The Daily Discourse

Martin van Staden explains why he thinks South Africa needs ‘Radical Criminal Justice Reform’. Van Staden wants government to abolish victimless crimes, which include prostitution, some traffic offenses, dealing in drugs and contravening exchange regulations.

Guest: Martin van Staden, Legal researcher

What is the function of the South African Reserve Bank and how does it maintain financial stability in the country? Reliable archive material tells us that the South African Reserve Bank was established in 1921 as the central bank of South Africa in terms of a special act of Parliament. The Reserve Bank was mainly set up because of the need to issue uniform banknotes and to prevent the over-issue of banknotes. The primary or strategic objective of the bank is to achieve and maintain stable financial conditions in the country. Today, the Reserve Bank virtually performs the full range of functions and duties that are customarily carried out by central banks. But - is it fulfilling its mandate?

Guest: Ahmed Motiar – Author of ‘The Reserve Bank = A License to Steal Money from Citizens’?

Neo is of the view that the genesis of the question can be found in the colonial and apartheid legislation on education and the universities. He also argues that post-1994, the Nelson Mandela presidency and the government of national unity had too many challenges and that a serious national dialogue about the practicalities of a paradigm shift away from “criminal offence”, in education broadly and in higher education specifically, was never a priority.

Guest: Dr Neo Lekgotla laga Ramoupi is a postdoctoral fellow in the 2016-2017 African Humanities Programme and a senior researcher in the directorate of research, monitoring and advice at the Council on Higher Education in Pretoria

In conversation with the newly appointed Human Settlements Ombudsman, Mr Themba Mthethwa. The Ombudsman’s role is to deal with all complaints that either the construction sector or the general public may have against the department or any of its entities.

Guest: Mr Themba Mthethwa, Human Settlements Ombudsman

We often hear how many people battle to pay for their children’s education and how the private sector is called upon to help. Well more and more organisations are coming forward looking for that deserving young person to help. This time it is the Student Sponsorship Programme that says they are looking for scholars who have the potential to be developed into academically excellent and emotionally quotient future leaders.

Guest: Namhla Ruselo – Recruitment Director at the Student Sponsorship Programme

Former cabinet member and ANC cadre, Charles Nqakula says writing his autobiography has been a long but fulfilling journey. Nqakula will on Tuesday 13th June 2017 launch his book: "The People's War - Reflections of an ANC cadre", at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town with his wife, Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Bongi Gwala had a discussion with him about the book…

Guest: Charles Nqakula - : Former cabinet member and ANC cadre

Ahead of the AU Summit to be held in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia 3-4 July, global advocacy body called One says it will be calling upon African leaders to make the strategic investments which will make sure that we harness the demographic dividend rather than reap a demographic disaster among the youth. What in particular are they concerned with?

Guest: Nachilala Nkombo - Interim Africa Executive Director for the ONE Campaign

Brenden Gray argues against the notion that excellence, quality and school success flow from school discipline. According to him, discipline is not indicative of school success but of educational failure.

Guest: Brenden Gray, Head of the graphic design department at the University of Johannesburg’s faculty of art, design and architecture and a doctoral candidate at the university’s Centre for Education Rights and Transformation

Africa Month may be over, but the dialogue continues. The Department of Arts and Culture continues with hosting colloquia under the theme, “The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World” to celebrate the legacy of OR Tambo and to promote African Unity. One of the acclaimed speakers is none other than Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o.

Guest: Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o – World acclaimed author and some call him Father of "decolonising the mind"

As the country is still battling to lift the standard of mathematics to that of the global community, we turn our attention to the accounting profession. Just recently the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants appointed Mareka Chabedi as Education Manager for South Africa and one of his views is that if there are economic activities in rural areas, then there will be no reason for individuals to move to urban areas. In his new position, where is he hoping to take the profession and attract young people?

Guest: Mareka Chabedi – Newly appointed Education manager for South Africa at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants