The Best of the Breakfast Show with Xolani Gwala

Stephen speaks to Roelf Meyer South African Politician

Stephen spoke to Chief Financial Officer Odwa Mhlwana who said they hope they will be able to pay salaries come December if talks with Treasury are successful State-owned arms dealer Denel does not have enough money to pay its staff their December salaries. The Democratic Alliance says it wants an urgent update from Denel on the financial affairs of the state-owned entity.

A full bench in the High Court ordered President Zuma to personally pay the costs of his failed bid to stop the release of the Public Protector’s state capture report. Judge Dustan Mlambo described the president as reckless, that he abused the judicial process and showed disregard for the constitutional duties of the Public Protector.

The Minister of Small Business Development, says that small to medium sized enterprises and cooperatives can be the main drivers for economic growth, poverty reduction and job creation in the country

FEDUSA yesterday met with the PIC about the Steinhoff matter. Stephen spoke to its General-Secretary, Dennis George, who said the Steinhoff story is the biggest scandal to hit SA and asked why the CFO has not been fired when the CEO had stepped down. The company's share price plummeted last week amid concerns about possible fraud that's cost pensioners dearly

With five days to go until the ANC National Conference, the ANC in the Free State is holding its provincial conference. But there are tensions in the province. Stephen speaks to aggrieved ANC Free State member Monnapule Ntamo, who confirms that the aggrieved ANC Free State members will be heading to the court today to declare the conference null and void.

Stephen spoke to the newly appointed acting CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Cromet Molepo. To paint the situation at PRASA,  he used the analogy that it is like driving on the road that is under construction, they are losing an average of 80 coaches across the country every month due to vandalism, and arson, they are staff  shortage. He said his priority would be the upgrading of the infrastructure, provide protection for commuters, increase human resources, engaging with stake-holders, and SAPS to combat crime.

Bonang Mohale CEO Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) says it is concerned over allegations of corruption involving both Naspers and Steinhoff.and Tahir Moepa Deputy General Manager at Public Servants Association who reacted to news that the PIC which holds public servants funds lost a substantial amount of pension money due to Steinhoff .

SA has been ranked last out of 50 countries in a 2016 study of grade 4 children. Four out of five Grade 4 children in SA cannot comprehend what they read, that is 78% of the pupils are illiterate, according to an international literacy study. Stephen spoke to Professor Brahm Fleisch from the Wits School of Education who said many teachers were struggling to implement the curriculum.

The Black Business Council has suspended its President Danisa Baloyi over a missing R5 million that was donated by ACSA. 

 

Stephen spoke to the Black Business Council’s Secretary-General, George Sebulela, who confirmed that ACSA had donated R5 million into their account, but BBC has not received the funds yet. 

 

Stephen also spoke to the lawyer representing Danisa Baloyi, suspended President of the Black Business Council, Lesley  Ramulifho, who said his client also did not know what happened to the donation.