A massive increase in the number of vacant teaching posts should be a significant concern for every parent of a school going learner. This is according to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days who also believes that the high number of vacant teaching posts is a self-inflicted one and South Africans need to hold ministers accountable. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga recently revealed that in the last three years, vacancies in teacher posts had grown 28%, from around 24,000 to more than 31,000, despite unofficial estimations that there are at least 30 000 qualified teachers who are struggling to find employment. The Department of Basic Education has issued an order allowing schools to hire temporary teachers to address the vacancies.  Meanwhile , National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says government is not doing enough to stimulate the economy and that part of the issue is that the government tends to not act on its commitments.  To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days and Basil Manuel ,  Executive Director at the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) 

The 2024 City Nature Challenge is in full swing THIS WEEKEND during which a series of nature walks and events have been organised throughout the challenge which started on Friday and ends TOMORROW. Originating as a friendly competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US in 2016, the challenge has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, with cities across the globe joining forces to observe and document the natural world in urban environments. 24 South African cities and regions are participating in City Nature Challenge 2024. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ednah Sekwakwa, Deputy Director for Marketing and Communications at the South African National Biodiversity Institute - SANBI - .

South Africa's journey toward democracy began in the early 1990s with the end of the apartheid era. This era marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape, with the setting aside of racial segregation and acceptance of multiracial democracy. On April 27 1994, the first democratic elections were held after which Nelson Mandela, became the first black president. This election was the first in which citizens of all races were allowed to participate. TODAY marks the 30th anniversary of the democratic elections and in these 30 years, from the euphoria of freedom to the realities of today, the path traversed has been one of triumphs and tribulations, progress and setbacks. Some have described the country's democratic history as two halves: 15 years of progress and development, where life got demonstrably better for the majority of the population and 15 years of democratic and developmental backsliding.  To explore where SA currently stands 30 years after democracy Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to founder member of the UDF and former cabinet minister Valli Moosa and Political Analyst, Sandile Swana.....

Thirty years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa and in a year of national elections, UNICEF South Africa has just released a manifesto calling for children and young people, to be put front and center in the country's development. Under the theme -  'Manifesto for Every Child in South Africa 2024: Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE, the manifesto urges government, the private sector, academia and civil society to engage in and strengthen efforts to protect and prioritize children and build a safer, fairer, and better South Africa for every child. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Christine Muhigana, UNICEF South Africa Representative

 Mamelodi Sundowns' search for continental glory came crumbling down LAST night after the they lost 1 -nil against Tunisian giants Esperance in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final played at Loftus Versfelfd Stadium in Pretoria LAST NIGHT. Esperance went into the game with a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg in Tunis last weekend. Esperance will go head-to-head in two legs of the final against two time champions Al Ahly next month. There is however a silver lining for the Brazilians as they have qualified for the World club championship.. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Janet Whitton, SAfm Sports Anchor 

As South Africa marks 30 years of Democracy TODAY, SABC News is gearing up to launch a programme dedicated to marking this important milestone. In the build-up to the first episode of the SABC News' Democracy 30 Project, The Weekend View looks at what South Africa looked like in the days leading to 27th April 1994. Despite incidents of violence and bomb blasts in certain parts of the country, police still assured citizens that it was safe to go and vote in the first democratic polls. Speaking to the SABC, then Police Commissioner, Johan van der Merwe, said police had put measures in place to ensure that polling stations and citizens were safe….

The Mayor of New York City Eric Adams has hoisted South Africa's flag at a ceremony marking the 30 years of freedom and democracy in the Big Apple. The event, hosted by the Consulate General of South Africa and the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, saw the country's colours emblazoned in lower Manhattan with music and entertainment that was unmistakably Mzansi. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.

Mamelodi Sundowns went down 1-nil against Tunisian giants Esperance in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final played in Tunis LAST NIGHT. The two clubs are battling for a place in the final of the Champions League in a two-legged affair. The return leg will be played at Loftus Versfelfd Stadium in Pretoria, next Friday. On top of that -- Sundowns and Esperance are also fighting for a place in next year's revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC Sports Analyst Mathews Mpete for reflections of the game...........

