Yesterday (Monday) we spoke to the EFF’s student command about their call for all institutions of higher learning to allow walk-in registration. Then during the discussion, they highlighted the plight of the rural child. We even received many voice notes indicating that the rural child is being left out. This morning, we look into the plight of the rural child and how government is leaving them out. Why are they forgotten?

GUEST: Hendrick Makaneta, education activist

From time to time we have seen frustrated family and community members staging protests in their quest to oppose bail to an offender or offenders accused of serious offences such as rape and murder. South Africa is in the grip of a serious crisis of violence, especially against women and children. Last year President Cyril Ramaphosa says said government intends to opposing bail for rape and Femicide suspects and for those who are convicted to be refused parole. So who qualifies for bail?

GUEST: Tshepo Seloane, who is a Criminal Lawyer and Litigation Specialist from Landau Group in Johannesburg

Former City of Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba says he is devastated by the passing of Maponya. Mashaba who is a businessman himself, says Maponya has contributed immensely to the person he is today. He says his passing is a great loss to the black community.

GUEST: Former City of Joburg Mayor and Businessman, Herman Mashaba

The EFF Students' Command has threatened to go ahead with the walk-in applications at various universities. This despite the call by Universities - saying no walk-in applications will be allowed. The EFF Students' Command says they want to ensure that deserving students are not excluded from being registered…

GUEST: Mandla Shikwambana, President of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC)

The world is holding its breath as tensions mount between the USA and Iran. US President, Donald Trump is stressing that he is willing to target Iranian cultural sites in retaliation for the killing of Americans by Tehran. The two countries are at boiling point following the US killing of one of Iran's most powerful figures, General *Qasem Soleimani. Today being Monday, Iran has still not acted on its threat. What should we read into this?

GUEST: Ibrahim Deen, Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

UMALUSI, The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training has given the 2019 Matric examinations the green light. The body has approved the examinations saying they went smoothly with no systematic irregularities. Over Six-Hundred-Thousand full time learners sat for the examination, while just over 100-thousand were part time candidates. UMALUSI was briefing the media in Pretoria last week. This morning we are going to look at the state of education in South Africa, ahead of the release of the Matric results on Tuesday.

GUEST: Professor Mary Metcalfe, who is an Education expert

A popular radio DJ that once worked for SABC's Ukhozi FM has died after an illness. Vukani Masinga known as Chilli M joined Ukhozi FM in 2012. Programmes manager for Ukhozi FM Zandile Tembe says the country has lost someone with special talent for radio. She says Chilli M quickly excelled within the station and was moved to co-host to the day time show 'Nethezeka' with Nonhlanhla 'Mroza' Buthelezi.

GUEST: Nick Rashford, Former SABC colleague who worked closely with Chilli M at SABC
Guest: Zandile Ntembe Program manager at Ukhozi Fm

Iran's top security body is to meet today to discuss a US attack that killed the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, General Qasem Soleimani. It comes after reports of a strike at Baghdad's international airport, which is said to have killed a number of people. Soleimani was a major figure in the Iranian regime - whose force reported directly to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

GUEST: Professor John Stremlau, Honorary Professor for International Relations at Wits University.

The Talking Point this morning is still coming to you from Durban, in KwaZulu Natal. Shortly I’ll be in conversation with Narend Singh, the Chief Whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), one of the biggest parties in the province. We will get the party’s views on the state of SOEs in the country; we will also look at the party’s relationship with the DA this after the DA lashed out at the party for supporting the ANC and allowing it to regain control of the City of Johannesburg. In 2016 the IFP took control of 13 municipalities in KZN, we will discuss how the party aims to expand its political footprint beyond KZN and how it will regain support for the party after its growth was dented with the breakaway by the IFP chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi and her supporters who formed the NFP…

GUEST: IFP Chief Whip, Narend Singh

How can we enhance youth political participation and what are the benefits of engaging youth in political leadership? This morning I am in conversation with KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Education, Kwazi Mshengu to talk about education matters pertaining to young leadership, how can our economy respond to the needs of our people, the failures of capitalist system and whether the ANC government is failing young people and are we not risking alienating other races by being an only black centric country? For more, MEC Mshengu now joins me in studio...

GUEST: KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Education, Kwazi Mshengu