The Daily Discourse

Newsmakers and Guest Experts offer their insights and perspectives into the national and global discourse on politics, economics, education, social matters and comprehensive dialogues on cultural diversity and other essential issues of public interest like, poverty alleviation, unemployment rate and health related issues.

This week Thursday marks exactly 40 years since the June 16 Soweto uprising. A tragic event that made international headlines where school children were shot and killed by the apartheid police while protesting against the use of Afrikaans a medium of instruction. This morning we speak to Letepe Maisela who published a novel called ‘The Empowered Native’ which is based on the activities of the 1976 Soweto student uprising. What for him still stands out about that day and also why write a book with such a title?

It is public knowledge that South Africa has one of the worst youth unemployment problems in the world. So this morning we are joined by Mpho Mothubi to tell us about his various initiatives which are geared towards motivating and assisting unemployed young people of this country.

Devamrita Swami who is an educator and author in the Krishna bhakti tradition is in the country to attend the Ahmed Kathrada memorial lecture. This morning we talk to him about one of his books entitled “Hiding in Unnatural Happiness”. In this book he gives his perspective on the quest for happiness. With so much unhappiness in the world even among rich people, how should humanity find that happiness with money and other material needs?

Psychological matters with Joanna Kleovoulou’

Focus: An Monday we brought you an interview about the private sector meeting with government and the SMME sector at Constitutional Hill about a way forward for how companies can assist in resolving challenges faced in our economy while also scoring BEE points. Well one of the solutions that came out from it was the Inyosi Supplier Development which is aimed at giving black owned suppliers access to finance. How exactly does this work?

Guest: Luvuyo Rani – MD Silulo Ulutho Technology

Focus: As we start off Youth Month today, we turn our focus on the challenges we always hear about regarding young people in the country. This year marks 40 years since the uprising and often a picture is painted about just how they are not showing interest in their future. Looking back to what those in the 70’s did to shake the country, are we expecting too much from the youth of today?

Guest: Ntsako MKhabela – Founder of the Mzansi Spelling BEE and also daughter of one of the June 16 activists

Focus: We discuss how cleanliness and punctuality can positively affect development on the African continent. Our guest argues that when you look at African cities you see dirt, unkempt gardens, unkempt fences, chaotic traffic. And these cities according to him run on “African time”, itself a discredited concept. As Africans what do we need to do to change or modify our attitudes?

Guest: Sandile Swana, Lecturer at Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand

Focus: The Mineworkers Investment Company and Stella Credit together with government, private and SMME sector are tomorrow (Tuesday) holding a debate on how companies can assist in resolving challenges faced in our economy while also scoring BEE points. The debate will also focus on solutions for the SMME sector which government see as one of the solutions for the unemployment challenge we are facing. As things are at the moment, how should we deal with the direction or economy is taking and also how do we bring everybody to be active participants in it?

Focus: former Prime Minister of Australia Mr Kevin Rudd shares his views and thoughts on South Africa’s role in the multilateral system. Rudd is currently visiting South Africa to discuss the ICM’s evaluation of the current multilateral system and how it can adapt to address key global challenges.

Guest: Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia, now Chair of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM)