The Daily Discourse

The SA Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by another 100 basis points, or one percentage point. This brings SA's repo rate to 4.25% in less than a month. Is this good news or bad news for consumers’ savings and investments?

Guest: Sisandile Cikido – Nedbank’s Head of Retail Investments

Yesterday KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala together with the province’s MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liason, Bheki Ntuli mended Roadblocks in various places in the eThekwini metro which led to the arrest of 113 people for violations of COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Zikalala says the arrests come as the province seeks to intensify measure aimed at curbing the movement of the public.

Guest: Bheki Ntuli –KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liason,

Since the lockdown began, we’ve been receiving a lot of calls of people not really knowing their rights should they be confronted by authorities. Even though this is a temporary situation, surely authorities have no right of abusing their power.

GUEST: Tshepho Mojapelo – Director at Mojapelo Attorneys Incorporated

Mariheca Otto is a South African who went to Bali on a yoga retreat. She got stuck there due the global lock down against the Covid-19. The interesting thing about her is that she managed to capitalize on the situation by still running her business from there. She is also highlighting issues around gender inequality during this time of Covid-19. Where does this fit in and why does she find it important to launch a gender perception tool seeing that the world is more focused on dealing with the Covid-19?

Guest: Dr Mariheca Otto - Managing Director of Motto Business Consulting

On Saturday the 18th, Zimbabwe marked 40 years of independence. The difference this time is that there was no gatherings due to the Covid-19 lockdown. April is also an important month for South Africa as that’s where Freedom Day falls in. But we also won’t be able to celebrate it also due to the lockdown.
Guest: Advocate Sipho Mantula, a Researcher with the Institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa at the University of South Africa, UNISA

Guest: Mugwena Maluleke - is the General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, (SADTU)

The National Union of Mineworkers Youth Structure says it is extremely unhappy and concerned by the decision taken by the National Command Council to allow mines in South Africa to operate at 50%. The Council announced last week that the amendments are aimed at allowing a phased economic activity which gives permission for mines to operate at 50% capacity and will gradually increase capacity. To understand what exactly they are concerned about,

Guest: Bonginkosi Mrasi – National Secretary of NUM’s Youth Structure

Since the lockout came into effect, smokers have been raising their concerns as shops are not allowed to sell it. Interestingly some listeners wanted to know about legalities around the sale and consumption of dagga. So to answer all questions about where the issue is currently legally and so on and how much quantity one can have on their person,

Guest: Jeremy Acton – Leader of the Dagga Party – He is one of the people who has been challenging legislation around this issue and was also at the Constitutional Court when the last ruling was made.

Health experts have been raising concerns around people living with HIV with fears that they may be exposed to the Covid-19. So far we’ve not understood exactly what sort of impact it may have on them. Interestingly, UNAIDS and Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) are joining forces to help people living with HIV across sub-Saharan Africa from contracting Coronavirus. How will they be doing this?

GUEST: Russel Taylor - Reckitt Benckiser SA. Regional Director Africa, health, general management

Professor Jonathan Jansen got the conversation going when he advised that the 2020 academic year be called off - due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Jansen has suggested that schools promote grade one to grade 11 learners to the next grades - but have a catch up plan in place. He says schools need to work with universities and colleges to bridge the gap for matric learners….

Guest: Hendrick Makaneta - Education activist