NIGHT FALL

A new study by two researchers, Ihsaan Bassier from London School of Economics and Political Science and Vimal Ranchhod and Prom Vimal Ranchhod from UCT says minimum wage for South African farm workers has helped reduce poverty even though compliance was poor…

To talk about this and other issues faced by farm workers, 30 years after democracy

Guest: Colette Solomon, Director of Women on Farms Project

• State of farmworkers - 30 years after democracy
• The next elections - if farmworkers issues are raised
• Female working in the farms - the conditions
• The latest study on farmworkers and minimum wage

The International Criminal Court said today it is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Defence Minister, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other two Hamas leader on war crimes charges. It stated that the charges relate to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group, and to Israel’s military response in Gaza. A panel of ICC judges will consider whether or not to accept the application.

Guest: Prof Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor in International and Diplomacy Studies at the The Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, UNISA

We continue our conversation with different parties that will partake in this year’s National and Provincial elections. For the past few weeks we have been speaking to different Independent Candidates who will be participating in this year’s elections.

Guest: Tshepo Mogano, Independent Candidate

• First, who is Tshepo Mogano Jr?
• What led you to consider standing as an independent for these elections?
• What are the challenges in general campaigning as an independent?
• You are an independent in Gauteng…are you campaigning to go to the Gauteng legislature and what do you need or number votes for you to make it?
• Let’s break down your manifesto: First, what does your manifesto represent?
• You start by saying you want to implement the “Talion Law” - what’s that?
• Talk to me about some of the promises you carry in your manifesto (spend at least 10 min on this)
• Why people should vote for you?
• What kind of Gauteng do you see in the next 5 years if you could win?

The Treatment Action Campaign says according to its latest that - government’s HIV treatment strategy of supplying clinics with medications for only a month to three months stops patients taking their medicine. The TAC has also been protesting in different regions on this:

Guest: Morongwa Ntini Spokesperson - Treatment Action Campaign

• As the TAC you’ve been protesting, tell us more about that and research you conducted?
• You also mention people stopping because of the poor conditions in clinics…talk to us about that.
• What is government saying about this?
• If this policy could change, what kind positives do you hope to see?
• How are we as the country at the moment in terms of HIV infections and management?
• As we approach elections, and we read manifestos, is HIV management still a priority among the parties who are contesting elections?
• Today, the President signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law - what’s the view of the Treatment Action Campaign on it?
• How do we strengthen our health system in general?

“Many have started on treatment and then stopped because of the poor conditions and unwelcoming environment in clinics,” said TAC spokesperson Morongwa Ntini.

He said offering a six-month plan will motivate patients to stay on treatment as there will be no need for them to visit clinics often, while the clinic staff will not have to deal with long queues.

How far is the African continent in in playing a role in the world of Artificial Intelligence, AI. What will it do for the the continent and what do we need to do to get there

Guest: Yamkela Spengane, Technology researcher

• AI is taking over the world, where is the African continent regarding this?
• What kind of policies do we have in terms of developing it on the continent?
• Practically, what are some of the thing we can do with it?
• The slow pace of technology adoption on the continent, what it be contributed to?
• What does it really take to build an AI product?
• The state of AI investment in general in Africa?
• There’s been this fear that AI will replace jobs and robots taking over - can this affect us on the African continent?
• There’s this tension between the US and China regarding the leader in AI - talk to us about that
• Can it affect the world? (The tension between US and China)
• What kind of jobs are we going to have in there few years?

The National Assembly has passed the Basic Education Laws Bill. It was adopted in the National Assembly today and will now be sent to President Ramaphosa to be signed into law. A total of 223 MPs voted in support of the bill, while 78 voted against it.

To chat more on what this bill is about and what it aims to achieve I am joined by

Guest: Nomusa Cembi, Spokesperson - SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union)

• First, as the teachers - are you happy with the passing of this bill?
• A quick background and what led to the drafting of this bill in the first place.
• What is the bill all about and what does it aim to achieve?
• This bill proposes a number of changed to the SA Schools ACT - including that of of a school language’s policies and curriculums - can you break that down for us
• The bill also touches on other issues like: the introduction of Grade R to learner attendance, Code of Conduct for learners, Home Education, rationalisation of schools, abolishment of corporal punishment and initiations, language policy, admission policy, criminalisation of disruptions not school.
• Now, it’s going to be sent to the President to sign it into but there are still section of society not happy with it - what do you make of that?
• If it gets to be signed, how will it strengthen our education system?

………..

On something else, there’s been a rise in school violence again with learners attacking teachers or just teachers being in danger - as Sadt, how are you dealing with this?

