A new report by the Teddy Bear Foundation has brought into focus the alarmingly low conviction rates of child abuse cases in South Africa. In the report, only 4% of over 5000 child abuse cases result in convictions. In this hour, we unpack the report and ask if specialized courts are proving an effective intervention to safeguard children's rights

Guest: Dr Shaheda Omar - Executive Director of the TeddyBear Foundation

Guest: Joan van Niekerk - Child Rights Activist

A new report by the Teddy Bear Foundation has brought into focus the alarmingly low conviction rates of child abuse cases in South Africa. In the report, only 4% of over 5000 child abuse cases result in convictions. In this hour, we unpack the report and ask if specialized courts are proving an effective intervention to safeguard children's rights
Guest: Dr Shaheda Omar - Executive Director of the TeddyBear Foundation
Guest: Joan van Niekerk - Child Rights Activist

Newsmakers and Guest Experts offer their insights and perspectives into the national and global discourse on politics, economics, education, social matters and comprehensive dialogues on cultural diversity and other essential issues of public interest like, poverty alleviation, unemployment rate and health related issues.

NewsmakersandGuestExpertsoffertheirinsightsandperspectivesintothenationalandglobaldiscourseonpolitics,economics,education,socialmattersandcomprehensivedialoguesonculturaldiversityandotheressentialissuesofpublicinterestlike,...

The Talking Point

Low conviction rate in child abuse is a cause for concern in SA  

Overnight, the National Treasury announced that VAT would remain at 15% and three new bills will be tabled: the Rates, Division of Revenue and Appropriation Bill will be enforced. In light of the developing story, we discuss what happens next in the process at Parliament and the National Treasury. The 2025-26 annual Budget has been subjected to unprecedented interrogation and deliberation. Our next guest wrote an article in which he identified two interrelated issues that have not been debated with sufficient rigour: the overall economic strategy in the budget and the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). 

Guest: Imraan Valodia - Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director: Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand (Note: He will not comment on legal proceedings for the urgent interdict at Western Cape High Court)

Guest: Adv. Benjamin Cronin  - Lecturer in the Department of Commercial Law and an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa

Overnight, the National Treasury announced that VAT would remain at 15% and three new bills will be tabled: the Rates, Division of Revenue and Appropriation Bill will be enforced. In light of the developing story, we discuss what happens next in the process at Parliament and the National Treasury. The 2025-26 annual Budget has been subjected to unprecedented interrogation and deliberation. Our next guest wrote an article in which he identified two interrelated issues that have not been debated with sufficient rigour: the overall economic strategy in the budget and the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).&nbsp;
Guest: Imraan Valodia - Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director: Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand (Note: He will not comment on legal proceedings for the urgent interdict at Western Cape High Court)
Guest: Adv. Benjamin Cronin&nbsp; - Lecturer in the Department of Commercial Law and an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa

VAT Hike & the impact on our grocery baskets

This morning we focus on how municipalities are said to be have only spent R12.8 billion of the R44.1 billion of the conditional grants allocated to them. This came out of a webinar hosted by the National Treasury. Conditional grants are funds allocated by the national government to municipalities for services like infrastructure development, housing and public transport upgrades. According to Section 21 of the Division of Revenue Act,  any conditional allocation or portion not spent by the end of the financial year reverts to the National Revenue Fund (NRF) unless the roll-over of the allocation is approved. This of course raises a lot of questions seeing how municipalities don’t seem to be using these funds as many of them are crumbling as if this grant does not exist. So then, what could be some of the reasons why this is happening? To get an understanding on this, we are joined by...

Guest: Miyelani Holeni – Chief Group Advisor at Ntiyiso Consulting Group

Guest: Dikeledi Direko - Member ofParliament’s Portfolio Committee on COGTA

Guest: Zinzi Mphahlele - Manger: Budget and Reporting at the Polokwane Municipality

This morning we focus on how municipalities are said to be have only spent R12.8 billion of the R44.1 billion of the conditional grants allocated to them. This came out of a webinar hosted by the National Treasury. Conditional grants are funds allocated by the national government to municipalities for services like infrastructure development, housing and public transport upgrades. According to Section 21 of the Division of Revenue Act,&nbsp; any conditional allocation or portion not spent by the end of the financial year reverts to the National Revenue Fund (NRF) unless the roll-over of the allocation is approved. This of course raises a lot of questions seeing how municipalities don&rsquo;t seem to be using these funds as many of them are crumbling as if this grant does not exist. So then, what could be some of the reasons why this is happening? To get an understanding on this, we are joined by...
Guest: Miyelani Holeni &ndash; Chief Group Advisor at Ntiyiso Consulting Group
Guest: Dikeledi Direko - Member of Parliament&rsquo;s Portfolio Committee on COGTA
Guest: Zinzi Mphahlele - Manger: Budget and Reporting at the Polokwane Municipality

Municipal Watch: Municipalities blow billions in unused grants: How does that happen?

Guest: Esteani Marx - Business Development Executive at Lightstone Properties

In South Africa, the general valuation of a property significantly impacts rates and taxes. The municipality compiles a general valuation roll, which includes the market value of all rateable properties. The municipality uses the property's market value to calculate the amount of rates and taxes charged. This value is then multiplied by a rate in the rand (determined by the municipal council) to arrive at the final property rates amount. If the valuation increases, so too will the rates and taxes, and vice versa. City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are currently running this process in the month of May and June. Our next guest will help us navigate how the general valuation roll will affect homeowners and what listeners need to know before the deadlines. G20 series with Lerato Tsebe

 

Guest: Esteani Marx - Business Development Executive at Lightstone Properties
In South Africa, the general valuation of a property significantly impacts rates and taxes. The municipality compiles a general valuation roll, which includes the market value of all rateable properties. The municipality uses the property's market value to calculate the amount of rates and taxes charged. This value is then multiplied by a rate in the rand (determined by the municipal council) to arrive at the final property rates amount. If the valuation increases, so too will the rates and taxes, and vice versa. City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are currently running this process in the month of May and June. Our next guest will help us navigate how the general valuation roll will affect homeowners and what listeners need to know before the deadlines. G20 series with Lerato Tsebe
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Low conviction rate in child abuse is a cause for concern in SA

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