Tributes continue to pour in for the struggle stalwart Dr Motsoko Pheko who passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The former PAC leader was a renowned lawyer, author theologian, academic and historian.  Dr Pheko served as the party's member of parliament for ten years, and served in different portfolio committees including Foreign Affairs and Safety and Security. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of the struggle icon. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Apa Pooe, Secretary General of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania 

Ahead of South Africa's national elections on the 29th of May, citizens are imploring political parties to make the energy crisis a top priority in their election agenda.  According to a recent survey conducted by Nguvu Collective, 85.5% of respondents chose load shedding as the topmost issue that needs immediate resolution. The survey also revealed that load shedding is a key deterrent for women's economic empowerment. Other issues respondents highlighted were infrastructure, crime,  unemployment and corruption. The findings will be presented to all major political parties ahead of the elections, to urge them to address these issues in their election agenda.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Molebogeng Tema, Nguvu Collective Change leader

The United States rejected a fairly broad consensus in the Security Council on THURSDAY when it vetoed a draft resolution that would have recommended the State of Palestine's full membership to the United Nations. Twelve countries including Russia, France and China backed the measure which drew two abstentions from the United Kingdom and Switzerland. But it was left to Washington's veto to sink any hopes of sending the measure to the General Assembly for further action where the State of Palestine was likely to win the two-thirds majority that would have rubber stamped its accession as the 194th-member state of the global organisation. Sherwin Bryce Pease filed this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Professor Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadeship at the University of Johannesburg and Ricky Mukonza , Associate Professor of Public Affairs at Tshwane University of Technology

The world's largest election got underway in India on YESTERDAY. The election - which will be held in several phases across two months - will see nearly 1 billion eligible voters cast their ballot. It's widely expected incumbent Prime Minister - Narendra Modi - will win but the opposition claims the polls are already not free and fair. Neha Poonia has more from New Delhi. 

Explosions that echoed over the Iranian city of Isfahan YESTERDAY were described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran has been playing down the incident and indicating it has no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war. Iran media reports say 3 drones were shot down. The limited scale of the attack and Iran's muted response both appeared to signal a successful effort by diplomats who have been working round the clock to avert all-out war since an Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. The Friday incident came a day after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  said it would respond in kind if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear sites, adding that it may also shift its stance on nuclear bombs. Many are asking whether this was really Israel's expected retaliation. Some analysts say this is only the first stage and a trap to test the waters. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to   David Vestenskov, Director of the Centre for Stabilisation at the Royal Danish Defence College in Copenhagen 

Ahead of World Creativity and Innovation Day TOMORROW, Aware.org,  an organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the responsible use of alcohol, has unveiled an innovative digital tool called The Drunk Goggles simulator. It is designed to help South Africans understand the dangers of drinking and driving and encourage them to prioritise safety by only driving sober. The simulator uses cutting-edge technology and allows participants to step into reality and see the road through the eyes of a drunk driver. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Mokebe Thulo, Head of Brand at Aware.org 

It seems to have become the order of the day for South African political parties to want to become embroiled in workplace issues. This initially gained prominence with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which involved itself in the affairs of two companies, the Calgan Lounge in 2018 and Gordon Road Spar in 2021- and to which the Labour Court took a strong stance. According to law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr , the Gordon Road Spar judgment,  needs to be heeded by employers who are faced with a similar dilemma and who intend to engage the assistance of the court. CDH says when an employer wants to interdict the reach of political parties in the workplace, they will always face the important question of which court to approach. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Asma Cachalia, Director in Employment Law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH)

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has resorted to drastic action to stop the widespread poaching of rhinos in the region. They have started an immediate programme to dehorn hundreds of rhinos in the province's largest rhino reserve. This follows the killing of 325 rhinos in the province last year, with more than 300 of the animals poached in the Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Park alone. The KZN slaughter accounted for nearly 65% of the 499 rhinos killed nationwide in 2023. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Musa Mntambo, spokesperson for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife..

