The Daily Discourse

Yesterday 2 Boksburg schoolboys were arrested for the rape of a 13-year-old pupil. In other shocking stories, four primary school boys are being investigated for allegedly raping four younger boys at school and in another separate case three Grade 8 pupils have been suspended from School in Diepkloof, Soweto, for allegedly raping a fellow pupil. So how does the judicial system deal with such young sexual offenders and their victims? Recently we have also seen viral videos of kids as young as four engaging in sexual activities, while an adult records what's happening. Do our children have a sexual behaviour problem? Or as we as parents to blame?

GUEST: Errol Naidoo - Who is the Founder and Director of the Family Policy Institute:

Today Marks International Women’s Day (IWD). This is a day celebrated globally on March 8 and has become a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women the world over. This year’s theme, #BalanceforBetter & as we celebrate this Day, we look at occupying influential government positions in the SADC region, but also, get to understand the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum Gender Program.

GUEST: Nomkhitha Gysman (From Namibia) - Gender specialist and SADC Parliamentary Forum Gender Program Manager.

Dr Ismail Lagardien is a writer, columnist and political economist debates in his recent article whether they are economic boosters or recolonisation? This morning, apart from understanding what the value for Charter cities are, if at all for Africa, we get a deeper understand of what exactly are they?

GUEST: Dr Ismail Lagardien is a writer, columnist and political economist with extensive exposure and experience in global political economic affairs.

We now look at Eureka, another whites-only community such as Orania and Eden. The new whites-only town in the Northern Cape is situated outside Garies and was created as a settlement to preserve white culture and as a place for white people to live "safely and independently". Meanwhile the leader of the Freedom Front Plus in the Northern Cape, Dr Wynand Boshoff has cautioned the founder of Eureka, Adriaan Alettus Nieuwoudt that establishing a settlement exclusively for one race group is not advisable and that "race and culture are not synonyms."

GUEST: Freedom Front Plus leader in the Northern Cape, Dr Wynand Boshoff

Students are currently protesting at the Nelson Mandela University at the campus in Port Elizabeth. Classes for the day have been postponed until further notice. Evening classes were also suspended yesterday due to the protest action. The protest is about a number of students that were unable to register. Sasco says many students have been excluded from registration as they do no have registration fees.

GUEST: South African Students Congress (sasco), Deputy president, Lyanda Tenge

Yesterday our conversation on South Africa's prison system and how such institutions punish and rehabilitate Inmates sparked conversations around life after prison. Many of you called in with mixed opinions on whether or not to give ex-offenders a second chance. Others, who were ex-convicts, expressed frustration about how people with criminal records find it hard to find work. People with a criminal record are now making up a sizeable segment of the country's population – given this factor shouldn't there be general consensus that employment is one of the best ways to discourage ex-cons from returning to crime?
This morning we will look at the stigma of having a criminal record and initiatives in place to try to help ex-offenders

GUEST: Gerson Nevari, Director of the Community Outreach

Advtech, Curro and Pembury are small-cap companies listed on the JSE, and have a focus on private education in South Africa – a growing market sector. There is increasing demand for an alternative to public education in the country, which is seen as offering poor levels of teaching in the country. Education franchises continue to grow and spread across South Africa, fulfilling parent’s needs to invest in their children’s early learning and critical skills development. This morning we understand more about the opportunities available to SMEs wishing to enter into the education sector are extensive – from private pre-primary schools to support services and innovative educational products, as well as the overall economic impact of this form of business.

GUEST: David Morobe – Regional General Manager at Business Partners Limited

South Africa Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies on Tuesday announced the newly appointed South African BRICS Business Council which is set to promote and strengthen trade and investment ties among the BRICS countries. The council, established in 2012, aims to promote and strengthen business, trade and investment ties between the five Brics countries. This morning we understand the work the council will be doing in terms of trade and investment opportunities in key sectors of the economy.

GUEST: Busi Mabuza, Chairperson of the Board, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Ms Mabuza will also head up the new Brics Business Council.

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, has blamed some foreign nationals for contributing to the crime rate in South Africa - saying specific nationalities are involved in drugs, cash in transit heists, violence and even murders. Makhura, who was speaking at post-budget discussions yesterday, emphasized that he was not being xenophobic. Meanwhile, Home Affairs minister, Siyabonga Cwele says he has given directives for the review of the status of all foreign nationals who are running businesses in the country, including religious leaders. Cwele says recent scandals committed by church leaders coming from other countries under the guise of doing businesses in the country, requires more assessment on their status.

GUEST: Home Affairs spokesperson, Siya Qoza

Many people have criticized the prison system for being a walk in the park for inmates‚ who receive free meals‚ medical care, no rent and a free education. Others believe the country's prisons are a breeding ground for criminals‚ where drugs and gangs are common. This morning we aim to understand what is the aim on our Prison System as a country? Is it rehabilitation? Punishment? Alienation from society? And how are we doing in that regard?

GUEST: Zia Wasserman- Sonke's National Prisons Coordinator

Guest: Golden Miles Bhudu, National spokesperson of the South African Prisoners' Organisation for Human Rights