Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has welcomed the increase in government funding for research and development (R&D) activities. However, he expressed concern at the general decline in funding from other stakeholders, as reflected in the latest national survey. Why has the funding declined and what sort of impact will it have on the country’s research capabilities? 

Guest: Dr. Glenda Krauss – Head of the Centre for Science, Technology and innovation indicators at the Human Sciences Research Council

Those who have pets know how they bond with them and eventually see them as family. Around the holiday period, many people take their pets with them on holiday. But, some organisations including the SPCA are discouraging people from doing this as they say it leaves animals stranded in an event of an accident. To educate us on this, we are joined on the line by….

Guest: Inspector Keshvi Nair - Spokesperson for the NSPCA

Traffic authorities say that poor weather and driving under the influence of alcohol are some of the factors behind recent fatal car crashes. There were a couple of fatalities over the weekend which has raised concerns with the Road Traffic Management Corporation. To tell us about the latest on the road and what some of the new trends are, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Simon Zwane – Spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation

The SA Human Rights Commission will be taking legal action five provinces which have not implemented norms and standards that aim to end the pit toilet system. The provinces affected are the North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. The court challenge will be the largest that the Commission will be biggest against government since it was formed. For more we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Fatima Chohan – Deputy Chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission

On Friday, we received a call from Mathaithai, in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape wanting to tell us about the problem they face as taxi drivers in the Eastern Cape. He complained about traffic fines and other issues pertaining to harassment by traffic officials and asked us to please invite a representative from the Eastern Cape so that he can ask talk to them on air. Well, my producers managed to secure an interview with one of the officials to talk on the issue. Let's hear now from Mathaithai as to what problems he is facing as a taxi driver ...

Guest: Mathaithai - Taxi driver

Guest: Charles Bramwell: Senior Traffic Law Enforcement Officer in the Eastern Cape Transport Department

Covid numbers continue to rise in some provinces with KwaZulu-Natal having reported the highest numbers by late yesterday followed by Gauteng and the Western Cape. The government is calling on more people to get vaccinated and to take all precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Guest: Dr. Nicholas Crisp – Acting Director-General National Health Department   

Trade union Nehawu in Parliament is calling for the appointment of a permanent Secretary to Parliament. The union is threatening striking action should there be no replacement for Gengezi Mgidlana who left five years ago. The Deputy Secretary Baby Tyawa is currently acting. Nehawu says the delays are unjustifiable. For more on this we are joined on the line by... 

Guest: S’thembiso Tembe - Nehawu Chairperson in Parliament

The song you’ve just heard will take many of you down memory lane in the movie, Shaka Zulu. It’s entitled Wemsheli Wami. In this scene, she is very young, standing with other maidens in front of King Shaka which was played by the late Henry Cele. Many years later she modified it with beautiful instruments in her album entitled African child which was released in 2002. What is it about this song that she decided to redo and what does it mean to her? Well let’s allow her to tell the story herself…..

Guest: Tu Nokwe – Veteran South African musician and actress

Many people with criminal records know just how difficult life can be especially when it comes to applying for a job. The belief is that your name stays on the data base forever. But the Justice Department says this is not true as there are categories on who qualifies and who does not. To educate us on this, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Liana Niewoudt – Legal Administration Officer at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development

Let’s turn our attention now to the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill of 2021. The part that many people are questioning is that of changes around the sale of alcohol on school premises. The department has tried to justify its existence by saying that it does not mean learners can buy alcohol on school premises. The main question for many is why it exists in the first place? To help us understand, we are joined on the line by….

Guest: Elijah Mhlanga – Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education