The Daily Discourse

The Democratic Alliance is embroiled in another controversy, this time around its to do with the decision to hold their national elective conference in October virtually. But commentators are warning that this may exclude the majority of its black members, who have indicated that they lack internet connectivity. Let’s take a look now at the reliability of virtual voting and its constitutional implications. Is it something that can be trusted and is it fair if it stand to exclude a section of the membership?

Guest: Isabel Bosman - Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Scholar at the Johannesburg-based policy think tank, the South African Institute of International Affairs

The last Tuesday 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. So Bryan, where do we start today


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

We go to Cape Town now where Labour federation - SAFTU and its affiliate the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers, NUPSAW - will be protesting outside the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town this morning to demand improved health and safety measures at the facility. What are their main concerns? …

Guest: André Adams - SAFTU Provincial Secretary in the Western Cape

While scientists around the world are working very hard to find a cure against Covid-19, the debate around traditional medicine is gaining momentum especially after Madagascar announced the use of their herbal cocktail in dealing with the pandemic. Taking the debate forward, the University of KwaZulu-Natal is presenting its 3rd in a series of public webinars discussion entitled: The Role of Indigenous Healers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Before we talk about the seminar, let’s first listen to this report from our journalist Zeblon Maine….

Guest: Prof Nceba Qqaleni - Head: Discipline of African Traditional Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Guest: Siyabonga Africa Mkhize – Executive Director: Umsamo Institute

Gender activists around the country have been very worried about the possibility an increase in gender based violence during the current lockdown. Police statistics show that more than 2300 calls were recorded at the national GBV Command Centre during the first week of the lockdown. One hundred-and-48 were immediately registered as criminal cases. Sadly this issue has been with us for many years with no concrete solution. We are going to try again to find out what some of the major reasons are behind it and why the fear around the lockdown period as we welcome…
Guest: Koketso Moeti – Gender Activist

Guest: Lisa Vetten - PHD Fellow at Wits City Institute

Guest: Dr Chandre Gould - Senior research fellow at the justice and crime prevention programme of the ISS and founding member of the SA Violence Prevention Forum

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday dropped the Covid-19 lockdown alert to level three as of the first of June. He was addressing the nation from Pretoria. He went on to say that this will allow for the further opening of the economy – with the continued fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Ramaphosa says 429 people have now died from coronavirus and that the number of infections now stands at 22 thousand 583. He says 128 people are in intensive care with COVID 19 - the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Guest: Dr Saths Cooper, who is the President of the Pan-African Psychology Union

That song by Bill Withers says it all. It talks about couples and how they can make it if they try. Those who understand the romantic space will give you all sorts of remedies about how to keep a marriage going and how to spice things up. Under the current lockdown, some couples can’t stand each other while other are using the time as a honeymoon period where they reconnect and get to know each other in many ways. What is the difference between these two scenarios and why the different approach to the lockdown?

Guest: Jenna Bayer - Psychologist

The Consumer Pulse research from GfK South Africa which looks into the behaviours of online consumers during lockdown has revealed that 85% of consumers who usually work full time reported significant impact on their working habits. It goes on to say that nearly half of fulltime employees were able to remotely, 74% of which claim to have worked less than normal. What are we to read into this and how will it change the way we do things beyond Covid-19?

Guest: Rachel Thompson – Insights Director at GFK South Africa

We bring you this special feature this hour exploring recovery strategies for organized labour in the era of Vovid-19. What role can organized labour play in contributing towards the country’s socio-economic recovery? What are some of the practical solutions that will benefit all aspects of the economy? To help us navigate through this discussion, we are joined on the line by….

Guest: Dr Petrus De Kock - Brand South Africa’s general manager for research

Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi – SAFTU’s General Secretary

Guest: Zamikhaya Maseti – Political Economist

Guest: Matthew Parks – Cosatu’s Parliamentary Coordinator

This morning’s thinking point comes in the form of a live interview. The idea is to get an idea of what nurses go through on a daily basis especially under the Covid-19 period. What is a typical day like for them? What are their fears? What sort of training are they given in a time like this and can they ever be fully prepared? What are their fears?

Guest: Yomelela Mnqabashe – Former Secretary of DENOSA’s National Student Movement and currently a practicing nurse