Last week we saw restaurant owners take to the street in protest against lockdown regulations on alcohol and the impact it has on their businesses. This time around an alcohol coalition made-up of the different industry associations launched a united movement called #SaveMyLivelihood, which they say aims to protect the wellbeing of one million people, across the entire industry’s value chain, from the catastrophic effects that a continued ban of alcohol sales has on South Africans.

Guest: Maryna Carlow from Wines of SA

The International Partnership for Microbicides, IPM has welcomed a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency on a monthly vaginal ring for use by women of ages between eighteen and older in developing countries to reduce their risk of HIV infection. The vaginal ring is the first long-acting HIV prevention product and is designed to help address women's need for new methods given the persistently high rates of HIV they face, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

GUEST: Dr. Zeda Rosenberg – CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides (USA)

Today being Tuesday, it’s time for our regular UIF feature where Tsiamo Molema addresses all your questions. Please remember to keep your questions very brief and listen on the radio for answers.

GUEST: Tshiamo Molema – Manager for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Commissioner’s Office

As the world concentrates on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, health experts are reminding us of one of the African continents biggest challenges, Malaria. The infectious disease has plagued the continent for many years. One then wonders as to why this battle was never won and why it’s still a problem today?

Guest: Sherwin Charles – CEO and Co-founder of the Goodbye Malaria initiative

Today being the last Tuesday of the month it is always devoted to answering questions that have been submitted to Bryan during the month. He picks out all those questions of a similar nature and deal with them on the last Tuesday of the month. Bryan is all yours as we open the lines to you

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

The International Monetary Fund has granted South Africa an emergency coronavirus fund of four point three billion US dollar. This was announced last night after a meeting by the IMF’s board members. Just last week, the African Development Bank last week approved a 288 million US dollar loan to South Africa as part of its COVID-19 response facility while the New Development Bank approved a one billion US dollar loan as part of its COVID-19 Emergency Programme. When government first announced that they will be applying for the funding, the SACP was opposed to this move and to get their reaction on last night’s announcement, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Dr Alex Mashilo – SACP spokesperson

When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week Thursday that schools will close for four week, SADTU’s general-secretary Mugwena Maluleke said that they were concerned that private schools would not be affected by the break. Private schools managed to continue teaching though other means. But then were they wrong for doing that? How do we address this issue of inequality and who do we blame for it? To help us navigate this subject, we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Prof Nuraan Davids – Professor of philosophy of education in the faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University
Guest: Buntu Joseph – Member of the Cosas National Task Team
guest: ANDRE GAUM – COMMISSIONER AT THE SA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION

The Eastern Cape department of education has defended the lease procurement option of the fifty-five thousand units of tablets for matric learners. The controversial tablets amounted to over four-hundred- million- rand. Although the idea of these tablets has been widely criticized, the department is adamant that they are vital for their target of an eighty percent pass rate. The department says leasing of these tablets, will ensure that learners are not left behind in this academic year.

Guest: Nandipha Tembo – Director: Asset Management in the Eastern Cape Department of Education

Gender and child rights activists have welcomed the provisional suspension of Ms K. Bodlani who was an acting regional magistrate at Umlazi, KwaZulu Natal. According to the Justice Department, the matter was referred to the Minister by the Magistrates’ Commission. A judicial quality assessment of Ms Bodlani’s work revealed serious irregularities and shortcomings, most notably that a number of her cases had to be sent on special review in terms of section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act as several serious shortcomings and incompetent sentences were imposed by her. This highlights one of those questions we sometimes ask ourselves about some of the rulings by judges and magistrates. What should we read into this and should we be worried about our justice system?
Guest: Kayan Leung - Policy Development & Advocacy Unit Manager at Sonke Gender Justice

Guest: Alison Tilley – Coordinator at Judges Matter

Guest: Prof Stephan Terblanche – Professor in the Department of Criminal and Procedural Law at UNISA

As you’ve heard earlier in the week that South African women's rights and sexual and reproductive health specialist Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng has been confirmed as a leading global expert on health by the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Dr Mofokeng now holds the title of Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health. She now joins us on the line to talk about her appointment and issues pertaining to women she will be championing under the UN….

Guest: Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng – Newly appointed United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health