POWER Talk

The mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dogged by conflict for more than 30 years, since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. DR Congo and multiple UN reports have accused Rwanda of using the conflict as a way of looting Congolese minerals, such as gold and coltan, which is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones. This escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has caused a “massive influx” of widespread sexual violence perpetrated by the DRC military.

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After having developed her leadership skills and experience in the finance sector, Mpumi Madisa earned her way as the first black female CEO in the JSE top 40 companies in South Africa. Madisa even earned praise from SA President Cyril Ramaphosa, hailing her accomplishment as a victory for women in the business world. Today, Madisa leads Bidvest, a South African services and distribution company with nearly 130,000 employees and a $5.3 billion market cap. Bidvest operates in a range of business sectors including financial services, pharmaceuticals and freight management.

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Aerial Monitoring Solutions (AMS) focuses on the design, manufacture and maintenance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the commercial and civilian market. AMS was opened in 2013 with the aim of becoming a leading design, manufacture and maintenance facility for commercial UAVs. Having spotted a gap in the market, the company started designing and building the first of its UAVs, namely the Eagle-Owl fixed wing UAV. 

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Despite the positives of South Africa’s alternative energy boom for households and Eskom’s strained infrastructure, those who have installed solar systems are still being punished by the power utility. Lerato Mbele was in conversation with Daphne Mokeona, Eskom spokesperson, independent energy analyst, Tshepo Kgadima and Patrick Narbel, co-founder of GoSolr.

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Among African people, marriage is percieved as an intergral ritual and aspect of socio-cultural life. Lobola cultural practice is the first step carried out prior to marriage. This practice is respected as a foundation for family formation that allows the bride and the groom to connect and connect their families. Lobola practice has been handed down from generation to generation and sustained from time immemorial to this date. Lerato Mbele is in conversation with cultural consultant, Siya Mkhize. 

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The AI model predicted severe non-contact leg injuries with 82% accuracy. So, for every ten such injuries, the model would have correctly predicted eight. An early-warning AI system could provide coaches with crucial insights on which players might be at risk. Think of it as a hi-tech crystal ball, offering a glimpse into potential problems before they happen and enabling proactive measures to keep players on the field. Lerato Mbele is joined by Dr. Seren Evans, Physiotherapist and Research Associate, Bangor University. 

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The state of South African crime escalates day-by-day with concerns of police losing control over the rate of crime. In recent updates, more than 50 buses, worth about R150 million, were set alight across four depots in Mpumalanga. It is understood a group of armed suspects driving a white Toyota Quantum torched the buses at the KwaNdebele region of the Nkangala District Municipality on Monday night. Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said sixteen buses were burnt at KwaMhlanga while 35 were brought to ashes at Siyabuswa (18 in Maphotla and 17 in Thanane). Lerato Mbele spoke to Donald Selamolela, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committe on Transport and Andy Mashaile, crime expert & security strategist.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will convene the Cabinet Lekgotla on 29 and 30 January 2025 at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. This critical meeting, attended by leaders across all spheres of government, will finalise South Africa’s policy priorities and interventions for the year ahead. The outcomes of the Lekgotla will form the cornerstone of the President’s highly anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025. Lerato Mbele was joined by Prof. Sam Koma, governance expert and Dr. Metjie Makgoba, political analyst.

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South Africa is a diverse country with many languages spoken, so there is a high demand for translation and interpretation services. In the judge Mbenenge tribunal, Xhosa interpreters had everyone talking about their flair for the language, and the accuracy of the interpretation. However, there is a shortage of interpreters and translators. The South African Constitution states that citizens have the right to be tried in their language of choice. However, there are not enough qualified interpreters. In health care, most healthcare settings in South Africa lack trained interpreters. This can lead to language barriers that impact patient care. Lerato Mbele was in conversation with South African Sign Language Interpreter – Nthabiseng Ndhlovu and Head of the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies – Professor Alice Leal. 

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Wanatu, a new e-hailing service operating in Centurion and Pretoria, has gained notable attention, but it could potentially face legal challenges. Launched in October 2024 and funded by private investors, Wanatu requires Afrikaans proficiency for its drivers. While the platform’s app accommodates English-speaking users through a translation feature, the Afrikaans language requirement for drivers has sparked significant legal and social debate. Lerato Mbele spoke to Sandile July, Director and Head of Employment Practise at Werkmans Attorneys. 

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