Guest: Dr Mpho Maja is the Director of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture

Guest: Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal.

Guest: Hardin Ratshisusu, Acting Commissioner, National Consumer Commission

Guest: Paula Quinsee: CEO of Engaged Humans 

Guest: Isaac Mangena: Spokesperson, City Power

Guest: Prof Eric Atmore: Director of the Centre for Early Childhood Development

 
18 March 2025
1. Angola- DR Congo - M23 
M23 rebels pull out of peace talks with Congo after EU sanctions
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels on Monday pulled out of peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo's government less than 24 hours before the warring parties in eastern Congo's worst conflict in decades were due to convene in Angola today.

2. European Union- M23 and Rwanda Military 
New sanctions by EU against M23 rebel leaders and Rwandan military
The European Union enacted sanctions against nine leaders from the M23 rebel group and several Rwandan military officers  yesterday, due to their roles in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These measures had been anticipated in the DRC for several days and specifically target key figures within the M23, including Bertrand Bisimwa, who is already under UN sanctions, and Colonel John Imani Nzenze.
The list also features Jean Bahati Musanga, the current governor of North Kivu, who was appointed by the M23/AFC.

3. Rwanda - Belgium 
Rwanda said Monday it had given Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country after cutting ties with Brussels.In a statement, Kigali's foreign affairs ministry accused Belgium of interference.
''Belgium has consistently undermined Rwanda, both well before and during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda,'' the statement read in part.

4.Zimbabwe-Joint SADC- EAC Meeting 
SADC and EAC convene in Harare to address Eastern DRC crisis
SENIOR officials from SADC and the East African Community (EAC) convened in Harare yesterday to prepare for today’s Council of Ministers meeting, which will focus on the escalating crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following SADC’s recent decision to withdraw its troops from the conflict-ridden region, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability.

5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 18 March 1994 when the Interim report into the allegations of a “Third Force” by the Goldstone Commission was published.
The allegations suggested that Deputy Police Commissioner Lt-Gen. Basie Smit, the head of counterintelligence Gen. Krappies Engelbrecht, and the commander of the central investigation department Lt.-Gen. Johan le Roux, had masterminded a third force with the aim of making the country ungovernable.

Guest: Philani Mweli: Director of Employment Management, The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA)

Guest: Benay Sager: Executive Head of DebtBusters

Guest: Christopher Isike: Professor of African Politics and International Relations in the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria and Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Pretoria (ACSUS-UP)

Guest: David Willima: Research Officer, Maritime Security at the Institute for Security Studies.