As millions of South Africans gear up for Christmas festivities, many others are battling with depression. According to the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag) they receive more than 600 calls a day from South Africans struggling with the debilitating symptoms of depression. What can those struggling with financial problems, loneliness or a sense of loss during this time of the year do?

Guest: Cassey Chambers - Spokesperson for the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag)

Gauteng public transport and roads infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has added seven more depots for the impoundment of unroadworthy vehicles and increased the prescribed impoundment fee to R3, 500. He says the increased capacity for impounding depots is part of strengthening Gauteng’s road safety campaign aimed at reducing road fatalities.

Guest: Jacob Mamabolo, MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure in Gauteng

On Saturday last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “colonialism was a grave mistake” and called for “turning the page” on the past during a visit to Ivory Coast, which is a former French colony by the way. Macron made the comments during a press conference alongside Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, soon after the announcement that the CFA franc currency used by eight West African countries (almost all of them former French colonies) would be transformed into the “ECO”.

Guest (studio): Izak Khomo, Presenter and Producer of Spotlight Africa on Channel Africa

About a week ago, the Supreme Court of Appeal awarded damages to the family of the late five-year-old boy, Michael Komape, who drowned in a pit toilet at school five years ago. However, post the court ruling - reports emerged suggesting that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her team were going to appeal a ruling on damages that were sought by Michael Komape’s family for emotional shock and grief.

Guest: Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education

Today the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula released the mid festive season road safety statistics. A total of 489 fatal crashes have been recorded thus far, which is a 25% decrease compared to 656 fatal crashes recorded over the same period last year.

Guest: Ayanda Allie- Paine - Spokesperson for the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula

2019 can be said to have been a challenging period for the Office of the Public Protector given some of the legal battles the office was faced with. We are now in conversation with Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane as we look at the last 12 months.

Guest: Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane - Public Protector

The Minerals Council of South Africa has called on the government to urgently intervene and ensure security in the mining industry. This follows the killing of a security guard during an armed robbery at the Harmony Goldplant west of Johannesburg, on Friday.

Guest: Alan Fine

Today a group of South African students, academics and activists, in conjunction with organisations including Protect the Rohingya, the Wits Muslim Students Association, the Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee, Johannesburg Against Injustice, the Media Review Network, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and SA Friends of Kashmir organised a protest outside the Indian Consulate General in Parktown. The protest was organised under the banner ‘South Africans against Apartheid India.’ The demonstration follows the adoption of the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) by the Indian state.

Guest: Faatima Laher - Organiser

The Royal Family of the kingdom of Abathembu have welcomed the release of the Abathembu King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo from prison. King Dalindyebo was released last night as part of the prisoners qualifying for remission of sentence. According to the Ngangelizwe Royal Family of the Abathembu Nation the absence of his Majesty marked a period division within the Abathembu nation and the matter eventually landed in court in Grahamstown High Court under the lead of AbaThembu Royal Adviser Adv Matthew Mpahlwa.

Guest: Nkosi Thanduxolo Mtirara - Chairperson of the Ngangelizwe Royal Family - ABATHEMBU NATION

Guest: Eric Muragana SABC Digital Media Manager