NIGHT FALL

TEARS Foundation is the custodian of a comprehensive database, consisting of a network of services, to support and assist survivors of rape and sexual abuse nationally, 24-hours a day. In addition to the free USSD service that is available to anyone who has access to a cell phone, the organisation leverages technology and cloud applications to deliver resources for corporates and employers, schools, educators and clinicians. TEARS Foundation is a member of the Shukumisa coalition of over 80 organisations across South Africa working against sexual violence.

Guest on the line: Mara Glennie, founder and director of TEARS Foundation

SA Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 showed there were 6,632 kidnappings that year alone, most of which certainly didn’t make headlines.

The figure for reported kidnappings in 2010/2011 was 2,839 and the upward trajectory of this particular crime by 133% by 2019/2020 places South Africa at risk of being placed on a “consolidated watch list” of countries viewed as kidnapping hotspots.

Twenty-five countries, some of them “non-conflict countries”, and including Argentina, Turkey, Kenya, Madagascar, Colombia, Brazil and Mozambique are on the list.

Guest on the line: Andy MashaileGameChanger                    Ambassador, Interpol, #Turnbackcrime

 We are doing dreams interpretations tonight

Guest on the line: Mkhulu Gatyeni

Guest on the line: Dr Mpumelelo Ncube -HoD & Senior Lecturer Dept. of Social Work University of the Free State

Gender-based violence (GBV) should be viewed as a human rights issue by South African companies, who have a vital role to play in eradicating the terrible scourge that is currently gripping our country. Given that businesses operate within society and form a part of the social fabric, companies are far from immune to the social ills that plague our country and should therefore play a strategic role in seeking a solution to these problems.

According to Bridgette Mdangayi and Khanyisa Nomoyi, from the National Business Initiative; “Solutions require a multi-stakeholder approach. Due to the fact that business often sets the tone for what is accepted in society, it has a responsibility to declare a ‘zero tolerance’ approach for GBV in all its forms. There is no easy way to eradicate GBV, but it is important to strengthen existing interventions.”

The 2014 KPMG study ‘Too costly to ignore – the economic impact of gender-based violence in South Africa’ has been widely quoted in the media for highlighting that GBV costs the country more than R28 billion a year, which amounts to 1% of GDP. However, the cost of GBV is far greater than any number can suggest. Survivors of GBV are vulnerable in a number of ways – financially insecure, more likely to be absent from work, and often unable to achieve upward professional mobility – which means there is numerous direct, personal costs to GBV that are seldom recognized.

Guest on the line:Khanyisa Nomoyi, from the National Business Initiative;

South Africa's alcohol industry has welcomed the government's decision to increase vaccination mobilization in response to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, as outlined in President Ramaphosa's address to the nation on Sunday night, and to maintain the country on Alert Level 1 and permit the sale of alcohol as per normal license conditions.

“Economic recovery of the alcohol, tourism and hospitality sectors is paramount to protect employment and grow the economy to pre-Covid-19 levels. We recognize that the vaccine response can and should run in parallel with economic recovery. The alcohol industry has been and is still committed to play its part in increasing the uptake of Covid-19 vaccinations,” Kurt Moore, CEO of the South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (Salba), said.

Guest on the line: Kurt Moore, CEO of the South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (Salba)

The CCMA went through its referral forms.  Forms that require personal information will now have POPIA disclaimers.  Online referral and application templates includes POPI disclaimer from 01 July 2021.  An SMS POPI disclaimer is usually sent to parties.

Guest: Johann Preiss, National Collective Bargaining Co-ordinator from Consolidated Employers Organisation (CEO)