The Daily Discourse

The International Monetary Fund recently released a paper titled ‘Struggling to Make the Grade: A Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Weak Outcomes of South Africa’s Education System’. The paper, which reflects their views and not those of the IMF, aims to provide a data-driven, evidence-based approach to inform the national debate as to what works and what doesn’t when it comes to improving education.

GUEST: Montfort Mlachila, IMF Senior Resident Representative in South Africa. I am an economist by training.

Why did a Flight distant for Germany ended up in Scotland? A British Airways flight from London City Airport was supposed to head to Dusseldorf in Germany but ended up in Edinburgh, Scotland. Just imagine being a passenger stunned to learn that the plane you are travelling on had not only landed in the wrong city, but also in the wrong country. So what led to the incorrect flight plan?

GUEST: Karl Jensen, Aviation Enthusiast and former SAA Captain, with 56 years of flying experience.

What is at the core of the Western Sahara-Morocco conflict? We look at the decades-old conflict in Western Sahara, this as South Africa hosts the SADC Solidarity Conference with the People of Saharawi, while in the same breath, Morocco hosts the African Ministerial Conference. South Africa and SADC have been at the forefront of calling on Morocco to allow Western Sahara to achieve self-determination.

guest: Mr Koffi Kouakou, Africa Analyst

A global health ranking has identified South Africa as the unhealthiest country in the world. The ranking is based on 10 measures: healthy life expectancy, blood pressure, blood glucose (diabetes risk), obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, inactivity (too little exercise), and government spending on healthcare. The statistics show that South Africans, between the ages of 30 and 70 have a 26 percent probability of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer or diabetes.

GUEST: Dr Yogan Pillay, who is the Deputy Director-General at the National Department of Health. He is responsible for key healthcare programmes including HIV, AIDS, STIs, TB, maternal and child health.

This morning we are going to discuss the different strategies which best suit investors in terms of their short- and long-term financial plan.

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

Yesterday South Africa’s Minister of Justice Minister John Jeffery launched a 67-page document, known as the national action plan (NAP). This is a tool aimed at dealing with racism, xenophobia and discrimination in general. The National Action Plan launch comes as we commemorate human rights month , and three days ahead of the second anniversary of apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada's death. According to the minister, the launch was in honour of struggle icon who was instrumental in shaping the National Action Plan prior to his passing. We find out from the minister, what is entailed in the plan?

Guest: Minister John Jeffery - Deputy Minister of Justice

Recently South Africa has had two high-profile murder charges dropped against alleged suspects. Yesterday charges against Harry Gwala District mayor Mluleki Ndobe and UMzimkhulu municipal manager Zweliphansi Skhosana were provisionally withdrawn. The state cited insufficient evidence as a reason for the withdrawal of charges. In addition to being disgruntled by the increase in the crime rate, South Africans are also frustrated with the fact that police and the NPA bungling major crime investigations, prompting the courts to drop the charges in shocking murder, rape, assault and various other criminal cases.

guest: Dr Llewellyn Curlewis, senior lecturer in criminal and procedural law at the University of Pretoria

Gambia’s truth and reconciliation commission recently began in the country to investigate alleged rights abuses during the 22-year-long rule of Yahya Jammeh. Created under an act of parliament, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) aims at using openness and a court-like approach to investigate, over two years how abuse began and became systemic and the impacts it had on the country, and its people.

GUEST: Kwezi Mngqibisa – General manager of operations at the African centre for the constructive resolution of disputes (ACCORD)

Professor Karl von Holdt says Corruption in South Africa isn’t simply a matter of bad morals or weak law enforcement. It’s embedded in processes of class formation – specifically, the formation of new black elites. This means corruption is primarily a matter of politics and the shape of the economy.

GUEST: Professor Karl von Holdt is a Senior Researcher (former Director) of the Society Work and Politics Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where he has been based since 2007.

The Public Servants Association has confirmed that employees South African Revenue Service, SARS will proceed with a national strike on Thursday. Trade union NEHAWU and the PSA are demanding an 11 percent wage increase, while SARS is offering between six and seven per cent.

GUEST: Takalani Musekwa, who is the Executive for Remuneration and Benefits at South African Revenue Service, SARS