The Daily Discourse

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe unveiled the 2018 Mining Charter. At a press briefing, Minister Mantashe says the new Mining Charter will create regulatory certainty, boost economic growth and pave the way for the transformation of the mining sector. Again earlier in the year Mine safety came under the spotlight following a spate of deaths at Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations, including a seismic event tin which Miners were killed.

GUEST: Mamokgethi Molopyane – Mining and labour analyst, and also founder of Creative Voodoo Consulting

South Africa's electoral body has its work cut out to ensure a legitimate 2019 poll, this according to Kealeboga J Maphunye, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Sciences at University of South Africa (UNISA). The Electoral Commission of South Africa, the body responsible for municipal, provincial and national elections, is struggling to ensure the integrity of the voters' roll for the 2019 polls. Years back the Constitutional Court ordered the commission to ensure that all registered voters and candidates have verifiable residential addresses. To date‚ this hasn't been done. Professor Maphunye says the commission's failure to ensure a credible voters' roll threatens to undo its legacy of conducting internationally acclaimed elections.

GUEST: Kealeboga J Maphunye, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Sciences at University of South Africa (UNISA)

How should we remember our history-makers? Yesterday anti-Apartheid activist Stephen Bantu Biko would have been 72 years old. Biko, one of the founders of the Black Consciousness Movement of Azania and political activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s, died in police custody 41 years ago in 1977. This morning we are in conversation with the co-founder of ReimagineSA, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who says as we usher in 2019, we should heal the wounds that undermine our ability to become the face of Biko's true humanity...

GUEST: Co-founder of ReimagineSA, Dr Mamphela Ramphele

Gabon is a country located on the west coast of Africa. It’s one of the region's more stable countries. Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. Late President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.

Guest: Dr Ur Koumba – The chairperson of the Gabonese

The South African Student Organisation (SASO) was formed in 1968 after some members of the University of Natal’s Black Campus SRC (Student Representative Council) decided to break away from the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). SASO recently commemorated its 50th Anniversary since it’s founding. What reflections where made at this gathering? Is there a place for Black Consciousness in society today?

Guest: Professor Barney, Former vice-chancellor of Unisa
One of founding members of the South African Students' Organisation, and an important figure in the Black Consciousness Movement with Steve Biko, and an exponent of Black theology.

Last week Friday on our regular Friday feature the Friday Wind Down, we profiled RubyGold, who is a multi-talented vocalist and songwriter. During the Interview she shared her harrowing experience of how her mother lost her life due to domestic violence and how this affected her life and relationships in future.

The Afrikanerbond has expressed concern over the way cases of hate speech and racism are handled in South Africa.
In an open letter written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the organisation has called for a review of the activities of the Human Rights Commission, saying the way it currently addresses the issues is ineffective. Afrikanerbond’s chief secretary, Jan Bosman joins me now to share what their concerns are, and exactly how they suggest issues of race and racism should be handled in the country.

Guest: Jan Bosman - Afrikanerbond’s chief secretary

The ANC Youth League conference to elect new leaders has once again been postponed. The conference which was initially meant to take place in September was moved to December. Over the weekend it was again re-scheduled to a date yet to be announced.

GUEST: Outgoing ANCYL secretary-general, Njabulo Nzuza

The SAYAs awards seek to provide a platform to showcase the exceptional work and contribution that young people are making, telling inspiring stories of young people who register extraordinary achievements against all odds. The year 2018 is celebrated as the centenary year of Tata Nelson Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu. It is in this context that #SAYA2018 convenes under the theme “Be the Legacy”.

GUEST: Mr Sifiso Mtsweni – National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Executive Chairperson

The Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), enacted to combat, among others, organised crime, money laundering and criminal gang activities, has been inadequate to deal with criminal gangs because of several textual, institutional and constitutional shortcomings. This is according to Dr Delano van der Linde from the Faculty of Law at North-West University.
Van der Linde says the ineffectiveness of POCA is supported by the increasing number of gang-related murders with about 21,6% of all murders committed in the Western Cape (during the 2017/18 financial year) being attributed to gangs.

GUEST: Dr Delano van der Linde from the Faculty of Law at North-West University