Are Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), codes inhibiting the development of Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises? On our Small Business feature we speak to Karabo Mashugane, the chief executive of 20/20 Insight, who argues that corporate incentives are needed in order to allow corporates to offer large contracts to small businesses. Karabo is also running a petition under the hash tag B.E.E4Me (#Bee4sme). Karabo Mashugane now joins us in studio....

GUEST: Karabo Mashugane is the chief executive of 20/20 Insight - Specialists in B-BBEE Advisory, Supplier Development and SME financing.

Significant strides have been made towards the emancipation of women's rights and addressing gender discrimination but are women still being left out when it comes to participating in international relations? On The Talking Point this morning, we speak to one of Japan's most influential thought leaders, Dr Tomoko Kitagawa, also known as "Lady Samurai", in recognition of her courageous and thought-provoking interrogation of life and history. She is in country and will be sharing her insights on "The role of women in diplomacy" at various Universities. So what is the role of women in diplomacy? ...To answer this we are now joined on the line by Dr Tomoko Kitagawa....

GUEST: Dr Tomoko Kitagawa

South Africa's rape and murder rate remains one of the highest in the world. Currently South Africa ranks among the world's worst three countries, after the US and Russia, for serial murders and rapes with local police identifying on average between 200 to 300 new cases each year. Many of the perpetrators are never caught. This morning we speak to a brave woman, Rochelle Pimentel, a rape survivor, motivational speaker and founder of a gender advocacy group, "Love 167". Joining us also for this conversation is, Michelle Smith, who is a trauma counselor, at the Jes Foord Rape Crisis Centre

GUESTS: Rochelle Pimentel - A rape survivor, motivational speaker and founder of a gender advocacy group, "Love 167"

AND: Michelle Smith, who is a trauma counselor, at the Jes Foord Rape Crisis Centre

** Guest(s) from Post-Budget Vote Speech Breakfast event, at the Cape Town ICC, which is to be hosted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on 16 May 2018

Guest: Mr Xolisa Makhanya - deputy director general for africa at DIRCO

Rhodes University has accused one of two expelled students of lying about the reasons for her expulsion at the Institution. Yesterday we spoke to Yolanda Dyantyi, who was issued a life ban from the institution after being involved in anti-rape protests in 2016. Dyantyi was expelled for allegedly committing "acts of criminality". She denies the claims and says that she was denied the chance to testify in the disciplinary process against her and the verdict to expel her was made in her absence. Rhodes Director of Communications, Luzuko Jacobs however says this is a "distorted narrative". He now joins us on the line...

Guest: Rhodes Director of Communications, Luzuko Jacobs

** Guest(s) from Post-Budget Vote Speech Breakfast event, at the Cape Town ICC, which is to be hosted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on 16 May 2018

guest: Ambassador Annil Sooklal - deputy director general at DEIRCO responsible for Asia and middle East

Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande has appointed an interim board at Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, PRASA, to stabilize the firm. Three board members were removed at the troubled state-owned logistics firm following after reports of irregularities in the awarding of state contracts. On The Talking Point we speak to the new interim board chairperson of PRASA Khanyisile Kweyama, who has sat on the board of a variety of different companies. We speak to her about what she will bring with her expertise and experience to Prasa. She now joins us on the line...

GUEST: New interim board chairperson of PRASA, Khanyisile Kweyama

The recent drought and water shortages in the Western Cape have highlighted the importance of water in our lives and the need to secure its supply. Other provinces have also faced problems of drought and water shortages as well as poor water management with water supplies being unfit for human consumption due to pollution and poor maintenance. However, these water supply problems are experienced all over the world and it is even predicted that wars will be fought over access to water. But how have these problems of water supply impacted on working class people? With us to discuss this we have:

GUESTS: Bryan Ashe - Of the KZN Water Caucus
Professor Steven Robins – From the department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at the University of Stellenbosch

Post-Budget Vote Speech Breakfast event, at the Cape Town ICC, which is to be hosted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on 16 May 2018

guest: Aziz Pahad

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Zwelini Mkhize says is concerned about political infighting, financial distress and instability in municipalities. Delivering his department's budget vote in Parliament recently, Mkhize says only seven per cent of municipalities are functioning properly. For more on this we are now joined by Dr Zwelini Mkhize...
GUEST: Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Zwelini Mkhize