The Umkhonto WeSizwe Party - MKP- has expressed disappointment after the Electoral Commission of South Africa announced that it had approached the Constitutional Court to appeal the Electoral Court ruling, which found former president Jacob Zuma can run for elections despite a 15-month prison sentence. The party has accused the IEC of going out of its way to exclude Zuma from the ballot saying the electoral body is entering political space and becoming a player and an arbiter. The party has also called for the immediate resignation of the IEC Commissioner, Janet Love, for what it says is her ' bias'. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Ebrahim Fakir, Consultant and  Election Analyst at the Electoral Institute For Sustainable Democracy In Africa - EISA

Several opposition parties were THIS WEEK left hot under the collar after fellow opposition and DA leader John Steenhuisen labelled some of them as 'popcorn parties' and  ' mercenaries " for campaigning in Western Cape. Parties such as Rise Mzansi, GOOD and ActionSA were not impressed by the comments and had a few unkind words for the DA leader. Steenhuisen's attack on smaller opposition parties comes as some pollsters are suggesting that the DA's majority in the Western Cape is shrinking.  A few days before that Steeinhuisen had also intimated that it may be a possibility that the DA may form a coalition government with the ANC after the May 29 election. The statement left fellow Multi Party Charter members like Freedom Front + fuming accusing the DA of turning it's back on the opposition coalition. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we are looking at these accusations and counter accusations flying within the opposition ranks and to help us understand the dynamics Bongiwe Zwane spoke to politics Professor, Andre Duvenage from North West University and Angelo Fick, Research Director at Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute.

 There is nothing inherently socially beneficial about taxes. Taxes are the legal codification of a long-standing social norm: that citizens should contribute to the common well-being of the society that they live in. This is according to Dr Sansia Blackmore, a Senior Lecturer at the African Tax Institute at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. She says  taxes in South Africa are generally not user charges; taxpayers receive fewer goods and services than would be commensurate with the taxes they pay. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr Sansia Blackmore 

Johannesburg will host the third edition of the Africa Business Connect forum in  August of  this year. The forum will bring together local and international companies, investors,  economic development stakeholders, as well as government and institutional representatives. It also aims to be a platform dedicated to the promotion of business opportunities to participants, access to an international network,  investment opportunities, access to financial resources and knowledge sharing. Start ups will also form part of the  participants. We now put the spotlight on their importance. The ninth edition of the African Tech Startups Funding Report, released in January this year , by Disrupt Africa -  reveals a significant decline in funding deals in Africa, with many South African start-ups securing funding in 2023 plummeting to the lowest level in six years. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Babalwa Mlungwana, Director at QUT Consulting and business development professional

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East. This after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. Witnesses have described the sound of explosions in the skies above Jerusalem as air defences intercepted multiple drones. Israel says it will retaliate. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC's International Editor Sophie Mokoena  .

Ground-breaking DNA study suggests that South African leopards may be unique. This is according to the study on African leopards  published in the journal PeerJ by a team of international scientists led by Professor Yoshan Moodley of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda and Dr Declan Morris of the University of Adelaide, Australia. The team investigated  mitochondrial DNA, which is only passed on by females, and found that all African leopards belong to one of two maternal DNA lines. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Professor Yoshan Moodley of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda 

The controversial e-tolls on Gauteng highways were finally terminated at midnight on Thursday putting an end to a system many motorists had refused to buy into and pay for in many years. Transport Minister Sindiswa Chikunga and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi led the celebrations as the government officially terminated the e-tolls. On Wednesday, Chikunga confirmed that e-tolls would be scrapped but said motorists would still be expected to pay their outstanding debts. The Organization Undoing Tax Abuse - OUTA- - however maintains that motorists will not be liable to pay outstanding eToll debt.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association for their reaction....

