The Daily Discourse

Cabinet has approved the decision by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, to designate the Atlantis Special Economic Zone in Atlantis Industrial Area, outside Cape Town in the Western Cape Province. The designation of the Atlantis SEZ follows that of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone and is intended to promote industrial development along the West Coast Corridor.
A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is an economic development tool to promote national economic growth and export by using support measures in order to attract targeted foreign and domestic investments and technology. The talking Point today is broadcasting from the Atlantis, Robinvale Sports Ground for the Atlantis Special Economic Zones Presidential launch.

Guest: Solly Fourie Head of Department for Economic Development and tourism in the Western Cape
& Sipho Zikode- Deputy Director General at the department of Trade and Industry

South Africans will have to reimagine the possibility of community if they want to live together peacefully in this country, this according to Amanda Gouws, a professor of Political Science at Stellenbosch University. She says citizens need to continue to understand the impetus of reconciliation that is embodied in the Constitution.They cannot afford to forget this and that they owe it to late former president, Nelson Mandela, who supported a version of liberalism that is inclusive and accepting of diversity, not to do so. Yesterday marked Madiba's fifth anniversary of his death. Today we will speak to Professor Gouws about remembering Mandela's version of liberalism - inclusive and diverse

GUEST: Amanda Gouws, a professor of Political Science at Stellenbosch University.

Yesterday members of social housing advocacy group Reclaim the City have occupied a prime piece of land in Foreshore. Several shacks were been erected on the land.

According to Reclaim the City's Nkosikhona Swaartbooi the land they occupied used to be a public land that is now kept by the wealthiest company and this land symbolizes the problems that we are facing in Cape Town.

GUEST: Nkosikhona Swaartbooi – Spokesperson for Reclaim the City's

Guest: Western Cape Human Settlements MEC, Bonginkosi Madikizela (TBC)

Historical evidence dispels the notion that LGBT people as well as alternative gender expressions and identities are alien to African culture, this according to Gerbrandt van Heerden, an analyst at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR). He says Tanzania's recent intensified efforts to clamp down on the country's queer community highlights the risk of statements by Africa's political, business and social elites normalizing hate and discriminatory actions against sexual minorities.

GUEST: Gerbrandt van Heerden, an analyst at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The Rand has risen on the news of South Africa's exit from recession. Stats Sa announced today that the country had recording a 2-point- 2 percent economic growth for the third quarter, ending the technical recession. The positive growth was largely driven by manufacturing, finance and transport. The Rand has firmed up against a basket of currencies and is up by around ten cents against the dollar on the news of the GDP data.

GUEST: Dr. Iraj Abedian, a Chief economist at the Pan-African Capital Holdings

Since 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has consistently captured the majority of black working class voters. Consequently it has been the ruling party since the first democratic elections. But in recent years it has suffered a major credibility crisis due to its brutal repression of working class strikes and protests, lack of service delivery to poor communities, mismanagement and corruption as well as direct theft from the poor such as the SASSA and VBS scandals. Already this has caused the ANC to lose power in major metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay.

In today's show we assess and analyse where the votes of the majority of South Africans, the black working class, are likely to go.

With us to discuss this we have….

Shaheed Mohammed, from the Socialist Revolutionary Party: &
Dale Forbes, Independent Political Analyst

We continue our discussion around the NHI. Yesterday we spoke Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who has condemned those who have criticized the speed at which the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is being processed, stating that they want to “delegitimize” the process. This follows criticism by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), SECTION27, Rural Health Advocacy Project and other civil organizations who say the current Bill “risks damage to the functional elements of the health system. This morning we are in conversation with NHI Presidential advisor, Dr Olive Shisana, to talk to us about the outcomes of the Presidential Health Summit

GUEST: National Health Insurance (NHI) Presidential advisor, Dr Olive Shisana

Pupils at centre of 2015 mass copying scandal are fighting for their matric results to be released. The prolonged battle between the Department of Education and Mashiyamahle High School in Ndwedwe is still ongoing, with the pupils demanding the release of their original results that were withheld for four years due to allegations of cheating.

GUEST: Basic Education Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

President Cyril Ramaphosa, has announced Advocate Shamila Batohi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions. Advocate Batohi, is the former deputy director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu Natal, she has also worked for the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a legal advisor for the prosecutor. On the Talking Point this morning we are asking you; will Advocate Shamila Batohi, our new National Director of Public Prosecutions, restore credibility to the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA?

GUEST: Mandy Wiener, who is an investigative reporter for News24.

It’s not our Friday Wind down, so you can be forgiven for thinking it’s a Friday today. It’s a Tuesday but we decided to profile a music powerhouse this morning, Grammy Award winning, R&B and soul royalty, Anthony Hamilton, who is in the country. He now joins me in studio…

GUEST: Grammy Award winning, R&B and soul musician, Anthony Hamilton