The Daily Discourse

In the past few weeks we’ve been receiving messages from some of you who would like to know what happened to the land expropriation process. Also under the lockdown restrictions parliament is not sitting as normal. What happens to all the submissions from the different communities? Well, Dr Motshekga is here to answer all of these questions…

Guest: Dr Mathole Motshekga - Chairperson of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Section 25 (Amending the Constitution)

As the lockdown continues, some NGOs are calling on government to increase the promised R350 social grant for those who are unemployed. But almost on a daily basis we are flooded with calls from listeners who say they are still waiting for the promised funds. If NGOs are asking government to increase the amount, the question then is whether the country can afford it and how sustainable is it?

Guest: Lynette Maart - National director at the Black Sash

Guest: Dr Azar Jammine - Chief economist at Econometrix

At the back of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech where he said that we as a country need to look at more drastic measures to curb the abuse of alcohol. Well a group of concerned South Africans have signed a petition calling on government to follow the advice of the World Health Organisation and implement those measures which have been shown to be effective in other countries.

Guest: Dr David Harrison - CEO of the DG Murray Trust and one of the signatories

Sadly there’s another case of a three-year-old who was stabbed and a body of a young woman was found near the Golden Highway and to talk about this,
Guest: Dereleen James – Founder Yellow Ribbon Foundation

The Human Sciences Research Council yesterday (Wed) held a Youth Day webinar where they shared a proposed alternative model to the one announced by Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande. The group driving the discussion call themselves the Public Universities with a Public Conscience. If you’ve been following developments around the minister’s proposal, one of the difficulties was the on-line learning as some academics believed that it may not serve those who don’t have.
Guest: Dr Fikile Vilakazi – Lecturer in Public Policy and Political Science at UKZN

We go down to the Free State at the Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad. Staff there are said to be protesting demanding that the hospital be shut down after several of their colleagues tested positive for Covid-19.

Guest: Lesego Mogorosi – Nehawu’s Branch Chairperson in Kroonstad

The lockdown restrictions have affected many industries around the country. Funerals in particular have changed drastically as government has put a limitation on the amount of people who should attend. For some, this may allow them to save money as people will be few and costs will be less.

Guest: Andrew

Last night President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reopening of the beauty industry. He says that it was important for the government to reopen personal care services in an effort to empower the women who work in South Africa's hair salons, beauty shops, and spas.
Guest: Mariska du Plessis - Northern Gauteng divisional manager at the Employers Organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Beauty

Since the lockdown started, many employees were allowed to work from home. Some reports suggest that productivity was high at the time, but lately it’s becoming problematic for employers to monitor those who are working from home. But, don’t despair if you are a business person who is battling with issues of accountability from your staff as someone came up with a working solution for you…

Guest: Oran Cohen - Founder of online people management platform called GWork

The National Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Shamila Batohi, yesterday welcomed raids at premises in Gauteng and Limpopo in connection with the looting at the VBS Mutual Bank between 2015 and 2018. The Hawks executed warrants of arrest for four of the eight suspects of which three are to hand themselves over to police soon. The 8th suspect is said to be in quarantine due to Covid-19 and will appear in court in due course. The suspects are facing 47 counts of various criminal offences and are expected to appear at the Palmridge Regional Court today. We go to Limpopo now where many of the victims are. Our reporter Rudzani Tshivhase has been covering the story since it broke and he is currently on his way to speak to other victims as he joins us on the line….
Guest: Rudzani Tshivhase – SABC journalist in Limpopo