The City of Johannesburg took the fight back to the opposition after a row and public outrage erupted THIS WEEK following reports that the city spends over R3 million a month on VIP protection for top officials. The Mayor is reported to have up to 10 bodyguards who work in shifts of 5 each. Among those who are also benefiting from the splurge include the speaker and several MMC's. The DA and ActionSA are opposed to the spending, but the ANC/EFF governing coalition passed it with a slim majority. Joburg councillor, Thapelo Amad from Al Jama-ah, himself a former mayor, this week told the SABC that the current policy on VIP protection was introduced during the reign of Herman Mashaba when he was the DA mayor of Joburg.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Former JHB mayor and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba

In these challenging economic times, where consumers are struggling to make ends meet, loyalty programmes have emerged as a lifeline for many. The attraction of these loyalty programmes  lies in their ability to offer tangible benefits that ease financial burdens. These can be  cashback rewards, discounts, or points that can be redeemed for essential items. While these incentives empower consumers to make their income go further, you still need to be careful. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kinola Pather, CEO of bespoke customer, incentive and employee rewards company Randgo .

Limpopo Gambling Board and police THIS WEEK confiscated illegal gambling machines from foreign-owned spaza shops. Five suspects were arrested and were expected to appear in courts in Sekhukhune and Mopani districts. The suppliers of the illegal gambling machines are not known. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Limpopo Gambling Board CEO, Gregory Makoko 

 President Cyril Ramaphosa this week (Wednesday) signed the Judicial Matters Amendment Act of 2023 into law. This is in line with recommendations made by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State in the Zondo Commission.  Corruption is one of the greatest impediments to the country's growth and development. According to Transparency International, corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, and poverty.  In our Sunday Morning discussion we unpack the impact of political corruption and put the spotlight on accountability. This is in light of former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula , who this week resigned as both Parliament presiding officer and MP, amid allegations of corruption and money laundering.   To look at this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu ,  Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University and Dr. Sysman Motloung , political analyst from the University of North West 

TODAY marks the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.  Every year in April, the country enters a 100-day period of commemoration during which Rwandans reflect on historical divisions between the country's main ethnic groups - the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa.   Almost a million men, women and children, mainly ethnic Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were killed in the 100 day murderous onslaught that saw families and friends turn against each other in one of the darkest episodes of the late 20th century. President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Rwanda for the commemoration with some suggesting he may use the opportunity to mend the frosty relations between Kigali and Pretoria. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC News Foreign Editor Sophie Mokwena who is in Kigali for the commemoration 

Government THIS WEEK unveiled a roadmap to end the highly controversial but lucrative captive lion breeding industry. With about 7,800 animals in 348 breeding facilities, South Africa has the largest number of captive lions in the world. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a press briefing on Wednesday that, recomendations from a panel of experts she appointed to formulate steps for the industry's closure, involve among others supporting breeders towards voluntarily exiting the sector, burning of all stockpiled lion bones, humane euthanasia of compromised lions, and disallowing any new breeding facilities. This process started 6 years ago with a colloquium on captive lion breeding for hunting. For some clarity and reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ashleigh Dore, Wildlife and Law Project Manager at Endangered Wildlife Trust .

Zimbabwe YESTERDAY introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold. Central Bank Governor, John Mushayavanhu said the ZiG would be structured and set at a market-determined exchange rate. This is the latest attempt to try to stabilise an economy that has lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years. The currency replaces a Zimbabwean dollar that has lost three-quarters of its value so far this year. Zimbabweans have 21 days to exchange old, inflation-hit notes for the new currency. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Takunda Mugaga,  Chief Executive Officer at the  Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce ..

COSATU and its affiliate, the Communications Workers Union YESTERDAY marched to the National Treasury offices in Pretoria in support of workers at the South African Post Office - SAPO - and SABC. Workers at SAPO have been forced to face delays in their salary payments with six-thousand workers also facing retrenchments. Employees of the SABC are still in dispute over the payment of salary increases while a third have either been retrenched or forced into becoming freelancers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to COSATU's Acting National spokesperson and parliamentary coordinator, Mathew Parks

Banyana Banyana lost one-nil to Nigeria in the first leg of the Paris Olympic Qualifier played at the MKO Abiola stadium  in Abuja YESTERDAY evening.  The Super Falcons converted a penalty in the 42nd minute. That match  was not broadcast due to issues outside of the SABC's control. The second leg will be played on Tuesday, at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane. Banyana Banyana will need to overturn the one goal deficit to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic games......  Meanwhile Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating Young Africans of Tanzania 3-2 in penalties at Loftus Versfeld Stadium LAST NIGHT. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC Sports Analyst, Mathews Mpete...

