A new study has found that communities exposed to disaster

(natural, protest action and others) are likely to experience depression in the long-term. The study showed that those worst-affected are black women, uneducated and poor communities.

This is according to the findings of a decade-long study of more than 17 000 South Africans conducted by UKZN and international researchers. the first study of its kind in South Africa based on national-level evidence to link the first onset of depression to a community disaster.

Guest: Dr Andrew Tomita - Senior Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Newly appointed National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola deployed a thirty-man tactical response team with over twenty members from public order policing. The team also includes officials from the national intervention unit. This response team has been stationed in Diepsloot since Wednesday night after violent protests in the area. On Thursday, the Police Commissioner said that further discussions with the Diepsloot community would determine how long special forces were deployed to the area.

Guest: David Bruce - Independent Researcher

A coup military tribunal in Burkina Faso yesterday (Wed) sentenced former president Blaise Compaore to life imprisonment for complicity in the 1987 murder of his predecessor Thomas Sankarain. Sankara was gunned down in the West African nation's capital Ouagadougou at the age of 37, four years after he took power in an uprising. Compaore was charged in absentia along with his former head of security Hyacinthe Kafando, who was also sentenced to life imprisonment. Both have previously denied any involvement in Sankara's death along with 12 other defendants accused of involvement in the plot. How should we interpret this development and what message is it sending for the continent?

Guest: Nixon Katembo - African Affairs analyst and language specialist at channel Africa Kiswahili desk

Let’s tell you now about the Student Debt Stokvel campaign. Many people till today know the pain of having to deal with student debt. It’s just one of those things that one does not really have a choice, but to take it in order to study. Well, there may be a solution in the form of s student debt stokvel. What is it exactly and how can those in debt take part in it?

Guest: Tsietsi Ngobese – CEO of Wesolve4X

The African Rail Industry Association says that it welcomes Transnet’s commitment to invite the private sector to bid for slots on the national rail network. They say that this is work in progress for attracting major investments into the sector and unlocking significant benefits for the broader economy and create massive job opportunities.

Guest: Mesela Nhlapo – CEO of the African Rail Industry Association

The National Food and Nutrition Security Survey begins in their third phase in Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal this coming Monday. These include the head of the household and/or the person responsible for food procurement and food preparation. Other participants will include children under the age of 5 years and biological mothers of children in this age group. This phase starts mere days after the release of a tragic news report (Daily Maverick) indicating that 14 children under the age of five starved to death in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape’s biggest metro in the last 15 months. Another 216 new cases of severe acute malnutrition were confirmed.

Guest: Dr Shingirirai Mutanga, Research Group Leader (RGL), Climate Services, Smart Places at CSIR. (Principal Investigator of the Human Sciences Research Council study)

Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started, media coverage around it became a focal point with commentators around the world looking at who drives the narrative. We’ve seen how the international media was choosing the different angles and views to portray a particular narrative that was sometimes viewed as choosing sides. Well, last week Media Monitoring Africa, the Goethe Institut, IFA and the German Embassy hosted a panel discussion where the different experts gave their own views at how the media has been covering the war and the picture that was drawn.

Guest: Thandi Smith – Head of Programmes at Media Monitoring Africa

Guest: Avani Singh - Independent legal consultant and digital rights specialist

Guest: Dzvinka Kachur - Fellow at the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, Stellenbosch University

Guest: Prof Everisto Benyera - Associate Professor of African Politics in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa

This morning, we will be discussing the medical condition of acid reflux. According to medical experts, acid reflux is when stomach acids go up the digestive tract causing irritation of the esophagus. This results in symptoms such as heartburn, a sore throat and chest pain. Given this context, many grab a Rennies or antacids for instant relief but how useful are these remedies in the long-term?

Guest: Prof. Damon Bizos - Gastroenterologist and Clinical Head of Surgery at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre

President Cyril Ramaphosa has named Thulas Nxesi, the minister of Labour and Employment as the acting minister for the Department of Public Service and Administration. The departure of Ayanda Dlodlo as the political principal of the public service department has left some cabinet members nervous about a possible reshuffle. The previous cabinet reshuffle took place after the July Unrest and caught some ministers napping.

Guest: Hajra Omarjee - Political Editor of Business Day

Last week Tuesday we spoke to a representative from the Senwabarwana community who spoke about issues of poor service delivery in their area. He was joined by Peter Moruthane who is spokesperson for the Blouberg Local Municipality. He could not answer questions on water and poor road infrastructure as they don’t fall under their jurisdiction. So we then invited the people who are responsible for roads and water to hear what they have to say regarding this issue. Let’s welcome now from our Polokwane studio…. 

Guest: Dr Dickson Masemola – Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure

Guest: Cllr Mamedupi Tefo – Executive Mayor at Capricorn District Municipality 

Guest: Sanny Mannya – Chairperson of the Blouberg Civic Organisation