The Daily Discourse

The KwaZulu-Natal government says that it will subject its MECs and senior civil servants to a lifestyle audit. If you may remember, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape are also taking the same step. What should we read into this? Are politicians in the ruling party trying to redeem themselves? Is this a step in the right direction?

Guest: Dr. Ralph Mathekga – Political Analyst

Since the Lockdown was announced in March this year, many businesses had to shut down as they could not stay afloat even after the restrictions were partially lifted. One of the institutions that had to deal with retrenchment cases is the CCMA. WE talk to them this morning to get a sense of the impact this is having on their operations…

Guest: Marius Kotze - National Senior Commissioner: Dispute Resolution at the CCMA

We have been talking so much about the corruption in both government and the private sector that has become a cancer in our country. Today we thought to look at the role played by audit firms. If you look at some of the commissions set up to probe corruption, you will hear names of some of the big audit firms that are implicated. What has this done for the reputation of audit firms in general and what is their code of ethics?

Guest: Heemal Bhaga-Muljee - National Head of Audit at BDO

An interesting finding by Business Partners Limited is that female-owned businesses also present a lower statistical risk for business financiers. Not sure if men will agree with this? How did they come to this conclusion and what is it about women that makes them less of a risk to financiers compared to men?

Guest: Janeesha Perumal - Area Manager at Business Partners Limited

Don’t you just hate it when you have to stand in a long queue outside a shop during the current lockdown situation? Shops and malls have to monitor how many people are inside to make sure that regulations are adhered to. Well now you can download an app called the Lockdown Bozza aims to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in communities by providing families with the data they need to make informed decisions about when and where they choose to do their regular shopping.

Guest: Ahren Posthumus - Co-Founder Lockdown Bozza

Cervical cancer is said to be the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in South Africa. One of the primary underlying causes doctors point to is the Human Papilloma Virus which they say is the most common sexually transmitted infection. To educate us more on this and also what it is women can do to prevent it, we are joined on the line by…

GUEST: Dr. Tracey Adams - Oncologist/ Gynecologist at Groote Schuur Hospital

Let’s talk now about a book written by Dr Iain Edwards and Prof Marc Epprecht which brings a scholarly narrative of same-sex working class African men. The book traces the history of violence against the LGBTIQ+ community especially in our country. To look at this issue and some of the revelations in the book and also look at what we could attribute the violence to, we are joined on the line by….

Guest: Dr Iain Edwards – Lead author and independent historian

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu yesterday (Tuesday) extended the payment of some social grants that have expired or will lapse in the coming months. The minister went on to say that SASSA must explain and give reasons to people who don’t qualify. As you may know how many people call our programme wanting to know why they don’t qualify, so this morning we get an explanation from the department as to what the extension means as we welcome….

Guest: Paseka Letsatsi - SASSA Spokesperson

The ANC's Gauteng provincial secretary Jacob Khawe yesterday (Tuesday) said that the decision by Merafong mayor Maphefo Mogale-Lestie and Member of Parliament Boyce Maneli to appeal an order for them to resign is ill-disciplined and "un-ANC" like. On Sunday the PEC decided to adopt recommendations made by its integrity committee for the two to step down for the VBS scandal. Again yesterday the Gauteng Integrity Committee started its investigations into allegations against Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko, Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and his wife, Loyiso Masuku. The big question asked by analysts is whether the Integrity Committee can be taken seriously?

Guest: Professor Lesiba Teffo- Political Analyst at UNISA

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