance at the current flagship power stations; and to make sure that the top six power stations where we continue to have challenges,  drive a thorough maintenance programme. Gueat:  Bertha Dlamini - Founding President African women in Energy and Power

Why do we still struggle to get fathers to engage and talk about their experience of parenting? Terence Mentor started AfroDaddy started as a place for parents, especially dads, to come together and share in the “duality of parenting”. But even as the years went by, he realised that, even though the landscape is improving and there’s a new generation of men who understand what it means to be a progressive, present and engaged dad, when it comes to actually talking about fatherhood, or joining in dad communities, or writing stories in media about our experiences…dads are languishing. Guest: Terence Mentor - The brains behind AfroDaddy 

The end is nowhere in sight for South Africa’s reading crisis. New estimates of learning losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic show that the country has lost significant ground in the battle to ensure all children can read for meaning The “2023 Reading Panel Background Report” puts the percentage of Grade 4 children who cannot read for meaning in any language at 82%, compared to 78% pre-pandemic. The new estimate is based on research conducted in 2021, which saw all Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners in the Western Cape tested in language. According to the reading panel report, if South Africa maintains a pre-pandemic improvement trajectory from the current estimate of Grade 4 reading outcomes, it will take 86 years to reach a point where 95% of children can read for meaning, GUEST:  Prof. Nic Spaull - Senior researcher in the Research on Socio-economic Policy group (RESEP) at Stellenbosch University in South Africa

Profile: Kgosi Rampa - Founder of The LoCrate Market and The Makhelwane Festival Kgosi Rampa is the founder of The LoCrate Market and The Makhelwane Festival. He was born and bred in Mzimhlophe, Soweto and he has an IT background. Kgosi studied BCOM IT Management at UJ Auckland Park and has worked in the Financial industry for years. He started LoCrate Market in 2014 with a group of creatives with no market access, so they created their own market. The LoCrate Market is short for the local creative and its main purpose is to be a platform for small businesses in the township.

GUEST: Bongani Baloyi - ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson To talk more about what’s happening in the City of Joburg, we’re joined by Action SA. Yesterday, ActionSA released a statement lambasting the DA for throwing Phalatse under the bus. The party accused the DA of allowing Phalatse’s political career to end and keeping an arrogant attitude towards coalition partners and the future of the City of Johannesburg. Earlier on today, Phalatse stated that she hoped she would survive the motions, but that if she did not, she hoped that the city's incoming government would be able to carry out the plans that the multiparty government hoped to implement. City of Joburg Executive Mayor ousted GUEST: Solly Msimanga - DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

 They are demanding that their electricity woes be resolved. They also want the “dysfunctional” municipality to be dissolved. According to Mayor Madoda Papiyane, the municipality owes Eskom R890-million. He blames illegal connections and decaying infrastructure as the major cause for the blackouts. Crowds of people began blocking the N6 between Aliwal North and East London at Hexagon Square as early as 6am. Public Order Police were called to disperse the residents. They resisted until officers fired teargas and rubber bullets. GUEST: Abongile Jantjies - SABC Reporter in the Eastern Cape Today, hundreds of Enoch Mgijima Municipality residents shut down the town center in Komani. 

The Tigray War was an armed conflict that lasted from 3 November 2020 to 3 November 2022. The war was primarily fought in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between the Ethiopian federal government and Eritrea on one side, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on the other. Guest: hasin gebremedhin

TRIBUTE TO BONGANI NJOLI  This evening we pay tribute to Bongani Mjoli. The radio broadcaster, DJ and voice-over artist, fondly known by his friends and fans as Bongs died in the morning of Sunday 22 January at Somerset hospital in Cape Town following a short illness. Guest : Phumzile Nteyi Guest :Lukhanyo Sitshongaye Guest : Sango Siyengo

The country is currently experiencing stage 4 load shedding, but that can escalate at any time and that will lead to four and a half hours of no electricity multiple times a day. This means South Africans are without power for six to 12 hours daily. With certain professionals still being able to work from home, how do they cope with load shedding? Most large companies have back-up generators in case the electricity goes out and stable internet connection throughout the set times of load shedding. Some companies went as far as downsizing their office space because of the covid pandemic and the work from home strategy. Do companies need to go back to the drawing boards and review their work from home policies/structures? Has loadshedding killed SA's newly formed Remote Working Culture GUEST: Mqondisi Gumede -  Co-Chair of 4 Day Week SA

Due to loadshedding, people are leaning towards fast food because they don’t have time to prepare meals. This creates a bad culture within homes, replacing cooking healthy nutritious meals with buying carbohydrate and fat dense items like burgers, pizza, magwinya and slap chips.  According to Dr Edzani Mphaphuli, Executive Director at Grow Great, South Africa is likely to experience even more malnutrition and obesity as the power crisis affects the quality of food we eat. Experts say the country faces a double-edged sword of stunting on one edge and obesity on another, and the impacts would be more apparent in about two years as some areas in the country experience load shedding for longer periods than others. GUEST:  Dr Edzani Mphaphuli, Executive Director at Grow Great