The Daily Discourse

Focus: Professor Thumbi Ndungu joins us this morning to explain how HIV affects the rate of disease progression in individuals and how in general epidemics spread and change over time.

Professor Thumbi Ndungu is an nvestigator at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV - Victor Daitz Chair in HIV/TB Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa’s extreme poverty and inequality is well documented. A toxic mix of high unemployment and low wages for the majority of workers perpetuates this problem. Last year important discussions were held about the need for a minimum wage across all sectors. In today’s show we discuss and explore issues around the implementation of the living wage.

Chairperson of the CRL Commission, Thoko Mkhwanazi Xaluva, discusses the commission's plans to investigate church leaders who use dangerous practices that endanger the lives of congregants. The investigation follows a Soshanguve pastor who fed congregants, snakes, hair and other objects.

We turn our focus now on Naturopathic medicine. The practice includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Just how much do we understand about the value of this practice in the country?

Guest: Dr. Faryal Luhar - A licensed Naturopathic Doctor who has been practicing for 11 years.

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.

Women’s Month for what? That’s the question being asked by Michelle Festus, Women’s Rights Coordinator at ActionAid South Africa, who is of the view that Both Women’s Day and Women’s Month have been depoliticised and have lost their value in recognising the struggles of women in our country. How true is this assertion?

This morning we delve into the problem of over drinking and ask – why do we drink and abuse alcohol, what needs to be done to end South Africa’s status as a nation of heavy drinkers? Research suggests that South Africa has the worst drinking habits in the world. The level of alcohol consumed amounts to each citizen drinking between ten and 12.4 litres of pure alcohol a year. Worldwide consumption is, on average, 6.2 litres. So what is wrong with us?

This morning we delve into the problem of over drinking and ask – why do we drink and abuse alcohol, what needs to be done to end South Africa’s status as a nation of heavy drinkers? Research suggests that South Africa has the worst drinking habits in the world. The level of alcohol consumed amounts to each citizen drinking between ten and 12.4 litres of pure alcohol a year. Worldwide consumption is, on average, 6.2 litres. So what is wrong with us?

As part of observing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which was officially commemorated last week Sunday (9 August). This morning we assess the plight and economic standing of indigenous people of South Africa, asking - what do we need to do to advance and elevate indigenous people’s economic and social development in this country

In today’s show we look at the situation of workers in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Egypt, Tunisia and Palestine – asking, what does the future look like for workers in these countries? Joining us to discuss this we have: Rahma Refaat, Lawyer and Programs’ Co-ordinator, CTUWS (Centre for Trade Unions and Workers’ Services) and Ebrahim Deen, Researcher at Afro-Middle East Centre (AMEC).