In reaction to yesterday’s Budget Speech, the South African Federation of Trade Unions has issued a statement warning workers that they regard this year and next year as a declaration of war on the working class and the poorest of the poor.

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

In response to yesterday’s Budget Speech, Amnesty International South Africa says the government must urgently improve its reporting on school infrastructure expenditure and progress, arguing that this will increase the bang for very buck.

Guest: Mienke Steytler, Media Officer @ Amnesty International South Africa

We outline the objectives of the Sixth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development that is currently underway in Zimbabwe. The Regional Forum intends to review progress, share experiences and lessons learned, and build consensus on recommendations in the form of key messages to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

Guest: Grant Kasowanjete, National Coordinator @ Global Campaign for Education

Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama says electricity is a right and therefore South Africans must not pay for it. He made these comments in reaction to recent protest that was spearheaded by the Soweto residents. Yesterday Sowetans were protesting over what they call abnormal loadshedding and they called for Eskom to implement a R150 electricity flat rate for all households.

Guest: Andile Mngxitama, Andile Mngxitama, President of Black First Land First

There has been a mixed reaction from politicians, Unions and other commentators to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's budget speech. Earlier on in national assembly Minister Mboweni delivered what many called a crucial budget speech for South Africa's economy. But did the Finance Minister present a budget that offers the best solutions under the current difficult economic situation?

GUEST: Wouter Wessels, Freedom Front Plus MP

There has been a mixed reaction from politicians, Unions and other commentators to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's budget speech. Earlier on in national assembly Minister Mboweni delivered what many called a crucial budget speech for South Africa's economy. But did the Finance Minister present a budget that offers the best solutions under the current difficult economic situation?

GUEST: Pule Mabe, ANC National Spokesperson
GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA MP and Shadow Minister of Finance

Budget Speech: What needs to be done to turn our economy around and what are the conditions under which we must implement our economic growth plan? In 2020, global economic growth is expected to strengthen to 3.3 percent. With a growth of 3.5 percent, sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to be the second-fastest-growing region in the world. Mboweni announced that against this backdrop “we forecast that the South African economy will grow by 0.9 per cent and inflation will average 4.5 per cent in 2020”. He also mentioned that over the next eighteen months, the economy should get a number of jump starts.

Guest Andrew Duvenage, Managing Director – NFB

Sars Commissioner reacts to Tito Mboweni’s Budget Speech. Finance Minister announced that the country’s tax revenue shortfall for 2019/20 stood at R63.3 billion, much higher than the R52.5 billion projected in the 2019 medium term budget policy statements (MTBPS). This was due to weaker-than-expected 0.3% economic growth and the sluggish employment and wage growth which affected personal income tax collection. Moving forward, how will SARS recover from this?

Guest: Edward Kieswetter, SARS Commissioner

Unions want Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba to be removed from her position. Nursing unions have raised concerns over staff shortages, vacant posts, poor healthcare infrastructure, among other challenges facing nurses. Calls for the Health MEC's removal have since sparked the hashtag #PhophiMustFall. On Both Sides of the Story we are asking you: Is there a crisis in Limpopo's public healthcare system?

Guest: Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba
Guest: Jacob Molepo, Limpopo provincial spokesperson for the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) will approach the courts again to compel SAA to consult workers over retrenchments. Few weeks ago the Labour Court rejected the unions' joint application to halt expected jobs cuts at the ailing airline. The Unions have since written a letter to the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) at SAA to enforce their members' right to meaningful engagement during the Business Rescue Process...

Guest: Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi, President of the South African Cabin Crew Association