The Daily Discourse

No doubt how much damage the Covid-19 is causing around all aspects of life. Business in particular is feeling it the most. Now business owners deal a lot with contracts mainly for job security and so on. Under the current lockdown, workers are expecting full wages, suppliers expect to be paid. Let’s look at the legal side of things. How does one prepare staff and labour obligation when the disturbance is a directive from government? What is my legal recourse as a business owner and what is it for an employee?

Guest: Tertius Wessels – Legal Director Strata-G Labour Solutions

The Alliance for Rural Democracy has issued a statement highlighting the plight of rural communities under the current lockdown. Interestingly they trace the problem back to the days of the Bantu-stan era. They are warning of a dire social and economic result as a consequence of the lockdown.

Guest: Siyabulela Manona – PHD Student in Geography at Rhodes University, He assisted The Alliance For Rural Democracy with a strategy on how to deal with Covid19

Ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19, we have been speaking to people in different spheres of life about how the current lockdown situation is affecting them. Today we get to understand how those who are visually impaired. What challenges are they facing in a time like this?

#Covid19 #ChooseLife

Guest: Ntshavheni Netshituni – CEO of Blind SA

This morning we talk issues of ideology. Often when we talk issues of borrowing money from institutions like the IMF and the World Bank, debate arises on how capitalist they are and the consequences of the transaction. Socialism is put forward as one of the solutions that will take us forward as a country. The South African Communist Party in particular raises such arguments. Well, let’s get into the issue of communism as an ideology. Where has it succeeded and in this country, how relevant is it and is it raising its voice loud enough? Ministers who are deployed by the SACP, why do they equally enjoy perks that may be deemed capitalist by nature? Why are they not showing their counterparts how true communism is followed?

Guest: Solly Mapaila – SACP First Deputy General Secretary

The Reserve Bank has cut its growth forecasts for South Africa, predicting the economy could shrink by as much as four-percent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the national 21-day lockdown and the recent downgrades by credit rating agencies. The bank says growth was unlikely to exceed one-percent in 2021. In its bi-annual Monetary Policy Review the Reserve Bank says there is limited scope for a rebound and there are downside risks to the dire forecasts should the lockdown be extended. The country has reported one-thousand-655 coronavirus cases, the highest on continent, with eleven deaths. The Rand has crashed to an all-time low of above 19 to the dollar while bond yields have spiked - fueling fears of a financial and fiscal crisis. For a perspective on this,

Guest: Dr Thabi Leoka - an independent economist who also sits on Ramaphosa's Economic Advisory Panel

We’ve been hearing different opinions from medical practitioners and the sector as a whole. This time around we look at the health strategies for prevention and containment of a new Covid-19 pandemic. Where do we even start?

Guest: Dr Jabulani Ncayiyana - Epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer at the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town

Effects of COVID-19 on unemployment
According to Business Live, economists’ predict that the effects of COVID-19 on unemployment will be felt in the second quarter of the year and in the foreseeable future.

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

One of the biggest health concerns that was raised within the context of the Covid-19 was the fear of contracting flue. In an article penned by Professor Marietjie Venter, she says it It is important to try to avoid getting flu this year, since you have the risk of being exposed to people that may have COVID-19 when you go to the doctor’s office. Scary thought indeed, but then how does one avoid this?


Guest: Professor Marietjie Venter, Head of the Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Programme, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria

We turn the focus on Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) by looking at how they are affected during the national lockdown. According to the Department of Social Development there are 228 533 NPO’s in South Africa. What role can they play during this period and what will be needed for them to survive post COVID-19?
Guest: Nation Builder’s executive trustee, Keri Paschal

The President of the Law Society of South Africa, Mvuzo Notyesi, says the amended regulations, governing courts during the coronavirus lockdown period, will have a significant impact on the administration of justice. The department of Justice has published amended regulations, to clear some confusion among the public. Among the amendments, lawyers involved in urgent litigation must get permission from the provincial director of the Legal Practice Council to be at court. What according to him are the consequences?

GUEST: Mvuzo Notyesi - President of the Law Society of South Africa