The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2019 released by Statistics South Africa, indicate that the official unemployment rate increased by 0,5 of a percentage point to 27,6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in the unemployment rate is a result of a decline of 237 000 in the number of people in employment and an increase of 62 000 in the number of people who were unemployed between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019. For more on this we are joined by……..

Guest: Mr Risenga Maluleke - Statistician-General of South Africa and head of Statistics South Africa

The United Nations has warned of a looming drought-related humanitarian crisis in Somalia where an average of 2.2 million people will face food insecurity until June. Aid agency, Save The Children has indicated that it is seeing rapidly increasing malnutrition rates among children under five and it is estimated that 1.2million children will be malnourished throughout 2019. We are now joined by Timothy Bishop who is Country Director of Save the Children in Somalia.

Guest: Timothy Bishop-Country Director of Save the Children in Somalia

What informs Zandile Gumede’s arrest? Earlier on today, eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede appeared in the commercial crimes court in Durban on charges that include money-laundering, corruption and racketeering. Joining us to discuss her arrest

Guest: Benedict Xolani Dube, political analyst from the XUBERA Institute for Research and Development

A study that was conducted by Wits University and the London School of Economics has found that 78% of patients sent to a public clinic and 67% sent to a private general practitioner received antibiotics even though they were not necessary. The research comes ahead of the annual colds and flu season in SA with the World Health Organisation reporting that up to 600 000 thousand people die globally each year from influenza.

Guest: Vanessa Ascencao, Nutritional Expert

What constitutes a free and fair election? It is common knowledge that each election process has the administrative organs which manage the process of election – but what happens when those systems collapse?

Guests: Terry Tselane, former Deputy Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission

The Department of Trade and Industry recently gazetted a revised draft of the chartered accountancy profession sector code to grow the number of black people in the CA profession. However, the November 2018 exam results written by South African Chartered Accounting hopefuls showed that pass rates for first time writers had fallen from 91% in 2016 to 71% in 2018. For African students, the picture is even more troubling. Some have tried to explain the falling pass rates by saying that the exam may have simply been more difficult while others point to the fact that the exam is not available in any African languages and this places these students at a disadvantage.

Guest: Dhanyal Davidson, founder of Digest newsletter

Post the elections we look at the “Ramaphoria Effect” during this year’s National and Provincial elections. Many commentators credit him for saving his party from a gradual, four-election slide.

Guest: Elvis Masoga, Independent political analyst

Seats in the national assembly have been allocated to various political parties but how exactly are these determined?

Guest: Mr Sy Mamabolo is the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the Electoral Commission

A group of Black and Indian private medical practitioners allege that they are being unfairly treated by medical aid schemes based on the colour of their skin and ethnicity. According to them one of their biggest struggles is payment from medical aid schemes. The group also says that they are being exploited and harassed by medical aid schemes. For more on this story we are joined by the Chairperson of the National Health Care Professionals Association (NHCPA) – Dr. Donald Gumede

Guest: Dr. Donald Gumede - Chairperson of the National Health Care Professionals Association (NHCPA)

We pay tribute to a man who many describe as someone who unified South Africa, Fred Brownell, designer of democratic South African flag who passed away last week Friday.

Guest: Asanda Magaqa, Spokesperson for the Minister of Arts and Culture