The Daily Discourse

The Gauteng Human Settlements and Co-operative Governance MEC, Lebohang Maile, yesterday established a committee to look into allegations of fraud and corruption in the province's municipalities. Maile says they have noted that Gauteng municipalities are at risk of degenerating to a dysfunctional level, except for Ekurhuleni and Mid-Vaal. For more on this issue we are now in conversation with the South African Municipal Workers Union, SAMWU, who have been vocal on issues of corruption at municipal level…

GUEST: Koena Ramotlou, General Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union, SAMWU

Time now for our regular Tuesday slot the Global Perspective, today's destination is the country of Cuba. Cuba's Communist government has survived more than 50 years of US sanctions intended to topple veteran leader Fidel Castro. It also defied predictions that it would not survive the collapse of its one-time supporter, the Soviet Union.

GUEST: Dianelis Forestal Mejías, the Third Secretary for Press and Culture affairs of the Embassy of Cuba

We continue our focus on the horn of Africa, this morning our focus in on Apartheid in Somalia, where clan structure remains socially and politically important. When you think of Somalia you generally picture a homogenous society, with a common Arabic ancestry, a shared culture of nomadism and one Somali mother tongue BUT in reality the country is faced with ethnic marginalization, stigma, social exclusion and apartheid. In south-central Somalia, extremist group al-Shabaab has waged violent attacks in the past year against minorities, particularly Bantu and Christians. This morning on the Talking Point we will discuss the clan structure of the majorities which continues to exclude minorities from significant political participation and employment. Our focus is on the plight of the Bantu Somalis

GUEST: Izak Khomo, Who is Channel Africa's Producer for a show known as "Spotlight Africa"

As discussed last week, this morning we are going to be discussing one of the important principals of the financial plan which relates to Health Care and Disability. However, Bryan Hirsch would first like to answer the two questions from last week: Can you access your savings account from your Medical Aid? Is it compulsory for government employees to join the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS)?

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

For many years small business have been complaining about late payments from the different government structures. Well, there’s light at the end of the tunnel as the department of small business development is calling on the budgets of various national and provincial departments that owe SMME’s large sums of money to be slashed to allow the Treasury to pay the affected businesses directly. What made the department go this route and how do they expect the problem will be solved seeing that anything regarding the law take very long to be approved?

GUEST: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister of small businesses development

Yesterday (19/08/19) the ANC in Gauteng failed to meet yesterday's deadline that the party's NEC had set for the Gauteng Premier David Makhura to replace one of his male MEC's with a female one. The ANC had ordered Makhura to effect changes to his executive committee in line with the party's resolution. The ANC resolved that provinces that are led by males must have 60 per cent of women in their executive committee. Instead Makhura, who is also the chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng, resorted to a 50/50 gender representivity. Makhura's executive committee comprises of five men and five women.

GUEST: Gauteng ANC secretary-general, Jacob Khawe

President Cyril Ramaphosa's supporters have accused the CR17 campaign managers, especially Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, of having used them to enrich themselves from the R1 billion raised for his ANC leadership campaign in 2017, this according to Investigative Journalists Mzilikazi Wa Afrika, Piet Rampedi And Karabo Ngoepe. To elaborate further we are now joined on the line by

GUEST: Piet Rampedi, Investigations Editor at Independent Media as well as editor at African Times

On our Legally Speaking feature today we speak to Jacquie Cassette, who is the National Practice Head and Director of the Pro Bono and Human Rights practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. They are said to be solving some of the country’s developmental challenges by promoting constitutional values and the protection and enforcement of rights, and facilitating access to justice for the disadvantaged and vulnerable. What does all of this mean and what should we as the public know about it? Also who are they assisting in all of this and how does one use their services?

GUEST: Jacquie Cassette - Director and National Practice Head of Pro Bono and Human Rights practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

Last week we started a series of interviews around economic development where we focused mostly on employment issues. We spoke about what should be done to improve the rate of unemployment in our country. Today we speak to Coega Development Corporation which announced that it has exceeded 120 000 jobs created through its programmes across the country, which they say has enriched the livelihood of many indigenous people. What is this programme and how is it benefiting those in need of jobs?

GUEST: Dr. Ayanda Vilakazi - Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications at the Coega Development Corporation

Are Universities key to the NHI plan? Are Universities key to the NHI plan? It has often been asked if universities have a role to play in dealing with public health-care service delivery challenges. This morning we are in conversation with Dr Wezile Chitha, Assistant Dean for Strategic Affairs for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University about the essential role of universities when it comes to public health and in particular the NHI...

GUEST: Dr Wezile Chitha, Assistant Dean for Strategic Affairs for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University