As the country is facing an energy crisis, researchers are coming up with alternative energy solutions. The Department of Science and Innovation, through its subsidiary, the South African National Energy Development Institute has endorsed the BabyTurtle project which aims to bring power to rural areas and informal traders. To tell us more on this, and also if I’m a person in the rural areas listening to this, what must I take from it?

Guest: Mmboneni Muofhe - Deputy Director-General: Technology Innovation in the Department of Science and Technology

Last week religious groups and various labour unions participated in an on-line rally against the looting of COVID-19 funds. The rally was organised by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. One of the issues that was raised was that of the protection of whistle-blowers. FEDUSA says that it wants to see more protection of those who blow the whistle against corruption. This is what Riefdah Ajam had to say…
CLIP-FEDUSA
LINK: You’ve heard what FEDUSA had to say, as far as you are concerned, are whistle-blowers protected by the law? Have you ever been victimised for exposing corruption in your organisation? While you get your thoughts ready for this discussion, let’s welcome……
Guest: Allison Tilley - Head of advocacy at the Open Democracy Advice Centre

We talk now to Business and Arts South Africa, they have launched the second leg of their Debut programme designed to provide information and skills development to emerging artists in all nine provinces. They are calling on artists to apply and to tell us more on this, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Boitumelo Motsoatsoe - Head of Programmes at Business and Arts South Africa

Last week Friday we received a call from Joe, a truck driver who gave us a glimpse about the dangers they face on the road. He describes some of the hardships on his daily journey for deliveries…..

CLIP-CALLER-JOE

LINK: After hearing that call from Joe we thought to speak to the truck drivers about their experiences and the things they go through to meet their deadlines. When do they spend time with their families? How has the lockdown conditions affected them? So many of them call us while on the road even from neighbouring countries as they are listening to SAfm. So today we dedicate this session to them so that next time you drive next to a truck you show some respect.

Guest: Romeo – Truck driver (Regular caller)

Guest: Norman Mathebula – Truck driver (regular caller)

Today being World Entrepreneur Day we thought to look at the state of entrepreneurship in the country and ways to attract young people. How do we create the proper appetite and means for young people to not look forward to finding a job, but rather create jobs?

Guest: Tebogo Ditshego - CEO & Founder of Ditshego Media

You may have heard in the news how Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that the four suspended SANDF members who were allegedly involved in the Collins Khoza murder are facing criminal charges. Mapisa-Nqakula says the four following legal advice refused to participate in the Military Ombud's investigation. The minister says Khoza's partner, neighbours and tenants at the Khoza house, all participated in the Ombuds' investigation. The Minister now joins us on the line to give some clarity on the issue….

Guest: Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Since the beginning of the lockdown, banks and other financial institutions gave their customers a payment holiday. Well those in the debt industry say that the cost of debt has shot into billions. This means you are being charged more interest. Is this fair practice though by these institutions and are we as consumers being cheated?

Guest: Benay Sager – Chief Operating Officer at DebtBusters

Since the lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, many companies had their employees working from home. But for many this has not been a good balance having to deal with children and other factors at home. Our guest says: you are not working from home, you are working while being at home. Interesting way of looking at it, but what is the difference and how does one find the balance?

Guest: Anja van Beek - a Talent Strategist, Leadership Expert and Executive Coach

Stories around former mineworkers are always heart breaking as many of them are either injured or suffering from some type of respiratory disease which leaves them in poverty. Well there’s some light at the end of the tunnel for them following intervention from the South African National Energy Development Institute and the Mineworkers Development Agency. They have signed a Partnership Agreement that will see the organisations partnering to bring relief to the country’s former mineworkers and their communities in the wake of mine closures and the ever-growing prevalence of mining “ghost towns” and other poverty stricken areas.

Guest: David Mahuma – General Manager at the South African National Energy Development Institute

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula is today hosting a National Taxi Lekgotla, which his department says will focus on the formalisation and converting the taxi businesses into corporate entities. They are also going to discuss ways of ensuring compliance with the country’s tax and labour laws. How easy is this going to be seeing that the industry has been self-governing for so many years?

Guest: Alec Moemi – director-general in the transport department
Phillip Taaibosch – president of the sa national taxi council