President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced further restrictions that will come into effect at midnight tonight across the country. This as the country experiences a second wave of coronavirus infections. Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the President says part of the new restrictions is the limitation on the number of people attending large gatherings to 100 people for indoor and 250 for outdoor events. The curfew has been extended from 11pm to 4am and restaurants must close at 10pm. Let’s listen to some of the highlights from last night….

CLIP-RAMAPHOSA-MEASURES

LINK: Now that the president has spoken and pleaded with all of us to do the right thing. What do we do to avoid a further escalation of the pandemic? What should we make of what he said?

Guest: Dr. Nonhlanhla Mbenenge-Clinical Virologist at Wits University

Gift of the Givers has heeded the desperate call for help in the Eastern Cape. As you may have heard in the news over the past few weeks how that hospitals are not coping as health workers are overworked due to an increasing number of patients.

Guest: Imtiaz Sooliman – Founder of Gift of the Givers

We talk now about how Covid-19 has changed the future of corporate real estate. We’ve seen during the lockdown how people worked from home and making companies go the route of remote working. To get an understanding of these changes and look ahead to what we can expect in the coming years. Also if I’m a business person in the corporate real estate, what must a brace myself for?
Guest: John Jack - CEO of Galetti Corporate Real Estate

We turn our attention now to issues pertaining to youth on the African continent. They came together as a collective from six different countries across the continent calling on African Union Heads of State and Governments to urgently work with young people to address the systemic issues that have disempowered this generation. In their statement they say that they are stuck in a period of that the 2019 Ibrahim Forum Report called the “waithood” and wish to escape this state of waithood. They go on to say that they have bold dreams of the Africa they want instead.

Guest: Thobeka Dodo - South African, who is a health care professional based in Kwa-Zulu Natal and on the board of the South African Christian Leaders Initiative

Guest: Rachel Wambui - Racheal Purity Wambui is from Kenya and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya

Guest: Willice Onyango – Executive Director at The Youth Cafe

Focus: David Letsoalo has penned an article questions why a country like South Africa which accommodates all religions gives special attention to Christian holidays. He says this is also happening within the judiciary as courts also close on these days. He goes on to say that the country has zero regard for African spirituality despite this being an African country. He joins us now on the line to share his thoughts….

Guest: David Letsoalo – A Sankarist, activist and law academic

This morning we feature South Africa’s most celebrated cartoonist, Zapiro. We talk to him about his annual collection of cartoons throughout the year. This is one of those must have souvenirs that summarize all that we went through in 2020. This one is called the Do the Macorona and to tell us more….

Guest: Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro

Earthlife Africa yesterday (Thursday) planned to march through the Johannesburg CBD against climate change. They wanted to highlight how the world was running out of time to keep temperatures down. Scary as it sounds, are governments paying attention?

Guest: Thabo Sibeko - Earthlife Africa's anti-Coal Campaigner

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has come under a lot of fire for his appointment of Mmoloki Cwaile as MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs. The provinces municipalities are not in a good state on the other hand there are allegations of collusion with companies that are always scoring lucrative construction contracts. Where is the newly appointed MEC going to start fixing the problems affecting people on the ground?

GUEST: Mmoloki Cwaile – North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs

A very worrying study by the University of Cape Town has found that some protective facial masks don’t meet the required safety standards. The scary part is that these are the masks worn by health practitioners. Let’s find out now about quality control as far as these masks are concerned. What scrutiny do they go through before they are given to the users? Should we also be worried about the ones we buy from shops?

Guest: Jodi Scholtz-Lead Administrator at the South African Bureau of Standards

Our regular UIF feature comes to you today as Makhosonke Buthelezi was not able to be with us on Tuesday. He’s here to addresses all your questions. Please remember to keep your questions very brief and listen on the radio for answers. Also keep your voice notes short and to the point…..

GUEST: Makhosonke Buthelezi – Director of Communications and Marketing at UIF