As South Africa goes to the elections and wrapping up the sixth administration, would you say you’re happy with the state of education at the moment?

President Ramaphosa will tomorrow sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law paving the way for what some believe will be the universal health access for all. It’s a controversial bill as some are threatening to go to court saying it is unimplementable and unconstitutional.

Guest: Russel Rensburg, Director at Rural Health Advocacy Project

• The NHI becomes the law tomorrow but some of us are still not really understanding it…can you break it down for us?
• Will it cover everyone or do I need to subscribe to be covered?
• Practically, how will it go…if I am sick does it mean I can go to any hospital including private?
• If I have medical aid, will it still give me advantage?
• But, why the controversy around it and some people feel it will be hard to be implement?
• Is this something South Africans should celebrate?
• Why the NHI Bill?

The objective of the NHI Bill is to provide universal access to quality health care for all South Africans as enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution recognizes healthcare as a fundamental human right. It states that “everyone has the right to have access to health care services… the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of these rights and no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.” The NHI Bill seeks to achieve this by ensuring that:

• No one is deprived of the above mentioned rights because of their socio-economic status;
• One public health fund is created with adequate resources to plan for and effectively meet the health needs of the entire population, not just for a selected few; and
• The ultimate goal is to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

 What is the NHI Bill and how will NHI benefit South Africans?

• The NHI fund will cover South Africans of all races, rich or poor and legal long-term residents.
• There will be one pool of healthcare funding for private and public healthcare providers alike.
• The cost of our healthcare system, which is currently the most expensive in the world, will be reduced.
• When people visit healthcare facilities, there will be no fees charged because the NHI fund will cover the costs of people’s medical care in the same way that medical aids do for their members.
• NHI will narrow the gap between the rich and poor in terms of standards of healthcare.
• South Africans will no longer be required to contribute directly to a medical health scheme to get quality health care. The NHI Fund will be funded from:

✔ General taxes,
✔ Contributions of persons earning above a set amount, and
✔ Monthly contributions made by the employees to the fund.

Statistic South Africa released the latest national unemployment figures today saying the first-quarter unemployment rate rose by 0.8 of a percentage point to 32.9% from 32.1% in the fourth quarter.

The question we are asking tonight is; how do we bring more young people into the mainstream economy especially those in the townships.

Guest: Bulelani Balabala, Founder: Township Entrepreneurs Alliance.

• Surprised by these new figures?
• The issue of youth unemployment, how critical is it for these upcoming elections?
• Even political party promises to address it, but why is it stubborn?
• Our education and skills - what role do they play in driving unemployment
• As an expert on township economy, how do we bring unemployed people in the township into the mainstream economy?
• Young people in the township sometime believe there are no opportunities?
• When we think of township economy, sometime we only think of spaza shops. Can you break it down for us?
• The National Development Plan would like to see about 11 million jobs created by small businesses by 2030 - do you see that happening?
• What intervention do we need?

Personal fraud like banking scams, job application, identity theft etc have been around for sometime but seems they’re intensifying. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), says there has been a 32% increase in fraud incidents reported to it last year just last year alone.

Guest: Roy Retief, Head of Operations at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service

• 32% last year, what’s behind the rise?
• What are the types of frauds / scams you are seeing right now?
• 45% in banking fraud?
• How would you rate the steps our banks have taken to prevent fraud and are they effective?
• Which provinces would you say are leading with these?
• Online scams that sounds too good to be true is still a problem?
• Why as consumers or people in general are we still scammed no matter how many warnings we receive?
• How can we be more vigilant?
• What about people who run small businesses - are they also at risk in terms businesses information?
• But, criminals are becoming smarter now and always one step ahead?
• I understand you have a Fraud Summit coming up, what will you be discussing there?

What role can the supermarkets and small businesses play in fighting obesity in the country? It is estimated that Almost half of adult South Africans are overweight or obese, according to the the country’s 2023 National Food and Nutrition Survey.

Guest: Liezel Engelbrecht, Innovation Manager for the All children on track portfolio at DG Murray Trust

• First, the obesity problem in South Africa. How rife is it now?
• Here you are saying, we can’t beat it by preaching healthier habits alone…what do you mean?
• What’s the role played by big supermarkets in obesity?
• You are saying the overweight problem is not just people overeating…?
• What’s the relationship between stunting and obesity?
• What’s the role of supermarkets and spaza shops in this situation?
• But, do you see these big businesses sacrifice their income for a healthier nation…do they need incentives?
• A health nation - what role does it play in our economy?
• If everyone especially big business can follow this advice, what kind of nation could we see in about 10 years from now?