Last night the National Research Foundation hosted an award ceremony to acknowledge those who make a difference in the world of research. The awards celebrated excellence among the South African research and academic community. We use the opportunity to talk about the state of research in the country. How are we doing since we are not the highest ranking nation when it comes to maths and science? How do we use such occasions to inspire young people to take up science as a career?

GUEST: Dr Molapo Qhobela, CEO of the National Research Foundation (NRF)

Civil society groups continue to raise their voices against gender based violence in the country. We as a country are trending for the wrong reasons. These past two weeks have been the heaviest as we so too many young girls are being killed by either their partners or just plain criminality. The focus is shifting towards men to do something. But then are the men coming forward and what is it they can do to help?

GUEST : Ms Claudia Shilumani, CEO for the Centre for Communication Impact, which developed and Implements Brothers for Life and Zazi

Women across South Africa have mobilized to march against sexual, gender-based violence and Femicide under the hash tag SandtonShutdown. The march started at three this morning, the women say the JSE will be shut down during this demonstration.

GUEST: Koketso Moeti, Founder of Amandla Mobi, a mobile platform that empowers marginalized communities to take collective action on issues ranging from public safety to women's rights.

The Kwazulu-Natal government is set to launch a massive crops planting programme this week. This in effort to create vibrant agricultural communities and improve food security in the province. The multi-million rand province-wide planting programme will be launched in the Mkhanyakude District Municipality. For more on this we are now joined on the line by Mr Sihle Zikalala, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal

GUEST: Mr Sihle Zikalala, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal

On Tuesday South African Breweries, SAB & Anheuser-Busch InBev, World's largest brewer, hosted a roundtable discussion on the importance of localisation and creating Black Industrialists in South Africa, as part of an update on the Enterprise Development pillar of the Public Interest Commitments (PIC) agreements made to government and which are aligned to National Government Agenda. This morning for our Business Feature, we are going to talk about Transformation, creating black Industrialists and jobs through localisation...

GUEST: Bishen Morgan, Procurement Director for Sustainability and Supplier Development at the South African Breweries, SAB

As South Africans celebrate Heritage Month; events around the attacks against foreign nationals are putting strain on the celebrations. How then do we as South Africans celebrate while this is going on in our country and how do we forge a common heritage as one Africa to preach a message of unity? Where is the Ubuntu principle and how do we revive it under these circumstances?

GUEST: Professor Pitika Ntuli, is a sculptor, poet, writer, cultural activist and an academic

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) says it is concerned about the lack of consequences from almost all the municipalities that appeared before the committee on Tuesday. Scopa met with six municipalities who had failed to obtain a clean audit for three consecutive financial years. The committee wanted to understand from the municipalities what has led to the near collapse of financial management in these municipalities. These municipalities are Mogalakwena, Mopani District, Thabazimbi, Vhembe District, Joe Morolong and Phokwane municipalities.

GUEST: Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Chairperson of Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa)

New research warns that African consumption of illegal drugs is projected to become a public health emergency. According to the study by ENACT - a European funded project, it is anticipated that by 2050 there will be a total of twenty-three million drug users in Sub-Saharan Africa. The continent's looming drug crisis is said to be fuelled by organised crime and poor policy. For more on the findings of the research here's Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, ENACT, Martin Ewi...
GUEST: Martin Ewi, Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, ENACT

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has released the 2018/19 National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report which outlines the work done by the Green Scorpions in the past financial year. One of the things it pointed out is that the financial year continued to display a similar pattern to previous years in relation to the most prevalent types of environmental crimes being detected by the various EMI Institutions. What is the most important aspect we should know as the public?

GUEST: Frances Craigie – Chief Director of Enforcement at the Department of Environmental Affairs’ legal authorization, Compliance and Enforcement branch

Since 1994, South Africa has experienced xenophobic attacks against African and Asian migrants and refugees. In 2008, 2015 and now in 2019 we’ve seen widespread flare-ups, especially against African migrants who are alleged to be taking away jobs from South Africans and the source of crime, such as drug dealing. Most notable hotspots this year have been street vendors plying their trade in Johannesburg’s CBD who were initially harassed by the local SAPS and repelled by the vendors and at the same time unemployed truck drivers attacking foreign drivers. Armed male hostel-dwellers then staged violent and random attacks in the CBD against street traders that then morphed into rioting and looting in other areas. In today’s show we look at the issue of xenophobic violence from a labour perspective.
GUEST: Amir Sheikh, spokesperson for the Africa Diaspora Forum
GUEST: Mametlwe Sebei, president of the General Industrial Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA)