A new family of very promising silver-based anti-cancer drugs has been discovered by researchers in South Africa. The most promising silver thiocyanate phosphine complex among these, called UJ3 for short, has been successfully tested in rats and in human cancer cells in the laboratory. According to Professor Marianne Cronjé, Head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Johannesburg, the UJ3 complex is as effective as the industry-standard drug Cisplatin in killing cancer cells in laboratory tests done on human breast cancer and melanoma, a very dangerous form of skin cancer, as well.

Guest (studio): Professor Marianne Cronjé, Head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Johannesburg

Baleka Mbete discusses the role of SA’s Parliament in setting the global agenda. She is currently in Geneva, leading a delegation of nine Members of Parliament to the current 138th Assembly and Related Meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Guest on the line (Geneva) Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the National Assembly

To mark the 11th year since the passing of Professor Archibald Monwabisi Mafeje, the 2018 lecture will be held under the theme: ‘Rethinking intellectualism, intellectual spaces and methodologies’. Dr Ibbo Mandaza will present the lecture, and joins us now to unpack how Intellectualism impacts on leadership.

Guest: Dr Ibbo Mandaza, a celebrated academic and politician

Gender pay gaps between men and women have been commonplace for decades in most countries around the world including South Africa. The 2017 Pulse of the People report run by market research firm Ipsos found that, on average, women in SA earned 27% less than their male counterparts. The report, which surveyed more than 3,500 employed South Africans across various occupations and regions, found that this gap was even wider among top earners. How then do we close the gap?

Guest: Ms Siwe Coka - President of the South African Association of Women Graduates and the Founder & Director of Inkanyezi Foundation

Solly Mapaila explains the SACP’s stance on corruption and their objection to former President Zuma being part of the ANC election campaign. The South African Communist Party says the ANC should exclude former president Jacob Zuma from its electoral campaigns. They argue that “we seek to transform society to lead it somewhere and to get there we need incorruptible leaders. We can’t have that kind of face representing our value system. That is completely against what we stand for.”

Guest: Solly Mapaila, 1st Deputy General Secretary of the SACP

According to Vincent Gaborone, a University student, any learner must attend school at any learning facility, whether physically challenged or not. He says we should do away with special schools and his argument is that when a learner finishes matric, there is no special university, so adjusting is difficult.

Guest: Vincent Gaborone - A student at University of Johannesburg, is advocating for the rights of disabled students.

We learn more about Sifiso publishers and their contribution in growing the culture of reading in Africa. They are actively involved in communities through reading to children and encouraging young people and parents to read.

Guest: Yamkela Tywakadi, Commissioning Editor for Sifiso Publishers

With former president Jacob Zuma currently facing multiple charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering. Advocate Paul Hoffman joins us to discuss options available to him and also to help us understand if he stands any chance of an acquittal.

Guest: Adv Paul Hoffman, Director of Accountability Now and the author of Confronting the Corrupt

CBM believes that all persons with disabilities should enjoy their human rights and realise their full potential in an inclusive South Africa. They work to make a tangible, measurable difference to communities and organizations. We find out about their flagship programme, the Rural Ability Programme (RAP), which aims to make a meaningful and sustainable difference to the lives of persons with disabilities in remote and rural areas.
Dr William Rowland - Head of the CBM board.

About two weeks ago SALGA held an energy summit that looked at some of the key factors that have a significant impact on the energy sector in Local Government, with the objective of initiating policy shifts in the energy sector. So this morning our guests will dissect the outcomes of the summit.
Guests: Mr Nhlanhla Ngidi (SALGA – Specialist: Electricity and Energy), Ms Ntombifuthi Ntuli (CSIR – Research Group Leader - Energy Industry) and Mr Thembani Bukula, Chief Executive Officer at PowerX