The National Briefing

Guest: Trevor Manuel, Old Mutual

According to the Integrated Report of Old Mutual, SA’s problems are being made worse by a lack of strong political leadership

 

 

 

 

Guest: Adv. Sipho Mantula from Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International: UNISA

 Africa Update Report: 18 April 2023; 1. Sudan - Khartoum, Fighting intensifies between the army and the paramilitary Rapid support forces with over 100 civilians reported dead; 2. Senegal-Dakar, The appeal trial for defamation against Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been postponed to May 8th; 3. Madagascar - Antananarivo, A couple of Malagasy smugglers have been arrested after the death of 34 migrants;4. South Africa-Western Cape, Africa continental free trade agreement business forum update - South African Minister Trade, Industry and Competition Patel says the AfCFTA could help to break an historical pattern of Colonialist trade history ; 5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 18 April 1982 when the capital city of Zimbabwe was renamed after the Shona  King Neharawa.

 

Guest: Steven Grudz, Head: African Governance and Diplomacy Programme and the Russia-Africa Project at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)

In Russia it appears that that country’s leadership is determined to crack down on any protest against its war in Ukraine - yesterday the country’s court system sentenced a critic of the kremlin - Vladimir Kara-Murza to twenty-five years in jail.

 

 

 

 

 Guest: Hennie Van Vuuren, director of Open Secrets

Guest: Eddie Cross, Former Member of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe

Guest: Dr William Mpofu, researcher at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

Guest: Hopewell Chin’ono, Zimbabwean journalist

Mediated Conversation: Al Jazeera has broadcast a four party documentary showing how high ranking officials in Zimbabwe are helping people to smuggle gold of that country.

 

Guest: Layton Beard, Automobile Association (AA) spokesperson

The Automobile Association of South Africa says that there has been a horrendous increase in road fatalities over Easter long weekend

 

 

 

Guest: Bilall Jeewa, Coordinator for Gift of the Givers

A fire in Dakota Informal Settlement in Isipingo Beach (eThekwini KZN) broke out over the weekend. Gift of the Givers Foundation team is onsite to offer assistance and support, approximately 300 structures have burnt down. No injuries or deaths reported.

 

 

 

 

Guest: Prof. Catharine Esterhuysen, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University

Scientists identify new benchmark for freezing point for water at -70°C

 

 

Guest: Pappie Mokoena, Mangaung Municipality mayor

Pappie Mokoena elected the new Mayor of Mangaung Municipality

 

 

 

Guest: Justice Edwin Cameron, Head of Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services

Last week, the Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services - Judge Edwin Cameron said that the Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola had been told of the Thabo Bester escape in October

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest: Dr. Sayan Dey, Postdoctoral Fellow, Wits Centre for Diversity Studies

In India, some states are again making it mandatory for people to wear facemasks - as the number of covid-19 cases appears to be increasing again