POWER Talk

Civil society organisations are calling for amendments to the updated National Food and Nutrition Security Plan to address and monitor affordability and food pricing and give people economic access to nutritious food.   This is one of the recommendations in a new report by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri). The report, launched on Tuesday at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, spotlights the struggles and the remedies people seek to put nutritious food on the table.   Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) Senior Researcher, Yvonne Erasmus, A Postdoctoral researcher at the Centre of Excellence in Food Security, South African Research Chair in Social Protection for Food Security, Dr Steven Devereux and National Organizing Secretary CSAAWU Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union, Karel Swart.

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The South African economy kept its head above water in the first quarter of 2025 (January–March), expanding by a marginal 0,1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.1 Four of the ten industries on the production (supply) side of the economy recorded positive gains, with agriculture driving most of the upward momentum. Household spending, stronger exports and a drawdown in inventories kept the expenditure (demand) side of the economy in positive territory.  Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Chief Economist and Head of Research at Rand Merchant Bank, Isaah Mhlanga and Professor at the University of Johannesburg Department of Sociology, and co-editor of BRICS and Resistance in Africa, Patrick Bond. 

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The State in the Free State asbestos trial has confirmed that it plans to appeal the Bloemfontein High Court judgment that overturned Moroadi Cholota's extradition from the US. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with NPA Spokesperson, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga. 

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South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. The country’s per-capita expenditure Gini coefficient, a measure of how spending from income is distributed, stands at 0.65. This puts it among countries with the most unequal distribution of spending globally.  Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with IEJ's, Dr Kelle Howson. 

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The City of Tshwane is the capital of South Africa and is the largest municipality, as measured by land mass. Tshwane is amongst the six largest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa and the second largest in Gauteng, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Tshwane region covers 6 368km² of Gauteng’s 19 055km² and houses approximately 2,9million residents. Tshwane consists of seven regions with 105 wards and 210 councilors. Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi spoke to Dr Nasiphi Moya, executive mayor of Tshwane. 

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The recent standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard University marks a pivotal moment in American higher education policy, with global implications on funding and academic freedom. Triggered by disputes over race-conscious admissions and broader ideological battles, the administration moved to suspend or revoke federal funding for elite universities it perceived as out of step with its political agenda . These efforts extended beyond financial penalties to include visa restrictions targeting international students.

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Gwijo Avenue, is an acclaimed acappella music group from the vibrant township of Alexandra in South Africa. Renowned for their extraordinary "Ama-Gwijo" sounds popular sung at sporting events, rallies, and traditional gatherings. The group was founded with the intention of honouring and promoting South Africa's rich cultural heritage. Gwijo Avenue aim is to establish this genre in the commercial sphere, making it a captivating addition to corporate events, television advertisements, and major global events.

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The Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2025, hosted in Cape Town from 25 to 27 May, emerged as a cornerstone event in shaping the trajectory of South Africa’s infrastructure landscape. Convened under the guidance of President Cyril Ramaphosa, SIDSSA was framed around South Africa’s imperative to reposition infrastructure investment as a driver of inclusive economic growth, structural transformation, and resilience against persistent service delivery backlogs. 

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Mthandeni Mangele who is popularly known as Mthandeni SK or Igcokama Elisha, is a renowned South African Maskandi musician, singer, and songwriter. Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthandeni SK’s music career spans over a decade, with numerous awards and accolades to his name. 

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Starlink is a satellite constellation system that aims to deliver global internet coverage. This system is ideally suited for rural and geographically isolated areas where internet connectivity is unreliable or non-existent. Starlink operates on a satellite internet service technology that has existed for decades. Instead of using cable technology, such as fiber optics to transmit internet data, a satellite system uses radio signals through the vacuum of space. Ground stations broadcast signals to satellites in orbits, which in turn relay the data back to the Starlink users on Earth.

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