It has been two decades since former president Thabo Mbeki declared the African Century. In that time, the African Union has built forward-thinking policy frameworks in the form of Agenda 2063 & ACFTA. It has also established development agencies to implement mandates (NEPAD). However, the continent has seen several military coups that have gone unanswered and humanitarian crises that require decisive leadership. Some experts have debated that the continent has never been more insecure than it is now. Our next guest is a prolific academic who has written over 100 books ranging from diaspora, migration, empire and globalization to intellectual history, religion and culture. He will be keynote address at the twelfth annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture. The theme is the African Union at 20, a commemoration of the landmark Durban Summit that took place back in 2002

Guest: Prof. Toyin Falola - Professor of History and the Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas (Austin)

Mthwakazi is known for her "Xhopera" performances, which combine classical operatic vocals with ancestral sounds from indigenous stringed bows and percussion instruments. Her music carries a message which emphasises spirituality, humanity, humility, peace, optimism, unity, co-existence, and progress as a way of living.

She has performed in SA and Europe as a Mezzo Soprano, Coloratura, Dramatic Soprano and Lyric Soprano with top ensembles including Isango-Portobello, the Olivier Award-winning Opera Company. Her performances are unique with extravagant headdresses, painted face designs and designed costumes, evoking images akin to visions.

Guest: Mthwakazi – Musician

The staff members of Coastal KZN TVET College have not been paid. The College has been under the administration and reporting to the Department of Higher Education for the past twelve months. The workers have cited that there have been problems with payments dating back to last year. In March 2022, its administrator wrote to the Deputy-Director General and Chief Financial Officer for the Department to assist the higher education institution’s baseline as it also has to pay other immediate services linked to residence and administration. The staff are also concerned that the college may close due to the extent of the financial challenges that the institution is facing.

Guest: Mlungisi Ndlovu - Provincial Manager (Kwa-Zulu Natal) at the Public Servants Association

Guest: Sam Zungu – Deputy-Director: TVET Colleges for the Department of Higher Education and Training

For our Africa Unlocked feature today we speak to Mbuso Khoza. He will be presenting a selection of Africa-centric music called iJadu Le Afrika tomorrow (Friday) till Sunday which seeks to reflect on the past and the present through music, which mirrors African history. He will also be educating the audience about Africa Day and what we should all know about it and our African heritage. 

Guest: Mbuso Khoza - Award winning vocalist and songwriter. Also an African historian

In the 2021 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he would break ground on the smart cities in Lanseria and Giyani. Our next guest was inspired by that speech and started planning a development in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality. At the end of this month, Nkuna City is set to launch the first completed phase of the project. 

Guest(Studio): Dr Mike Nkuna - Founder of the Masingita Property Investment Holdings

 We speak now to the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans Interim Committee. They have renewed themselves by setting up a committee that has been mandated to unite, renew and deal with the welfare of the community of former and ex MK combatants. Over the years, questions have been asked as to who the real MK Veterans are and which formation is being recognised. 

Guest: Dan Hato – Convenor of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans Interim Committee

According to the 2020 Global Healthcare Index, South Africa's healthcare system ranks 49th out of 89 countries. In the past two years, our local healthcare system has been under severe pressure due to the pandemic. With hospitals facing issues surrounding staff shortage and lack of maintenance of critical infrastructure, there are concerns surrounding how the healthcare system will recover as no new hospitals have been built. Beyond this, healthcare accessibility still remains poor and there are problems retaining physicians in the public system.

Guest: Dr. Rajesh Patel - Head of benefits and risk at Board of Healthcare Funders

Guest: Christoff Raath - Joint CEO of Insight Actuaries & Consultants

Guest: Dr Nthuthuko Bhengu - CEO and Founder: Alchemy Health Technologies

Today we focus on Hereditary Angioedema. According to medical journals, it is a chronic disorder characterised by sudden swelling attacks in the skin’s deeper layers which is caused by

a lack of a protein inhibitor in the blood. Up to 150,000 individuals are affected by this disorder worldwide. To educate us on it, we are joined on the line by...

Guest: Prof. Jonathan Peter - Unit Head of the Lung Institute at the University of Cape Town

Striking Sibanye-Stillwater mineworkers have vowed to remain camped outside the Union Buildings. They want President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in their ongoing wage battle with the gold miner. The workers, affiliated to AMCU and NUM, have been in Pretoria for five days. Sibanye-Stillwater, meanwhile, is adamant that its wage offer is fair. Let’s use this opportunity now to speak to a mineworker who is taking part in the sit-in to talk about the work they do and also why they feel that they need the amount they are demanding. Let’s now welcome…

Guest: Nolihle - Mineworker affiliated to NUM

As the National Land Summit is set to be held this coming Friday and Saturday, we thought to revisit the issue looking at where we are. But most importantly the aspect of communal and traditional land. Who owns the most communal land and under what authority is it classified? What is the progress of land restitution for communal land and why is it important to build legislative framework for communal land? To help us answer some of these questions

Guest: Nokwanda Sihlali – Research Officer at the Land and Accountability Research Centre

Guest: Constance Mogale – Coordinator of the Alliance for Rural Democracy

Guest: Bonginkosi Zulu – Chief Director: Land Tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Guest: Ayabonga Cawe - Author of the Economy at Your Doorstep and Managing Director of Xesibe Holdings

Guest: Peter Setou – Chief Executive Officer of the Vumalana Advisory Fun