Amandla.Mobi handed over a signed petition to the Presidency and the Department of Social Development earlier this year. At the time, over 58 000 people had signed the petition to bring back the SRD grant. Initially, the campaign began to outline that people were struggling to survive well before the COVID-19 pandemic and has highlighted the need to introduce permanent basic income. Amandla. Mobi has joined hands with organizations who work in social security to demand for basic income support. Earlier this month, the group protested outside of the Presidential Social Sector Summit in Boksburg where protesters demanded that the Department of Social Development urgently fix the distribution of the R350 grant as millions are affected. To discuss this further, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Koketso Moeti - Executive Director at Amandla.Mobi

Guest: Lumka Oliphant - Spokesperson at the Department of Social Development

This month, the Commission for Gender Equality will commemorate 25 years as a chapter nine institution. The institution was established under section 187 to ensure that would advance gender equality through policy development, public education, monitoring, evaluation and research. Despite this mandate, women are still faced with inequality in South Africa as it relates to paid work and leadership. Women are facing the scourge of gender-based violence and feel unsafe in their communities as attaining justice against their perpetrators is still the exception and not the norm. As we reflect over the last quarter century, we assess the victories and failures of the institutions. What are the ways this institution is finding avenues to work with stakeholders to build an inclusive, more economically productive and safer country for its women?

Guest: Javu Baloyi - Spokesperson of the Commission for Gender Equality

Guest: Qhama Noveve - Researcher at the Centre for Women and Gender Studies at the Nelson Mandela University (Ph.D candidate on Gender Transformation)

Guest: Prof. Amanda Gouws - Distinguished Professor of Political Science and SARChI Chair in Gender Politics at Stellenbosch University (former Commissioner at the CGE: 2012 -2014)

Ghana was one of the ten leading countries when it comes to tourists visiting South Africa. Coming after Kenya and Nigeria, Ghana contributed 13.4% of tourists to South Africa in 2022. Trade between the two countries amounts to US$2 billion. This week, a delegation representing the Ghana Tourism Authority and Ghana Investment Promotion Agency will join the Ghanaian High Commission as it hosts various networking activities throughout the week to provide new economic areas where the nations can show the benefits of the African Free Continental Trade Agreement.

Guest: Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey - Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in Ghana (pdf)

The continent’s eight regional economic communities (RECs) and two regional mechanisms collectively have 106 members. However, these multiple affiliations often means that membership is stretched over-capacity and potentially weakens their core functionality. For example, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is holding its annual summit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC belongs to three RECs: SADC, the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Kinshasa’s diplomatic capacity has been tested this week as Rwanda has been vying for it to cast aside the other two regional blocs. Are these intermingling blocs impeding economic development of the continent?

Guest: Izak Khomo - African Affairs Analyst

Earlier this week, we held a panel discussion surrounding the state of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. W e had members of the South African Municipal Workers Union. Last night, one of their members were killed and three others injured when private security opened fire. The private security were allegedly employed by the Council to secure the building. We are joined by one of the members…

Guest: Thandiwe Mahlangu Sibanyoni

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has just released a performance report on the work over the past six month under the operation Buya Mthetho. According to the report, the JMPD has made over 3000 arrests and responded to over 70 protests in the last six months addressing issues such as illegal land occupation, electricity and . Whilst the report outlines the concerted effort to heighten police visibility in hotspot areas, there are still concerns being raised surrounding the budgetary constraints that present a challenge in the sustainability of these operations and living in safer communities a short-lived endeavor. To help us unpack this, 

Guest: Brian Tembe - MMC of Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg (tbc)

Last week, we had a caller who shared their story on the challenges he has been facing with the Unemployment Insurance Fund in accessing his contributions. This sparked several calls from listeners from all over the country who are experiencing similar challenges. Today, we speak to the officials who are responsible for overseeing these funds to hear what can be done for our listeners.

Guest(Studio): Teboho Maruping - UIF Commissioner

Guest(Studio): Tshiamo Molema - Deputy Director Unemployment Insurance Fund

Guest: BJ Tshiamo – Director of Operations at UIF

Cleft lip and palate are among the five most common birth defects reported in South Africa. A cleft lip is a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip and appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip. While a cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. One in 700 births occur with cleft lip and palate. Children with clefts may have delayed feeding and language development. These children may also be at a higher risk for ear infections, hearing impairments and tooth problems. As we commemorate Child Health Month, we wanted to shine a spotlight on this condition and give parents an opportunity to ask questions.

Guest: Dr Paul Skoll - Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital

Guest: Dr. Thendo Netshiongolwe - Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon

 An independent investigator has been appointed by Gauteng Premier to probe the allegations against government officials related to the murder of Babita Deokaran. This after a NEWS24 article revealed that R850 million in fraudulent contracts were identified by the late senior Gauteng Health official. To help us understand these new developments, 

Guest: Wayne Duvenage

This morning, we take you to the Steve Tshwete Municipality after the Mayor’s house was set alight on Sunday. In February this year, a house belonging to a SAMWU member was also petrol bombed. The municipality and trade union SAMWU have been at loggerheads for quiet some time with some reports indicating that the unhappiness is around the appointment of the Municipal manager which the community is apparently not happy with. To try and get an understanding of what is really going on there, 

Guest: Motsibi Wa-Monareng – SABC journalist in Mpumalanga

Guest: Frans Selolo - South African Municipal Workers Union

Guest: Sello Matshoga - African National Congress (Mpumalanga)