The Daily Discourse

The process of assessing whether there is a prima facie case to be made for the removal of public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has been delayed after the Democratic Alliance has withdrawn its motion and will submit a new one. The DA says its new submission has over 7-thousand pages of evidence.

Guest: Natasha Mazzone – DA Chief Whip

Guest: Moloto Mothapo – Spokesperson for Parliament

The office of the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi yesterday released a statement offering condolences on the passing of former leader Hosni Mubarak. He died at the age of 91. Mubarak ruled Egypt for 30 years until he was ousted following mass protests against his rule in 2011. He was jailed for years after the uprising, but was freed in 2017 after being acquitted of most charges. To get an understanding of who he was and what was it about him that kept the country going compared to today?

Guest: Ibrahim Dean – Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

Bernadine Galliver, Associate Director Tourism Specialist Unit at BDO has penned an article where she says “the time is now to get South Africans to rediscover their own country”. This is in light of the world fearing the Corona virus by traveling. Many people are now keeping it local, but how does the tourism sector capitalize on this?

GUEST: Bernadine Galliver, Associate Director Tourism Specialist Unit at BDO

We continue our focus on the state of higher education which is brought to the limelight by acts of violence by students at universities. Today we turn our focus on parliament and the Universities South Africa to hear what they have to say on the issue…

GUEST: Mohlopi Mapulane – Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education

Guest: Professor Ahmed Bawa – CEO and Spokesperson for Universities SA

As we eagerly await Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s Budget Speech, aanalysts feel say that one of the biggest challenges he is facing faces is deciding whether to increase government spending in order to stimulate economic growth or to cut spending as a means of arresting the government's growing debt. Other big worry is that he may increase the tax. Under the current economic climate how much space does he have to work with and also while civil society is hoping more for a pro-poor budget, where does it leave the middle class? What can we hope for?

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

The Black farmers Association of South Africa will be hosting what they call a 100% radical Transformation Summit on Friday where they will be raising a number of issues with some of the national retailers. Today with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni hosting his budget speech, what are their expectations and what do they mean by “Radical Transformation”?

GUEST: Dr Lenox Mtshagi – President of the Black farmers Association of South Africa

As we continue the theme of black history month, we turn our focus to Haiti and its history, colonialism and the issue of reparations…

Guest: Izak Khomo – Presenter/Producer of Spotlight Africa at Channel Africa

Yesterday we spoke to cconcerned parents of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who formed a crisis committee to deal with the worsening situation at the institution. Speaking to Bishop Rubin Phillip who is Chair of the UKZN Crisis Committee he had this to say…..

Guest: Siyabonga Moses Nkambako - SRC Chairperson Westville campus

South Africans face many barriers to saving, from societal and lifestyle pressures, to servicing of debt and family responsibilities. The reality is that a large percentage of consumers are over indebted with little money to save. This morning we are joined by Nedbank to give solutions to this problem….

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

Guest: Sisandile Cikido – Nedbank’s Head of Retail

Several townships around Johannesburg are on shut down today and tomorrow. The protest action started in Soweto yesterday over electricity issues. Soweto residents are demanding a flat rate for electricity. To try to understand why the other communities are joining the fight, we are joined on the line by….

GUEST: Lehlohonolo Makgele – One of the organizers of the Soweto Shut Down

Guest: Benjamin Chisari – Secretary for the Alexandra concerned community