ActionSA says it will be taking action against South Africa's unregulated polling industry and those in the media who have become enablers of political disinformation under the guise of legitimate polling. The party cites an article published on the 10th of March, it says 3 media outlets published a poll without any reference to the origin of the poll.  Action SA believes that polls in South Africa have no regulation and are open to abuse with the aim to influence electoral trends.  ActionSA says it will now begin the long road to fight for regulation of this industry, and will not stand back and allow the shadowy figures in the polling industry to operate with impunity. To discuss this  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Andre Francois Coetzee, Actions SA Chief Strategist and Mari Harris, Ipsos sub-Saharan Africa Knowledge Director 

The National Assembly THIS WEEK approved the Expropriation Bill as amended by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) with a vote of 205 in favour and 108 against. The bill makes provision for the expropriation of property, without compensation, if deemed in the public interest. It's adoption means it will now go straight to the president for signature and on to South Africa's statute books. The DA, Freedom Front Plus and IFP want the President to refer the Expropriation Bill back to Parliament or to the Constitutional Court for a decision on its constitutionality. Some like the South African Farmers Development Association - SAFDA - have welcomed the bill as a transformation breakthrough. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAFDA executive chairperson, Dr. Siyabonga Madlala 

Starting from TOMORROW Eskom will be implementing  a 12.7% electricity price increase, as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The power utility in October 2023 applied to Nersa for the approval of its Retail Tariff and Structural Adjustment Application and the schedule of tariffs for the period from  the first of April 2024 to  the 31st of March 2025. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Energy expert from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI)- Professor Sampson Mamphweli

Limpopo MEC of Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba YESTERDAY verified that the sole survivor of THURSDAY's* tragic bus accident is in good health. Ramathuba also confirmed that nine of the deceased are identifiable, however the remaining bodies would have to undergo DNA analysis. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  MEC Ramathuba 

 The Easter holiday has also seen thousands of cross border travellers throng the country's border crossings as they visit neighbouring countries. With it also comes an increase in illegal border crossings, illicit cross border trade and human trafficking. To look at the situation on the county's borders Bongiwe Zwane spoke the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority - BMA , Dr Michael Masiapato 

The horrific Limpopo accident that killed 45 pilgrims from Botswana on their way to the Easter service in Moria on Thursday evening has highlighted the dangers of holiday driving. Provincial and Metro Police Departments have also been intensifying roadblocks across the country to ensure road safety. Despite their blitz several fatal road accidents have been reported throughout the country.  For the latest on the situation on the country's roads Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation- RTMC.

How many times have you been really satisfied with the service you get as a consumer? For many of us it's not that many. In this current harsh economic environment one would have thought businesses will go all out to impress their customers to deserve their hard earned cash. Every interaction between a customer and a business holds the potential to either fortify or fracture the relationship. From a simple inquiry to a complex service request, each touchpoint shapes the customer's perception of the brand. Recent studies have also shown the pivotal role of customer experience  in shaping consumer behaviour and driving business success. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Khosi Ncube, Customer Experience Officer at Rentoza 

The biggest and popular consumer Lifestyle Exhibition Event in South Africa is in full swing. The Rand Easter Show started on Thursday and ends on Monday April 1st.  The theme for this year is – Bringing Families Together.  Held annually over the Easter period, the family-friendly gathering offers a wide-range of shopping experiences at their various exhibitions. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Adele Hartdegen CEO of The Rand Show

South Africa goes to the polls on the 29th of May to make their mark in what is going to be a hotly contested general election.   This year, voters will see three ballot papers rather than the two they are used to. This is a first for democratic South Africa. The change has come as a result of the Electoral Amendment Act that provides for the inclusion of independent candidates to run for office as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Moagisi Sibanda , General Manager for Civic and Democracy Education, Research and Knowledge Management at the Electoral Commission of South Africa 

 IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa on FRIDAY called for urgent peace talks between his party and ANC leadership for both parties to iron out their differences . His call comes amid a controversy involving the ANC's Siboniso Duma and the Zulu monarch's prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi during the commemoration of King Dinuzulu last weekend. The incident led to some ANC members claiming that they had been assulted, a charge the IFP denies. The IFP says it hopes it will be able to meet with the ANC to avoid violence before the elections. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Prof Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University....

