Guest: Lisa Vetten: research associate of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies and a research consultant in the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Humanities

Guest: Peter Major:director, Mining at Modern Corporate Solutions and Mining Analyst

15 January 2025

1.       South Afrika - Mozambique- Maputo

National holiday decreed for swearing in of new president Daniel Francisco Chapo and Ronald Lamola represents SA in inauguration of Mozambique's president-elect Daniel Chapo

The Mozambican government has decreed a national holiday for Wednesday, the day the new president takes office, the ministry of labour announced in a statement. Minister Ronald Lamola has arrived in Mozambique for the inauguration of president-elect Daniel Chapo.

2.Burkina Faso-  Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso bans colonial wigs in courts to embrace Burkina Faso’s cultural identity

Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has banned the use of British and French colonial-style wigs by judges, marking a significant move to decolonise the country’s judicial system.

3.DR Congo- South Kivu- Uvira

Rising waters of Lake Tanganyika devastate residents of Uvira in DRC

The city of Uvira in South Kivu is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as the waters of Lake Tanganyika continue to rise. The flooding has caused widespread destruction, with over 3,000 homes submerged and more than 36,000 people displaced. Months after the initial flooding began, the situation continues to deteriorate, leaving thousands in desperate need of assistance.

4.       Madagascar- Mozambique   

Tropical Storm Dikeledi has intensified into a cyclone, posing potential threats to Mozambique and Madagascar with heavy rains and strong winds expected. | Meteo-France

The weather service said that in the longer term (Wednesday or Thursday), Dikeledi could potentially threaten the south-west of the Malagasy coast, but this will be specified later, as it will depend on the final trajectory of the system.

5.       In our historical archives, it was on this day 15 January 1996 when King Moshoeshoe II previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, transition/dies at the age of 57 in a road accident, when his car plunged off a mountain road during the early hours. The accident also killed the car's driver.

According to a government statement, Moshoeshoe had set out at 1 am to visit his cattle at Matsieng, and was returning to Maseru through the Maloti Mountains when his car left the road.

Guest: Siviwe Gwarube: Minister, Department of Basic Education

Guest: JP Smith: Safety and security MMC, City of Cape Town

Guest: Dr Chris de Kock: Crime Analyst 

Guest:  Waldo Marcus,  Director at TPN from MRI Software

Guest: Mugwena Maluleke - Secretary General of SADTU

14 January 2025

1.       Mozambique – Maputo

Mozambique opened the 10th parliament sitting amidst opposition protests and boycotts in the streets of Maputo and blockade in many provinces.

About 250 lawmakers were sworn in, while the opposition calls for a strike to protest disputed election results.

2. Sudan- Wad Medani

Sudan's military takes back strategic city from RSF forces

Sudan’s military and its allies have taken back a strategic city from the rebel Rapid Support Forces, officials confirmed.

The recapture of the city of Wad Medani, the capital of Gezira province, came more than a year after it fell to the RSF. Wad Medani had previously been a safe haven for displaced families in the early months of the war.

3. DR Congo- North and South Kivu

Congo army reclaims key areas from M23 rebels

Amid escalating violence in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Congolese army has announced significant military gains against the M23 rebel group.

Over the weekend, the Congolese military reported that it had successfully pushed back M23 forces from South Kivu and recaptured several key towns in both North and South Kivu provinces.

4. Kenya- Tanzania

Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai released after abduction in Kenya

Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a staunch critic of her government, has been released hours after being abducted by armed men in Nairobi, Kenya.

Maria, known for her outspoken advocacy for land rights and freedom of expression, shared an emotional video on X (formerly Twitter), telling her 1.3 million followers, “I have been saved.” Amnesty International Kenya confirmed her abduction on Sunday afternoon, stating she was forcibly taken into a vehicle in the Kenyan capital.

5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 14 January 1951 when Sabela Judas Mahlangu was born in Brakpan and after completing his matric at Kwa Phakama High School in Springs he studied for two years at the Rorke's Drift Art Centre from 1972 to 1974 when he obtained his certificate.

Started his career at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in 1982 as a graphic artist, Mahlangu became a member of the Soweto Art Society and is known for his mono- and polychromatic etchings.

Guest: Anthoni van Nieuwkerk - Professor of International and Diplomacy Studies at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs: Unisa