Focus: South Africa has the sixth highest rate of kidnapping for ransoms in the world, according to insurer OELA. In the last quarter of SAPS crime statistics (2023/24), 3494 cases of kidnapping were reported to police. 135 cases involved the demand of ransom for the abducted. Since January 2024, R390 million has been demanded for ransom purposes.

While this may only represent 5% of kidnapping statistics, there has been a rise in express kidnappings where criminals have ditched long spells of captivity and shifted to 24 hours. The epicenter of these kidnappings have occurred in Gauteng. Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal are also being identified as a hotspot. To tell us more about these crimes and what implications the rise of this crime has on families as well as communities, we are joined by…

Guest: Dr. Chris de Kock - Crime Expert 
Guest: Willem Els - Senior Training Coordinator (ENACT Programme) at the Institute for Security Studies

Focus: South Africa has the sixth highest rate of kidnapping for ransoms in the world, according to insurer OELA. In the last quarter of SAPS crime statistics (2023/24), 3494 cases of kidnapping were reported to police. 135 cases involved the demand of ransom for the abducted. Since January 2024, R390 million has been demanded for ransom purposes.
While this may only represent 5% of kidnapping statistics, there has been a rise in express kidnappings where criminals have ditched long spells of captivity and shifted to 24 hours. The epicenter of these kidnappings have occurred in Gauteng. Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal are also being identified as a hotspot. To tell us more about these crimes and what implications the rise of this crime has on families as well as communities, we are joined by…
Guest: Dr. Chris de Kock - Crime Expert  Guest: Willem Els - Senior Training Coordinator (ENACT Programme) at the Institute for Security Studies

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The Talking Point

Rate of Kidnapping for Ransom cases rise in SA

This week, two ministries in Cabinet signed a Memeorandum of Understanding that may make a difference. The Minister of Basic Education - Siviwe Gwarube & Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture - Gayton McKenzie announced the implementation of Sports, Arts and Culture programmes in public schools. The programmes are set to make access to coaching, facilities and equipment to schools to assist in unearthing new talent that may represent the country. The programme is set to reach 13,5 million pupils. In light of this milestone, we wanted to hold a panel discussion on the future of these programmes for public schools. We unpack whether the plans set can be implemented, the challenges that need to be addressed given previous attempts to improve  access to these programmes and who are the potential partners that build a path where the nation can nurture talent to reach 2028 goals. We are joined by…

Guest (Telephone): Michael Davy - Retired school principal (44 years of experience) and Administrator at the South African Council on Sport 

Guest (Telephone): Prof. Ashwin Desai - Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre of Social Change at the University of Johannesburg

Guest (Telephone): Bongani Graham Chabalala - Chief Education Specialist for Sports and Recreation  Directorate under Free State Department of Education 

This week, two ministries in Cabinet signed a Memeorandum of Understanding that may make a difference. The Minister of Basic Education - Siviwe Gwarube &amp; Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture - Gayton McKenzie announced the implementation of Sports, Arts and Culture programmes in public schools. The programmes are set to make access to coaching, facilities and equipment to schools to assist in unearthing new talent that may represent the country. The programme is set to reach 13,5 million pupils. In light of this milestone, we wanted to hold a panel discussion on the future of these programmes for public schools. We unpack whether the plans set can be implemented, the challenges that need to be addressed given previous attempts to improve  access to these programmes and who are the potential partners that build a path where the nation can nurture talent to reach 2028 goals. We are joined by…
Guest (Telephone): Michael Davy - Retired school principal (44 years of experience) and Administrator at the South African Council on Sport 
Guest (Telephone): Prof. Ashwin Desai - Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre of Social Change at the University of Johannesburg
Guest (Telephone): Bongani Graham Chabalala - Chief Education Specialist for Sports and Recreation  Directorate under Free State Department of Education

Sports, Arts and Culture returns to Public Schools

Taking us to the weekend this morning is the internationally acclaimed Ndlovu Youth Choir. They have travelled to so many countries around the world raising the South African flag very high. They kicked off their Johannesburg tour last night (Thursday) at the Montecasino’s Teatro, which continues till Sunday, then to Cape Town. We have them in the studio now to find out more who they are and what we can expect from their performances….

Guest: Ralf Schmitt - Co-founder, Conductor, and Creative Director of Ndlovu Youth Choir

Guest: Sandile Majola – One of the choristers who has been with NYC since its inception

Ndlovu Youth Choir members performing in-studio: Nhlanhla Somo; Lungelo Masango; Sandile Majola & Madoda Mashoane.

Taking us to the weekend this morning is the internationally acclaimed Ndlovu Youth Choir. They have travelled to so many countries around the world raising the South African flag very high. They kicked off their Johannesburg tour last night (Thursday) at the Montecasino’s Teatro, which continues till Sunday, then to Cape Town. We have them in the studio now to find out more who they are and what we can expect from their performances….
Guest: Ralf Schmitt - Co-founder, Conductor, and Creative Director of Ndlovu Youth Choir
Guest: Sandile Majola – One of the choristers who has been with NYC since its inception
Ndlovu Youth Choir members performing in-studio: Nhlanhla Somo; Lungelo Masango; Sandile Majola &amp; Madoda Mashoane.

Friday Wind Down with Ndlovu Youth Choir

The Auditor General’s report has revealed very shocking findings regarding the state of municipalities in the country.The report found that only 34 municipalities obtained clean audits. We thought to use this opportunity to get reaction from the various MEC’s responsible for local government for them to talk about their plans of action to fix some of the problems highlighted by the Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke. We start in Limpopo where one of the things she mentioned is that municipalities in that province blew R280m on financial consultants in the past auditing year, with some hired to do basic functions like tax services and more than half found to be ineffective.  

Guest: Basikopo Makamu - MEC  of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs, in Limpopo (Acting Premier of Limpopo)

The Auditor General’s report has revealed very shocking findings regarding the state of municipalities in the country. The report found that only 34 municipalities obtained clean audits. We thought to use this opportunity to get reaction from the various MEC’s responsible for local government for them to talk about their plans of action to fix some of the problems highlighted by the Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke. We start in Limpopo where one of the things she mentioned is that municipalities in that province blew R280m on financial consultants in the past auditing year, with some hired to do basic functions like tax services and more than half found to be ineffective.  
Guest: Basikopo Makamu - MEC  of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs, in Limpopo (Acting Premier of Limpopo)

Rate of Kidnapping for Ransom cases rise in SA

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