As hospitals are battling to deal with Covid-19 patients, government is doing all it can to supply what health institutions need. The good thing is that innovators are also coming forward developing devices that may help ease the burden. The latest one is by a group of East London-based volunteers that includes doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs have come up with a device that will help to supply oxygen to COVID-19 patients and help keep their lungs from collapsing.
Guest: Dr. Craig Parker - Lead doctor on Oxygen-Efficient Respiratory Aid project

The Eastern Cape government says it will launch a forensic probe into the finances of the troubled Amathole District Municipality. This will be the second forensic probe in the entity after the conclusion of one in 20-19. The move comes after the cash strapped district municipality announced it wouldn't be able to pay the salaries of its employees, councillors and traditional leaders for at least four months. Yanga Funani filed this report…

Guest: Cllr Khanyile Maneli - executive mayor of the amathole distrct municipality

The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday expressed their sadness at news that the Hilton Hotel in Durban has shut its doors. The department is hoping to work with the hotel to reopen to avoid job losses.

Guest: Ravi Pillay – MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal

How to navigate January and how can people regroup their finances?

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

President Ramaphosa last night outlined government's strategy in rolling out coronavirus vaccines. He says that 20 million doses have been secured through negotiations with manufactures for this year and most of that should arrive in the first half of the year. This is in addition to the doses for ten percent of the population that are expected in the country in terms of the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative. For a perspective on government’s plan,

Guest: Prof Shabbir Madhi – Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University

CEO of the South African SA Civil Aviation Authority led a team of inspectors around the country’s major airports to look at whether they are complying with Covid-19 regulations. Let’s find out now from her why she decided to conduct an inspection and what it is she found. Also what should the traveling public know about compliance at airports?

Guest: Poppy Khoza - Chief executive officer of the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

Hundreds of travellers at the Lebombo Border Post, linking Mozambique and South Africa are still frustrated as they are forced to queue for too long waiting to go through the border. Authorities confirmed that the long queues are caused by the COVID-19 testing procedure as many Mozambican citizens and other travellers are making their way to South Africa…

Guest: Bongani Bongo - Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs

We start off the year by looking back at the ANC’s January 8 statement for 2021. On Friday the party’s President Cyril Ramphosa said that drawing on the strength of its forefathers, the ANC will forge ahead towards unity and integrity. Delivering a virtual address of the party's January 8 Statement to mark the ANC's 109th anniversary, Ramaphosa said over the decades, the organisation has been weakened by corruption and internal conflict. He renewed the party's commitment to unity and forging ahead to steer the country towards overcoming the impact of the Covid-19…

Guest: Mcebisi Ndletyana-Professor of Politics at the University of Joburg

As the country is preparing a strategy to rollout vaccinations, all sorts of reports are emerging of the different treatments being offered. One of those is the prescription of ivermectin which is said to be registered for use in the treatment and control of parasites in animals. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority is appealing for it not to be prescribed for Covid-19 until its safety and efficacy is verified.

Guest: Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela – CEO of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority

When one drives around our cities, many of the street names have changed in honour of those who took part in the struggle against apartheid. Well this morning as part remembering liberation movements, we thought to speak to one former activist who is lucky to have a street named after him while he’s still alive. Isaac Peloeng was an activist in the 80’s and has a street named after him in the Vryburg township of Huhudi in the North West Province. That’s where Thandi Modise, Speaker of the National Assembly comes from. Isaac now joins us on the line to tell us about what made him become an activist and looking back today, would he say it was worth it? Also his views on the honour bestowed on him to have a street named after him…
Guest: Isaac Peloeng – Former member of the Huhudi Civic Association and activist in the then Bophuthatswana era in the 80’s