The Daily Discourse

Education has become a priority concern for the country as a whole in both private and public schooling. Last week, Cambridge International Examinations held its schools conference under the theme ‘Leading Learning’ which focuses on the importance of everyone in a school - the principal, teachers and students alike - as leaders of learning. How does this help in enhancing learning and what is it that makes Cambridge a success?

The African continent is mourning its own loss after Congolese music legend, Papa Wemba died at the weekend. The 66-year old collapsed on stage in the Ivory Coast while performing at a festival. Wemba, whose real name was Jules Shungu Webadio, shaped Congolese music in the 1970s and 80s, making soukous music the most popular sound in Africa. What is it we will remember the most about Papa Wemba?

Guest (studio): Tresor (French for “treasure”) – Musician and songwriter from the DRC whose music was influenced by Papa Wemba

The Zika virus in South America has left some pregnant women with a tough decision of whether to abort or run the risk of their babies being born with Microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby is born with an abnormally small head and a short life expectancy. Experts say what started out as a question about containing the virus and the causal relationship between Zika and microcephaly, has now escalated into an issue about access to reproductive health and women's right to abortion. The other issue that has come to the fore is the dilemma medical professionals have to deal with. How then do they find the balance?

Guest: Professor Sylvester Chima – Professor of Medical Ethics at UKZN

Focus: Over the years we have seen more and more international franchises opening in the country even now with the negative perception that is being created about our economy. Experts in the business sector say this is a very significant development and growth for the economy. What should we read into this and also is franchising a viable business option for entrepreneurs?

Guest: Christo Botes – Executive Director at Business Partners Limited

Focus: We are in conversation with the man who invented the ‘Please Call Me’ concept. On Tuesday this week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Vodacom was unethical and dishonest when it refused to pay him for coming up with the concept. What lessons can be learned from Makate’s experience?

Guest: Nkosana Makate, ‘Please Call Me’ inventor

Musa Zulu reflects on his experience as a wheelchair user and how he finds society’s attitudes towards people with disabilities. He recently celebrated 21 years as a wheelchair user and he says these years have come with critical lessons that have taught him so much about himself and the world around him.

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.

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.

A video showing 15 of the 219 schoolgirls held by Boko Haram has added pressure on the Nigerian government to secure their release after activists accused authorities of mishandling the case in the two years since their mass kidnap. Weeping parents identified the girls captured in the video. Washington on the one hand says Nigeria has made progress while activists are saying very little is being done. Just what is making it so difficult for Nigeria to deal with this crisis?

The issue of drought and possibly other factors has made food security one of the most important global issues. On the other hand there are those who think that urban agriculture is the solution to the growing problem of urban food insecurity in South Africa and in Africa more broadly. This morning we are in conversation with Dr Jane Battersby-Lennard who is of the view that there is very little evidence to support this level of investment and focus. Today we ask, what do we need to do to address the problem of food insecurity?