The Daily Discourse

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it is considering suing the formerly Gupta-owned mining group Tegeta Exploration and Resources for the funds already paid over to it in the now invalidated coal contract with Eskom. Yesterday, the SIU secured a high court order setting aside the three-point-seven-billion-rand contract. The agreement was signed in 2015 to supply coal for ten years to the Majuba power station. The court has found the contract to be unlawful and invalid. What does this victory mean for the SIU and what is the warning to other institutions involved in such activities?

Guest: Kaizer Kganyago – Spokesperson for the Special Investigating Unit

Protesters blocked several roads with burning tyres and rocks in Klipspruit, Soweto. A Putco bus was set alight. Some reports indicate that the residents are calling for the local councilor to step down. There’s also unconfirmed reports of calls for a total shutdown tomorrow and Wednesday. To get an understanding of some of the reasons behind the protest,

Guest: Seth Mazibuko – Spokesperson for the Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee

Former rebel leader, Riek Machar, has been sworn in as South Sudan's first vice president during a ceremony in Juba on Saturday. On Thursday, President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar agreed to form a unity government, ending years of fighting. raising hopes that this will now see an end to six years of civil conflict that has left thousands dead and more than a million displaced. It has been a long journey indeed, is this now peace at last? To help us navigate through this, we are joined in studio by…

GUEST: Nixon Kathembo, specialist on the Great Lakes and East Africa and also works on the KiSwahili Desk at Channel Africa

We have seen in these past weeks how protests at universities have turned violent with students burning and damaging property. This has now led to cconcerned parents of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, forming a crisis committee to deal with the worsening situation at the institution. The start of the academic year has been marred by violent student protests over issues such as historic debt and accommodation. Central to the student protests has been the university's policy requiring students to pay 15% of their historical debt before they are cleared to register. Let’s hear now from them as we welcome…

Guest: Bishop Rubin Phillip – Chair of the UKZN Crisis Committee

Today on our Friday Wind Down we feature former DA leader Mmusi Maimane, the Barrack Obama of Soweto. We don’t really need much introduction on him as he’s been a major player in our national politics. Now that he is no longer DA leader, what is he focusing on?

GUEST: Mmusi Maimane Former leader of the Democratic Alliance

Let’s visit the arts now and talk about movies that reflect our past history and how communities would do stuff under the nose of the apartheid regime. Here is a movie entitled “Letters of hope.” It is set in 1976 apartheid South Africa, and tell the story of 16-year-old Jeremiah, who really wants to be a policeman and can’t understand why his father won’t let him.

GUEST: Aphiwe Mkefe - Lead actor on Letters on hope

Guest: Vusi Africa - Director of the movie, Letters of Hope

The Portfolio Committee on Health will today undertake the last leg of public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in Soshanguve, Gauteng. The Gauteng hearings follow nationwide public hearings in which participants contributed to strengthening the Bill. The NHI Bill is intended to achieve universal access to healthcare services in South Africa, which is a constitutional right.

GUEST: Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health

Let’s focus now on issues of occupational health. What is involved and how big a role does it play in the wellbeing of workers? Also how important is it?

GUEST: Dr Louis Ellis – General Practitioner and Occupational Medical Practitioner in the Northern Cape

Interested in getting into the business of real estate or property development? Or perhaps you first want to learn about some different aspects of the real estate industry? Well this morning on our business feature we are going to look at Investing in real estate and starting a rental property business. For many people, becoming a landlord is the foundation of their real estate business model. By owning a property and renting it out. For more on the business we are now joined in studio by…

GUEST: Jaco van der Merwe, from Property Bees, a Real estate agency in Roodepoort, Johannesburg

National Taxi Council, Santaco, has welcomed recommendations by the Competition Commission that government should reconsider subsidies for the taxi industry. The Commission released a provisional report on public transport pricing. It found that trains and buses are well subsidized while the taxi industry gets as little as one-percent and nothing for metered taxis. To discuss this issue and find out why the Competition Commission is making the call,

Guest: Phillip Taaibosch – Santaco President
guest: Thulani Mandiriza – Principal Economist at the Competition Commission