Tokyo will implement a four-day workweek for government employees next year to encourage young people to get married and start families. Sociologists have blamed Japan’s plunging birth rates on the high cost of living and grueling work culture. 

Guest: Tom Moultrie is professor of demography, and Director of the Centre for Actuarial Research (CARe) at the University of Cape Town 

Elite South African schools will breach new thresholds in 2025, with nine day schools charging more than R200,000 annually and one boarding school surpassing R400,000. In the realm of high-end education, exclusive private schooling is the latest status symbol. 

Guest: Andrew Thompson – Freelance Writer for Business Insider 

 

Guest: Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, UNISA’s Vice Principal for Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation & Commercialisation; one of the authors of the report. 

A range of South Africans are setting up Trusts for various and personal reasons – often family-related and also for wealth creation purposes. Some Trusts were set up years ago. Some are new. SARS noted that people are not too clear on the tax requirements, particularly that the Trust must be registered with SARS for income tax after registering with the Master of the High Court, and file an annual income tax return each year even if the Trust is ‘inactive’ or passive 

Guest: Michael Graskie, a senior specialist in the Trust Unit at Sars. 

 

Guest: Kingsol Chabalala - DA's Gauteng spokesperson on arts and culture,  

 

The Morning Brief  

Afrika Update Report 

11 December 2024  

1. Namibia- Windhoek  

Namibia’s opposition challenges election results 

In a dramatic turn of events, Namibia’s post-election landscape took a contentious twist on Monday as the country’s main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), lodged a legal challenge against the outcome of the November 27-30 polls. 

2. Zambia- Lusaka  

Zambia's Court Blocks Edgar Lungu from Seeking Third Term 

The Zambian Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is not eligible to seek a third term in office. The court’s decision comes after Lungu announced his return to active politics last year. 

The country’s highest court determined that Lungu's first term, served from 2015 to 2016 following the death of President Michael Sata, counts as a full presidential term. This ruling effectively blocks his bid for a new mandate. 

3. Ghana- Accra 

Victorious Dramani John Mahama promises new beginning for Ghana 

Ghana's opposition candidate and former President John Mahama has promised "a new beginning, a new direction" for the country after being officially declared the winner of Saturday's presidential election. Mahama won with 56.6% against 41.6% for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. It is the biggest margin of victory in the country for 24 years. 

4. Mozambique – Maputo  

At least 110 people have been killed in post-election protests in Mozambique and SA shuts Mozambique border crossing again 

At least 110 people have died in post-election demonstrations in Mozambique since 21 October, according to figures from local NGO Plataforma Eleitoral Decide and business community calling for political solution to the post electoral crisis. 

5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 11 December 2023 when a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist Bulelwa Mkutukana Zahara died at the age of 36 in Gauteng. 

Her stage name means "blooming flower" in Arabic. As a child, she was known by the nickname "Spinach" after her love of vegetables. 

Joburg Water is facing a critical infrastructure backlog estimated at R27bn, causing many neighbourhoods to suffer irregular water supply as the ageing water systems buckle under the strain of increasing demand and inadequate investment. 

Guest: Ntshavheni Mukwevho – Joburg Water CEO 

 

Guest: JP Smith - Mayco member for safety and security at the City of Cape Town 

 

 

Guest: Mathew Parks- Cosatu Cosatu parliamentary coordinator 

 

Guest: Desmond Latham - Aviation Expert