The Daily Discourse

As the Tax Season commences, the South African Revenue Service has again outlined the requirements for those who should submit their tax returns. This after the tax return threshold was increased from 350-thousand to 500-thousand rand - meaning those who earn less than half a million Rand a year will not be required to submit tax returns. Meanwhile EFF leader Julius Malema has reiterated his claim that SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, was not appointed appropriately - regardless of the court's ruling in favour of Former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel. Last month, the EFF lost an appeal bid on a defamation case brought against them by Manuel - who sued the party for alleging that he was a business associate and relation of Kieswetter. Kieswetter, who was the previous deputy commissioner of SARS, took over from May the first, for a term of five years.

GUEST: Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Services (SARS)

: The health sector in South Africa has faced many challenges in the past years. Some years have better than others and there is constant improvement as time goes but challenges still arise. Challenges such as oncology issues, shortage of ARV’S, waiting times, shortage of staff, and shortage of ambulances and more. While speaking at the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday Gauteng Premier, David Makhura said “Hospitals are becoming mortuaries instead of being sanctuaries for saving lives.” How do we ensure that hospitals are safe havens? Today we also ask, what are the challenges faced by the health sector and how are we dealing with them?

Guest: Dr Yogan Pillay - Deputy Director-General at the National Department of Health

Time now for our regular Tuesday slot the Global Perspective, today's destination is the country of the Turkey. Officially the Republic of Turkey, it is a transcontinental country located mainly in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey's strategically important location has given it major influence in the region - and control over the entrance to the Black Sea. Progress towards democracy and a market economy was halting after Ataturk's death in 1938, and the army - seeing itself as guarantor of the constitution - repeatedly ousted governments seen as challenging secular values.

GUEST: Her Excellency Ambassador, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, the Turkish Ambassador to South Africa

South Africa's Power utility, Eskom, says it has not received any payment from its cash-strapped neighbour, Zimbabwe, which is experiencing a major power crisis. The country's state-owned power utility owes Eskom more than 40-Million U.S dollars for electricity borrowed over the years. Last month the country has introduced rolling electricity power cuts known as "load-shedding" due to low water levels at the Kariba hydro-power station, as well as the country's crumbling power infrastructure. The power cuts have stoked mounting public anger against President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government as Zimbabweans grapple with an economic crisis.

GUEST: Zimbabwean economist, Michelina Chindiya

Thirty three parliamentary committee chairpersons are expected to be elected today. This comes as the National Assembly's Portfolio and standing committees will officially be established starting with election of chairpersons. Meanwhile the DA says they will object ANC candidates to chair parliamentary committees by laying formal complaints with Parliament's Ethics Committee

GUEST: Moloto Mothapo, who is the spokesperson of Parliament

Time now for our regular Tuesday slot; Talking Finance with Bryan Hirsch. This morning we will look at issues around retirement and try to answer the following questions: Why are people unable to retire? Why are those who have retired, are struggling? What can South Africans do, in order for them to retire financially secure?

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

Supporters of former president Jacob Zuma will travel from KwaZulu Natal to Park town Johannesburg, to show support to when Zuma appears before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. The commission last month asked Zuma to appear before it from July the 15th to the 19th. This after Zuma was mentioned in statements and testimonies of various witnesses.

GUEST: Carl Niehaus, Spokesperson for the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA)

We are now in conversation with the Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu about the commitment to achieving the status of a developmental state as envisioned in our National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030. We will also speak about overcoming corruption, the lack of accountability and how to improve financial and performance management and audit outcomes for all levels of government.

GUEST: Jackson Mthembu, Minister in the Presidency

Time now for our Legally Speaking feature, this morning we will look at Legal Issues in Procurement and try to get a thorough understanding of the legal framework and how it can impact day-to-day procurement. We will explore legal issues around contract law not just for lawyers, checking supplier terms and conditions, as most procurement professionals are required to understand the nature and purpose of contracts and what constitutes a legally binding obligation. We will also examine common challenges in procurement, Issues of non-payment after a service has been rendered and also the legal recourse one has if a tender has been awarded illegally. To answer these questions we are now joined on the line by…

GUEST: Thekiso Maodi, who is a director at Gildenhuys Malatji Incorporated's Public law and Commercial Litigation and Employment Law Departments.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to uphold the constitution, citing that Ramaphosa has breached the supreme law by not complying with her office's remedial action from a probe involving public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan. But why is she insisting on president Ramaphosa to take action on Pravin Gordhan when Minister Gordhan has taken her findings on review?

GUEST: Lawson Naidoo, Who is the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC)