In conversation with Prof Francis Petersen who says the negative impact of COVID-19 on the income drivers of the university can, and probably will, be severe.
Guest: Prof Francis Petersen, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State

Many of you have called, SMSed and sent through voice note messages asking how you can access the Department of Small Business Development's support scheme. Who are the beneficiaries under this scheme? And how does their funding package work.

Guest: Lindokuhle Mkhumane, the Acting Director-General of Small Business Development

BSS: The Tax Justice South Africa is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to end the lockdown and for certain sectors to resume with economic activities. The organization also says the lockdown has seen an increase in acts of criminality, this as Illicit cigarettes are flooding the market following the ban on cigarette sales.

Guest: Yusuf Abramjee, the leader of The Tax Justice South Africa

Guest: Dr Sharon Nyatsanza, from the National Council Against Smoking

Various higher education institutions have announced that they would be adopting online learning as their response to the scourge of coronavirus which has interrupted the academic calendar. Nelson Mandela University has however opted to provide its students with pathways that range from digital to face-to-face contact, and combinations of these extremes, to enable all students to complete the first semester.
Guest: Pedro Mzileni- Sociology lecturer at the Nelson Mandela University

Earlier on this month we spoke to the C19 People’s Coalition has called on government to extend social grants in responding to the dire impact of COVID-19. One of their demands was for government to make provision of a basic income grant to the unemployed between the ages of 18 and 59 at an amount at least equivalent to the current disability grant of R1860. Yesterday the president announced that some portion of the R500 billion stimulus relief packages would go to social grant recipients and to the unemployed who will now be getting R350 per month.
Guest: Francina Nkosi – from the C19 People’s Coalition and Women Affected Mining Communities

The South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu) has called on the department of Justice and Constitutional Development to provide protective clothing for its members who work in various centres. According to the union, these centres seem to be the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of workplaces.
Guest: Mike Ngqolowa- General Secretary of the South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu)

Betony Adams unpacks quantum research that might add to the discussion of what creates consciousness, she will also tell us more about theories that appear to indicate the role of quantum effects in the brain’s structural mechanisms and how progress made in the wider field of quantum biology might be relevant to the specific case of the brain.
Guest: Ms Betony Adams, PhD candidate at UKZN’s Centre for Quantum Technology

Land Bank has warned debt holders of R50 billion that it is in danger of defaulting. The repayments in question are for its revolving credit facility, Land Bank cited a current “liquidity shortfall” as the problem. Meanwhile, Agri SA has warned that Land Bank’s failure could expose the country to a substantial systemic risk with dire consequences for commercial farmers, job creation and food security and should be avoided at all cost.
Guest: Dr Requier Wait, Agri SA Head: Economics and Trade Centre of Excellence

Business reacts to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s R500 billion coronavirus support package: Yesterday, the president announced measures that included tax relief, the release of disaster relief funds, emergency procurement, wage support through the UIF and funding to small businesses.
Guest: George Sebulela, founder & President of the South African United Business Federation

Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on measures the government is undertaking to support the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the key things that the president mentioned was that going forward - the country’s economic strategy will require a new social compact among all role players to achieve inclusive growth. Now, given the fact that inequality has remained stubbornly highly in our country – do you think that it will be possible for South Africa to achieve inclusive growth post Covid-19?
Guest: Xolani Dube, Senior Researcher and political analyst from the XUBERA Institute for Research and Development