The Daily Discourse

On the first of May, South Africa will celebrate Worker's Day, also known as May Day. The day celebrates the role played by Trade Unions, the Communist Party and other labour movements in the struggle against Apartheid. May Day was born from the industrial struggle for an eight-hour day. The holiday is widely celebrated, with as many as 80 countries honouring the date and what it stands for. This morning we will discuss the significance of May Day and examine some of the current challenges facing workers and labour unions

GUEST: Zwelinzima Vavi, Secretary General for the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu)

South African businesswoman and president of the South African Mining Development Association, Bridgette Radebe has been accused of meddling in Botswana's succession politics. She has been accused of being involved in a campaign to topple President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Bridgette Radebe has now been issued with travel restrictions following the allegations.

GUEST: Lindiwe Zulu, ANC Chairperson of the International Relations Subcommittee

How does one become an election observer? What are the selection criteria? Does one need former observation experience? As many of you may know election observation is a valuable tool for improving the quality of elections. So to better understand the selection process, we are now joined on the line by Janet Love, vice chairperson of Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)

GUEST: Janet Love, IEC vice chairperson

There are 9 days to go until the General Election, over the weekend South Africans abroad casted their vote on a day that coincides with Freedom Day. About 30- thousand worldwide registered to vote. This morning we are going to speak to some of the citizens living abroad, who casted their vote over the weekend…

GUEST: Susanna Chung, who is a former diplomat, lawyer, policy analyst, and consultant, living in New Zealand

GUEST: Thembi Kola, a South African working in New York, in America:

GUEST: Dianke Nel, who is a former journalist and current affairs producer for RSG at SABC and now a teacher in Beijing, the capital of China

The Electoral Commission says the votes of those residing abroad will still be kept secret, despite concerns about their ballots being placed in two envelopes. Around 30 thousand South Africans living abroad cast their votes as South Africa marked Freedom Day over the weekend - hoping to make a difference in the 2019 General Elections. The rest of South Africa goes to the polls on May eighth. This morning we are in conversation with Nigel Casey, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, who 25 years ago had the privilege to serve as an Observer in South Africa's first democratic elections. This morning on the Talking Point we will examine the role of International election observers?

GUEST: Nigel Casey, the British High Commissioner to South Africa

South Africa Celebrates Freedom Day on 27 April, this is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994 but how is the country’s economy looking today. How far has South Africa come economically? Has South Africa achieved economic freedom?

GUEST: Dr Iraj Abedian- Economist and CEO of Pan-African Investment and Research Services

Distinguished South Africans and imminent foreign nationals were all honoured with the National Order of Ikhamanga at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria Yesterday. Some of the recipients included greats in the fields of arts, sports, journalism and academia. Such as music legend and sensation Yvonne Chaka Chaka-Mhinga, veteran actor Mary Twala Mhlongo, journalist Mathata Tsedu, Cricket great Jaques Kallis and one of the country's best mathematics teacher William Smith. This morning we are in conversation with internationally recognized South African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian and actress Yvonne Chaka Chaka-Mhinga, who has been honoured with an Order of Ikhamanga in silver for her excellent contribution to the field of music and her contribution to social cohesion. This morning we will speak to MaYvonne about what significant strides have been made in terms of freedom of artistic creativity in South Africa
GUEST: Yvonne Chaka Chaka-Mhinga, who is an internationally recognized South African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian and actress

As soon as Ministers are sworn in, they take responsibility for the policies and actions of their respective departments. They also answer to questions, oversee policy initiatives, even when they have no experience in the portfolio area. But how do they gain such administrative competence? Knowledge about their respective portfolios and get accustomed to the programs or decisions that were taken or left by their predecessors? And how do they gain media confidence?

GUEST: Phumla Williams, the Acting Director General for Government Communication and Information System

South Africa needs a 'Digital New Deal' and the provisional findings of the Competition Market Inquiry into data services contain core elements of such a deal, this according to Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, who was responding to a report released by the Competition Market Inquiry into data prices. Minister Patel says data costs and access are critical to economic performance and social well-being.

GUEST: Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Economic Development

South Africans celebrate Freedom Day on April 27 every year to mark the country's first democratic elections in 1994. A quarter of a century later, though, questions remain: how much and whose freedom is to be celebrated?

GUEST: Professor Henning Melber, Senior Research at the Nordic Africa Institute