Negotiations between the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) for salary increases for the 2023/24 financial year will resume this morning. The workers belonging to the PSA which represents the majority of employees at SITA are on day three of their national strike action following a deadlock in salary negotiations. Workers are demanding an inflation linked 7.5% salary increase coupled with non-financial benefits while the employer is offering 5% percent. The Democratic Alliance has called on the Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, and Cabinet to ensure contingencies are in place and that the delivery of services continues undisrupted during the strike. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tsholofelo Bodlani, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Communications and Technologies

The Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into the building fire that claimed 77 lives in Johannesburg is set to begin later this month. The commission says the date of the commencement of public hearings of the inquiry will be 26 October 2023. The inquiry will look into what led to the fire at a hijacked Marshalltown building. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin caught up with Commissioner for the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry, Advocate Thulani Makhubela

Eye Care Awareness Month is commemorated from 21 September to 18 October to raise awareness about the importance of eye health. On the 12th of October South Africa joined the rest of the global health community in creating this awareness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least 2.2 billion people have vision impairment or blindness, of which more than 1 billion cases could have been prevented by simply doing an eye test.  Shortsightedness, also referred to as myopia, particularly becoming more prevalent.  If problems are detected early, management and treatment of the condition can prevent deterioration. The above statistics proves that an eye test is imperative to maintain general eye health. Elvis Presslin spoke to Ophthalmologist and Optometrist Gersha Arends. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a yearly campaign to raise awareness, educate, and support people affected by breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Registry 2019, breast cancer remains the most prevalent of cancers amongst women, and females have a one in 27 lifetime risk of developing it. Just five percent of women regularly check their breasts for signs of cancer. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says, there is help and support available. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor Michael Herbst, Health Specialist Consultant at CANSA

Veteran struggle activist Dr Allan Boesak, has turned down a proposal brought by the Patriotic Alliance, to have a street named after him. Boesak's decison comes after the party's statement of support for Israel in the Middle-East conflict. PA leader Gayton Mackenzie was attending a gathering at the South African Zionist Federation, and said the conflict there should not be compared to apartheid- and said that claiming so de-legitimises what black people and others went through. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Veteran struggle activist Dr Allan Boesak

The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) says it is both unfounded and baseless that it is worsening the crisis of loadshedding by failing to supply Eskom with fuel. The fuel supplier says it engaged with Eskom in October 2022, requesting that the national power utility provides at least 3 months forecast of their demand due to losses that were realised by PetroSA linked to the erratic spot/ or promt demand. The purpose of this request was due to a trend that was developing where Eskom was increasing a burning rate and that would culminate in spot buying of cargos in the market. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to PetroSA Chief Operations Officer, Sesakho Magadla

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo

Workers of the Public Servants Association of South Africa have downed tools at the State Information Technology Agency- SITA offices countrywide over a wage dispute with the employer. The PSA workers are demanding a seven point five percent salary increase coupled with non financial benefits while the employer is offering five percent. SITA is the government IT service provider at Home Affairs, SASSA and SAPS amongst others. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to PSA Chief Negotiator Zamani Dladla

Today marks World Food Day, observed on 16 October each year to raise awareness and take action against worldwide hunger and malnutrition. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), almost one in ten people globally are undernourished, and more than 3 billion can't afford a healthy diet. Conflict, climate change and rising prices are all contributing to growing food insecurity around the world. In South Africa, the Department of Social Development says an estimated 27.5% of children are stunted due to malnutrition. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Agricultural Economist, Wandile Sihlobo

ANC NEC member and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng has warned about the state of deteriorating municipalities. She was briefing media on the second day of the ANC National Executive Committee meeting in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni. Nkadimeng says while municipalities may be having difficulty in administration and governance - things are far better than they were in 1994. Elvis Presslin spoke to Thembi Nkadimeng to elaborate further on her sentiments