South Africans are being hit with another cost-of-living squeeze as inflation climbed sharply to 4% in April, driven largely by soaring fuel prices that are now filtering through to food and transport costs. New data from Statistics South Africa shows households are already paying more for basic essentials, with economists warning that even more pressure could be on the way

Guest: Mervyn Abrahams - Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD)  

The Reality Check with Dr Zeph Nhleko: The Role of Development Finance Institutions in closing the investment gap

Guest: Dr Zeph Nhleko - Chief Economist, the Development Bank of Southern Africa

 

 

The African National Congress has opened a public participation process to find a mayoral candidate to represent it in the country’s 8-metro municipalities. The party says that anyone can apply, including people who are not card-carrying members. 

Guest: Febe Potgieter- Gqubule - Head of Policy and Research and member of the National Executive Council for the African National Congress 

 

Afrika Mayibuye Movement Leader, Floyd Shivambu says Mayibuye is preparing to contest all 4 488 wards across the country, with a focus on water shortages, job creation, healthcare and local government reform. The party is also positioning itself as an alternative to what it calls “failed councillors and mayors” from established political parties. 

Guest: Floyd Shivambu - Leader of Afrika Mayibuye Movement 

 

Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa

1. Botswana- South Afrika 

President Ramaphosa on a State Visit to the Republic of Botswana

President Cyril Ramaphosa is on the state Visit to the Republic of Botswana which will culminate in the Sixth Session of the Botswana and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone.

On the two-day State Visit occasion from 20 to 21 May, President Ramaphosa and President Gideon Duma Boko will co-chair the Summit of the Sixth Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).

2. South Afrika – NEPAD- Afrika Day 

Deputy President Mashatile to deliver keynote address at the Nepad @ 25 Business Breakfast today , The event is hosted by the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation as part of Africa Month commemorations and to mark the 25th Anniversary of NEPAD.

3. DR Kongo – North Kivu 

M23 plays down Ebola fears as WHO visits treatment centres in eastern DRC

A M23 rebel group spokesperson downplayed concerns about the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a team from the World Health Organization visited a treatment center in Nyiragongo on Tuesday.

The WHO team also went to a public health laboratory in Goma, which is under occupation by the M23 rebel group.

4.In our historical archives, it was on this day 21 May 2002 when the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

 

The Global Briefing: After months of tension in the Strait of Hormuz, three supertankers carrying six million barrels of crude oil are finally making their way to Asia.

Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández is speaking out after receiving a controversial pardon from US President Donald Trump.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing fresh scrutiny after avoiding questions from journalists during his visit to Norway

Guest: Anthoni van Nieuwkerk  - Professor at UNISA 

 

 

Market Brief with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter

• Nvidia earnings top analysts expectations 

• Musk confirms IPO plans
• Markets

A new report by Freedom Under Law warns that the Constitutional Court is overwhelmed and proposes major reforms, including stricter appeal rules, changes to court processes and even the possible merger of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Guest: Chris Oxtoby, Research Consultant at Freedom Under Law  

Built in Mzansi: How Prof. Vukosi Marivate leads the Data Science for Social Impact (DSFSI) research working group as it bridges the gap between cutting-edge data science research and real-world societal challenges, with a special focus on African language technologies. Just yesterday, he received the National Order of Mapungubwe in Silver on this work data science and artificial intelligence

Guest: Prof. Vukosi Marivate - Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria 

Guest: Zanele Sabela - COSATU Spokesperson  

Guest: Leon Louw: Founder and past President Free market Foundation, CEO, Freedom Foundation & Izwe Lami