Senegal is finally going to the polls TODAY to vote in a tightly contested presidential race that has fired up political tensions.  The presidential election is taking place after much uncertainty following President Macky Sall's unsuccessful effort to delay the Feb. 25 vote until the end of the year. President Macky Sall's unprecedented decision to delay the election had sparked violent demonstrations in the capital city, Dakar. But within two weeks, his decree was reversed by the country's constitutional court and the election date was rescheduled for March 24. The West African country has long been lauded as a stable, even model democracy, in a region rife with political crises and coups. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Adv. Sipho Mantula - from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs at UNISA

 Life imprisonment for rapists, the death penalty for murderers, and easily accessible clinics and police stations will be put in place for communities. These are some of the promises outlined by the Alliance of Citizens for Change (A.C.C) in its election manifesto launch in Cape Town YESTERDAY. The party says its manifesto, is underpinned by the concept of ensuring social justice. Andile Mbanjwa reports....

Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni, has appointed his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Chief of Defence Forces. Kainerugaba replaces General Wilson Mbadi as head the country's defence forces- who has been moved to the trade ministry in the major cabinet reshuffle in the East African country. Over the years, Museveni has denied speculation that he is grooming his only son as his successor. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC News Correspondent, Leon Ssenyange...

On Thursday THIS WEEK, the organisation 'Friends of a Free Internet' launched what it calls the 'Stop Thief campaign' demanding the major cell phone networks end profiteering and meet their commitments to expand affordable internet access to everyone in South Africa. The campaigners called on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom to stop the digital divide which they say is amplifying and deepening South Africa's inequality as a few enjoy high-speed world-class fibre internet connections while the marginalised majority are either excluded from network access completely or remain condemned to the slow and over-priced prepaid mobile connections. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Friends of a Free Internet spokesperson, Tshiamo Malatji 

Most opposition parties in Parliament have called on National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to resign in the face of corruption allegations against her.  This, as she had opted to go on special leave, while the allegations are being investigated. It is alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula received several bribes worth two-point-three million rand from a from a defence contractor during her tenure as Defence Minister. On Tuesday, her Johannesburg home was raided in connection with the investigation. Zalene Merrington filed this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to legal analyst, Advocate Malose Monene

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has confirmed that the death of former Steinhoff CEO, Markus Jooste does not have an impact on its on-going investigation relating to Steinhoff. This, after Jooste died from a self-inflicted gun wound. On Wednesday, he was fined four-hundred-and-75-million rand by the FSCA, for misrepresenting Steinhoff's financial statements published between the year 2014 and 2017. For some analysis Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Advocate Paul Hoffman, Executive Director for Accountability Now

In commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day on 21 MARCH 2023 , Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, together with his family, have launched the Mpedi Family Neurodiversity Studies Scholarship. The initiative signifies a commitment to fostering inclusive research and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with neurodiverse conditions and to increase the number of professionals in this field. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to UJ' s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi ....

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan , this week , announced that the sale of a 51% stake in South African Airways to the Takatso Consortium has been cancelled. Addressing the media after the Parliament's Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee meeting, Gordhan said there was agreement that by mutual consent that the transaction should be terminated as there is no clear path forward.  This comes almost three years after the consortium was announced as the preferred bidder to acquire the airline. Meanwhile , Cabinet says it supports the termination of SAA's partnership with the Takatso Consortium saying it had to prioritise the fair value, and ensure that the public interest is served. To look at why and how the SAA-Takatso deal fell apart Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Independent Analyst, Khaya Sithole  and Chris Hattingh, Executive Director at the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA).