This morning the Talking Point is coming to you live from the National Recreation Center, Nasrec, in Johannesburg. This morning the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, will hold a Consultative Meeting which seeks to share the priorities of his new term in office and to also solicit inputs on the Education Roadmap for 2019-2024. A detailed 100 days Programme of Action will also be presented as part of the agenda. Among those who will be in attendance are learners, principals and SGB members.

guest: Steve Mabona spokesperson for the department of education in Gauten

guest: Mr Shalton Mawire HOD school management team
guest : Moagisi Micheeen Morolane RCL learner Nellmaphius Secondary school
guest: Matshidiso Mothiba SGB Member Nellmaphius Secondary

Parliament is to investigate the clash between several MPs from various political parties yesterday. National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise denounced the conduct of the MPs involved in the altercation as unbecoming and uncharacteristic of honorable Members of Parliament. MPs were attending an induction session at the Old Assembly in Parliament. Modise who was in attendance but not chairing the session, had to take to the podium to diffuse the situation....

GUEST: Dr Seth Cooper, who is the President of the Pan-African Psychology Union

Yes it takes years of hard work to build a business and a lot of patience. Entrepreneurship is generally seen as very difficult, challenging and unreachable. Today we ask, how can we make entrepreneurship more tangible and attractive to the youth?

GUEST: Mhlanganisi Madlongolwana – Mandela Washington Fellow and Entrepreneur

We recently launched a new feature “Water is Life”. We did so cognizant of the fact that South Africa is a water scarce country and guided by research on the ever so present threat of global warming. This feature therefore looks at the role of water boards in water collection, preservation and distribution. We also look at service delivery at these water utilities - their ability to connect South Africans to piped water, prevent water wastage, and provide clean water as well as management. These are state owned entities and we all know the challenges that some of the SOE’s go through. We continue our discussion with Mr Eddie Singo - Acting General Manager of Rand Water based here in Gauteng…

GUEST: Mr Eddie Singo - Acting General Manager Operations at Rand Water

Economic development is critical for any country’s growth or development and with unemployment being one of the leading issues in SA it’s important to build and transform SA’s economy in order to create jobs. We are now joined by MEC for Economic development, Environment and Tourism in the Eastern Cape Mr Mlungisi Mvoko to tell us their plans as a department to help create jobs, eradicate poverty and transform the Eastern Capes economy?

Guest: Mr Mlungisi Mvoko - MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the Eastern Cape (DEDEAT)

Following the resignations and suspension of South Africa’s top CEOs from SOES. What are the challenges facing black executives? We will also look at challenges facing the country’s economy, how can we restore Investor confidence and grow the economy, this as the debate around the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank rages on.

Guest: Sandile Zungu – President of The Black Business Council

South Africa has seen a surge in mass protest against gangsterism and drugs by disgruntled Coloured community members in areas such as Eldorado Park, In Johannesburg and in other Coloured communities in the Western Cape. They claim that Coloureds have been marginalized since the dawn of democracy as their communities are still plagued by these social ills, as government has not done enough to intervene where they are need. So are we taking the plight of the colored community seriously?

GUEST: Fadiel Adams, Spokesperson of Gatvol Capetonian

As we mark Youth Month, there is greater reflection on the numerous challenges affecting our young people and children. One major issue they confront is a high illiteracy rate. South Africa was placed last out of 50 countries in the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) in 2016. The study found that 8 out of 10 Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language. How do we create a culture of reading in our homes first?

Guest: Masennya Dikotla – CEO of Molento Institute for Language and Literacy

Youth in Africa constituted 19% of the global youth population in 2015, numbering 226 million. The United Nations defines youth as people aged 15 to 24 years. By 2030, it is predicted that the number of youths in Africa will have increased by 42%. Currently youth unemployment in South Africa is standing at 39.5% in Q1 2019 which is an increase. We haven’t seen much impact government interventions with adapting with employment for youth, but there has been a staggering number of privately led organizations looking for new, innovative ways to curb the unemployment issue. One of these has been the Global start up awards which have a tech focus and since then the Southern Africa chapter was launched last year. This year it is currently underway as they are looking for nominations and ambassadors to help start-ups gain business advice, skills, access to markets and funding opportunities.

Guest: Mcvein Ayaba – CEO of the Global start up awards