Usually around this time of the year we hear the same cries about student funding especially those whose parents can't afford, but also don't qualify for NSFAS. So many students and parents call into the show seeking other avenues to access funds for fees. Well this may be a thing of the past as universities are starting to come up with their own funding methods. Wits University’s SRC is introducing a way that deserving students can complete their studies through the Kobo Ya Thuto: SRC Legacy Fund which they sell as the solution to deal with this problem. 

Guest: Jerome September - Dean of Student Affairs at Wits University

Ratepayers and business forums under The Ray Nkoyeni Municipality are very frustrated and wanting some type of compensation from thei municipality for the suffering they had to endure because of a strike that has affected service delivery for about two months. Recently they again grouped themselves to clean their town to avoid the stench coming from uncollected refuse that could become a health hazard. At the centre is the fact that after the amalgamation of two municipalities, the Hibiscus Coast Municipality and Ezinqoleni Municipality, which took place in August 2016, the status of the municipality was raised from Grade 4 to Grade 5. In 2021. So this then affects the job grading. The municipality has now taken the issue to the Labour Court. Last week the KZN MEC for Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thulasizwe Buthelezi has given the feuding parties three weeks to sort this out. Let's use this opportunity now to understand what is making the entire thing difficult and the impact this is having on service delivery. We are joined by…

Guest: Ntombifuthi Mzotho - Regional Secretary for the SA Municipal Workers Union at the Ray Nkoyeni Municipality

Guest: Salahuddin Musa - Administrator at the Albersville Ratepayers Association

Guest: Younus Moosa  - Chair of the Port Shepstone Business Forum 

Guest: Municipality Name TBC

As much as the country is celebrating a high matric pass rate, two provinces that came last, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape are still a concern. So we thought to speak to them in an effort to find out what happened and how they are hoping to turn things around. The Northern Cape came out last with a pass rate of 84.2%. So we start with them today to hear what their explanation is as we welcome...

Guest: Dr.Michelle Ishmail – Head of Department at the Northern Cape Department of Education

Guest: Margret van Wyk - Isibindi Ezikoleni Provincial Project Coordinator in the Northern Cape

Guest: Rickey Willemse – Director for FET Curriculum in the Northern Cape Department of Basic Education

When it comes to the running of our schools we often hear about how teachers are doing, school governing bodies and their contribution to running the schools. But we hardly ever hear about those who either give their time to help kids cross the road, help with homework, coach sports teams or feed those who are hungry. For this hour we will be speaking to such people who give their time to uplift the conditions of learners and help improve the running of the school. 

Guest: Jacob Madisha – Chairperson of the Ponelopele Community Development in Atteridgeville 

Guest: Zakes Manda – Chair of Nyeleti Light House based in Meadowlands 

Guest: TT Mbha – Social Activist

Guest: Sir Max – A motivational speaker who calls himself a Knowledgepreneur

As you’ve heard throughout last night that the matric Class of 2024 achieved an outstanding pass rate of 87.3% - the highest in the country's history. It's an improvement from the 2023 matric pass rate of 82.9%. This hour is dedicated to some of the class of 2024 high achievers. It's also ways interesting and inspiring to hear what they did in an effort to pass with high marks. Let’s start off by listening to what some of the top achievers had to say at the award ceremony.

So we are going to speak to more of them to tell us their stories and where they would like to see themselves…

Guest: Vuyelwa Tshandu – From Redhill College (5 distinctions)

As we start the year, Bryan would like to talk about projects for 2025. Reminding us to

understanding our income and expense budget – bonus and also to revisit having all our documents in one place which is called a Life File. He now joins us in studio…

Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

We continue with the theme of staring a new year, turning our focus to issues of self leadership. Yes we do make new year resolutions, but do we have the will to follow them through? Are we asking ourselves the right questions in an effort to improve our lives? What are we not doing right as individuals that will help in taking us forward? We’ve invited an expert to talk about the key questions to ask ourselves as we start the new year and to help us through, we are joined by...

Guest: Dr Chuma Mangisa - A leadership expert from DR CAM Leadership and HR Consulting

As we start the year 2025 coming out of a very politically hectic 2024, we thought to start off by looking at the state of the country and what we would like to see happen. One of the biggest developments is no doubt the formation of a government of national unity is the African national Congress did not get a majority in the 2024 elections for the first time since the dawn of democracy. This has left many commentators wondering how the President’s State of the Nation Address is going to be like seeing that he will have to get input from the other parties in the GNU. The year also kicks off with the country’s biggest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal SA closing its plants in Newcastle and Vereeniging which will see 3500 people lose their jobs at the end of January. Sentiment around 30 years of democracy was another issues that didn’t sit well with many who feel that their lives have not changed. Where do we start and what should we expect as we move forward? To lead us in this discussion, we are joined by...

Guest: Nco Dube - Political economist, businessman, and social commentator 

Guest: Dr Ayesha Omar - Political Analyst, Senior Lecturer in Political theory in the Department of Political Studies at Wits

Our guest this morning is one of those legends who need no introduction. He has written so many songs over the decades for himself and other artists. Brenda Fassie is one of the big names associated with him. One even wonders whether he himself knows how many songs he has written? Well, we are joined now by….

Guest: Chicco Twala – South African musician, writer and producers

When we did our discussion with Professor Musa Xulu about whether Shaka started the Zulu nation or whether it came after him, we then received requests to look at who Soshangane was. The different history texts say that the Shangaan tribe came into being when King Shaka of the sent Soshangane (Manukosi) to conquer the Tsonga people in the area of present-day southern Mozambique, during the Mfecane upheaval of the 19th Century. They go on to say that Soshangane found a fertile place inhabited by scattered communities of peace-loving people, and he decided to make it his home rather than return to Shaka. So we have found an expert who can tell us the true history of Soshangane what who he was. Also the Tsonga and the Shangaan, are they the same? To educate us, we are joined by….

Guest: Ntsako Shivambu - Historian, Activist & Author of Rixaka Ra Vatsonga