The Daily Discourse

This morning we speak to the Wife of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko and mother of two of his children Nkosinathi Biko and Samora Biko. Mrs. Ntsiki Biko was a member of the Black Consciousness Movement and was steadfast and courageous during some of apartheid’s most repressive years. Currently she works in King William’s Town running her own business while continuing the legacy of her husband as a trustee of the Steve Biko Foundation. In her role there, Mrs. Biko focuses on leadership development along with the health and social development of local communities, much like her husband Biko did, after he was expelled from medical school, where he worked for the Black Community Programmes (BCP) which included education, health
and welfare projects. Today we get to know a bit more about role that she played, particularly in the rise of Steve Biko.

GUEST: Strike Thokoane, president of the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO)

Time now for our regular Tuesday feature, the African Perspective. Every Tuesday we profile an African country and provide an overview of that specific country, including key events and facts about it. Today the spotlight is on Lesotho, which is known as the Mountain Kingdom. Since the Neolithic Period, the mountain kingdom was the domain of Khoisan-speaking hunter-gatherers. In the 19th century the Sotho, led by Moshoeshoe took control of the region. It remained independent until it became a British protectorate. For more on the country we are now joined on the line by...

GUEST : SABC reporter, Nthakoana Ngatane

Peter Tosh was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963–1976), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari.

GUEST: Mike Masina - former executive mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality and now Executive director GK Steel and mining company

Every year on September 9th, International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day is observed. According to statistics, South Africa is currently leading globally with a FAS prevalence of 6-29%. Out of 187 countries, rates of 111 per 1,000 people are born with the condition in South Africa. The 9-9-9 Campaign against Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), championed by the Deputy Minister of Social Development, aims to create awareness about the dangers associated with consuming alcohol during pregnancy. This is in line with the mandate of the Department of Social Development (DSD) to lead in the implementation of innovative prevention programmes to achieve the vision of a society free of drug abuse as set in the National Drug Master Plan.

Guest: Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu

Electricity costs in South Africa remain a huge challenge. The Government is hard at work to find a solution and through the Integrated Resource Plan have put forward suggestions on how tariffs can be managed better in the future. Some energy experts have called for the introduction of new players in the energy sector. This morning we are in conversation with SENER, a global engineering and construction leader with a focus on the Southern African energy sector about innovative technology in the energy sector and to offer energy wise solutions...

GUEST: Siyabonga Mbanjwa, who is SENER’s Regional Managing Director in Southern Africa

Does South Africa's current policy frustration with land reform warrant a constitutional amendment to allow for expropriation of land without compensation? We speak to political analysts, Ralph Mathekga who says no, and that South Africa should avoid amending its constitution whenever they run into policy difficulties. He now joins us on the line to elaborate on the true cost of changing the Constitution…

GUEST: Ralph Mathekga is a Fellow at the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) and Chair of the African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg and author of "When Zuma Goes and Ramaphosa's Turn".

The challenges facing countries with developing economies can be staggering and South Africa is no exception. Current solutions are no longer adequate to meet the multi-dimensional social, technological and economic challenges. In this context, does Science hold the answers to unprecedented opportunities for rapid social progress and what values should support its development?

GUEST: Dr Molapo Qhobela, the CEO of the National Research Foundation

After releasing his fifth album, Vusi Nova joins us to talk about his musical career. He has done numerous collaborations with a number of musicians and opened for a number of international artists that have both shaped and inspired him throughout his career.

GUEST: Vusi Nova, South African Afro-Soul singer

According to a recruitment expert, men need to be more involved at home to ensure women are more included in workplace and in general economic growth. He went on to say” The unemployment statistics have not deterred job-hungry women, 50% more women actively searching for job, compared to their male counterparts. With two out of three (Lulaway) job seekers (66%) being females, it is clear that there is a disproportionately large number of young females seeking work. All of this is because women have more family responsibilities compared to men.
GUEST: Jake Willis who is a CEO at Lulaway

According to the available data, approximately 11.6 out of every 100 000 people across all age groups in South Africa commit suicide. However, the risk of suicide is at its highest among individuals between the ages of 15 and 24.
Guest: Charity Mkone - Clinical Psychologist with SADAG