A new study by research company Ipsos shows that the battle against illicit cigarette trade is far from over. This was the fourth such investigations by the company in 2021. The study shows that such cigarettes are available at more than 4500 shops around the country. For more on this we are joined on the line by…

Guest:  Zacharia Motsumi – Spokesperson for the SA Tobacco Transformation Alliance

 The management of power utility Eskom insists that it will not resign. This, despite calls by labour and business following weeks of loadshedding. The company held a media briefing yesterday where its CEO Andre Ruyter apologised to the public and business community but also called on municipalities to cooperate with Eskom. For more on this we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Elias Monage – President Black Business Council 

With so many babies and children abandoned as well as couples struggling to conceive, adoption can be a good option. But some have raised concerns due to cultural and religious beliefs. But people like out next guest have found it to be a fulfilling experience.

Guest: Thabitha Dolamo- Adoptive mother and businesswoman

As municipalities are starting afresh under new leadership after the local government elections, we speak now to some of the community forums to get their reflections on the outcomes. In some communities, the very parties they were protesting against are the ones they voted back while in other areas communities started their own parties. Let’s find out now from them as we welcome…

Guest: Samuel Mthembu – General Secretary of the Metsimaholo Community Association 

Guest: Makalakatje Phasha – Chairperson of the Sekhukhune Residents Forum 

Guest: Lungile Mxube - Interim convenor for the Makana Citizens Front (He is one of the community activists who took court action against the Makana Municipality leading to its dissolution) 

Following on from last week’s programme with the petrol price increasing and interest rates likely to rise sooner than we would have liked. Bryan picks up on what consumers should be doing to make their monthly income last longer….

GUEST: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

Our guest today takes us through 17 tips of becoming a better leader. She describes leadership as that thing you have to do, even when you don’t feel like it. Having been in the communications business for 17 years, she’s going to share with us what she learnt over these years. Let’s welcome… 

Guest: Tara Turkington - CEO of Flow Communications

Yesterday (Monday) we spoke to NUM’s Kangela Baloyi on the phasing out of coal as part of the energy mix. So yesterday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, AMCU wrote an open letter to Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe highlighting how unfair the coal deal is to South Africa and the fact that it is too early for us as a country to compare ourselves to industrialised countries. Well, to find out more about the other issues they are raising, we are joined on the line by…

Guest:  Joseph Mathunjwa – President of AMCU

Today (8th of November) is National STEM day which is an international initiative highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The aim is to encourage young people to advance in these fields which will their chances of employment and skills for the country. Last year the latest findings of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study revealed that South African learners are still scoring low on the international mathematics and science scale. What can we attribute this problem to and how do we fix it? To help us navigate this subject, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Crispian Lees - A qualified Engineer, AP Mathematics Educator, Physical Science Educator & Head of Education at Advantage Learn

Tens of thousands of Ethiopians yesterday (Sunday) rallied in the capital Addis Ababa in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Some were raising their opposition to the United States involvement. Forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front have threatened to march on the capital prompting a state of emergency. Commentators say that if the Tigray People's Liberation Front does reach the capital, it will destabilize the region. Let’s first listen to this report by the BBC’s Ashley Lime….

Guest: Sara Kimani – SABC’s East Africa correspondent (She will give us the latest and regional reaction)

Guest: Professor Mammo Muchie - Pan African scholar and analyst also Research Professor on Innovation studies at Tshwane University of Technology

As South Africa is battling to deal with its energy problem, news from Glasgow where the Cop26 climate talks are taking place is that the world is pushing phase out the use of coal. Pretoria has welcomed the deal as it will receive $b.5 billion to help it stop its reliance on coal. But what about the job losses in the coal mines? To get a union’s perspective on this, we are joined on the line by..   

Guest: Khangela Baloyi – NUM’s Energy Sector Coordinator