In a global first, three UCT researchers have visualised – at a resolution close to that of individual atoms – the intact active site of a commercially important biological molecule. The breakthrough research holds the potential for long-lasting and widespread impacts on everything from manufacturing better medicines to cleaning up pollution.

Guest: Dr Jeremy David Woodward, Principal Investigator Structural Biology Research Unit - Chief Scientific Officer (Cryo-EM) Electron Microscope Unit Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment @ University of Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa says a package of economic measures is being put together in partnership with business and labour to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on the country. President Ramaphosa was delivering an address to the nation (last night) about government's measures to try and slow the spread of the virus in South Africa. Meanwhile, SAFTU leaders are contemplating the appropriate response for society, the working class, the state and capital, to what may be a massive crisis that sickens tens of millions and kills hundreds of thousands. For reaction from labour, we are now joined by the South African Federation of Trade Unions' General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has called on Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi to urgently consider a Special Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) dispensation for workers affected by Corona Virus. This as cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus continue to rise in South Africa. Meanwhile the UIF say workers who contract the Corona Virus qualify for two benefits from the fund; which is death and illness.

Guest: Teboho Maruping, Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF

The National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) says smoking is associated with worse Covid-19 symptoms and outcomes. The Council says stopping smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes or vapes should be high on the list of measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Guest: Dr. Sharon Nyatsanza, project and communications manager at the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS)

Next week Friday, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will launch its new strategy. A key highlight of the new strategy is the development and commercialisation of CSIR technologies. The organisation aims to achieve this by working closely with the private sector and innovation partners to invest, develop and take these technologies to the market.

Guest: Dr Thulani Dlamini, CEO of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

In conversation with doctor Brett Lyndall Singh to dispel some of the myths surrounding the coronavirus outbreak and we shall also give you answers to questions frequently asked about the virus.

Guest on the line (China) Doctor Brett Lyndall Singh, member of the anti-epidemic team specialising on Coronavirus

The U.S. Government has committed 37 million US dollars in financing from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 25 countries affected by novel coronavirus COVID-19. In South Africa the US will commit approximately 8 million rand towards COVID-19 awareness response.

Guest: Natasha de Marcken, Acting Mission Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at the U.S Embassy in Pretoria

The Ad Hoc committee on land expropriation without compensation held public hearings in Gauteng today to receive inputs on the Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill. The ad hoc committee was tasked with conducting public hearings across the country on the Expropriation Bill that outlines the circumstances under which expropriation of land without compensation would be permissible. Today the Committee held public hearings at the KT Mutubatse Community Centre, in Soshanguve, Tshwane. For more on this we are joined on the line by…

Guest: Parliament's land expropriation ad hoc committee chairperson, Dr Mathole Motshekga

The ANC youth league in Limpopo says bringing the quarantine point to the ranch resort will put people lives at risk and they vow to organise a march.

Guest: Nyiko Bembani

The DA in Gauteng is calling on Gauteng COGTA MEC Lebogang Maile to dissolve the Emfuleni local municipality in the Vaal. Yesterday municipal property including vehicles and furniture were attached, as it owes Eskom 2.3 billion rand. In 2018 Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced that the municipality would be placed under administration but then Emfuleni mayor Jacob Khawe disputed this. Maile says the seizure of assets will have a serious effect on service delivery and he is planning to meet both Eskom and municipality management on this.

Guest: John Moodey, DA Gauteng Provincial Leader