Minister of Transport Dr Blade Nzimande has today released stats for the 2018 and 2019 festive season which put fatalities at 1612. Speaking at the briefing, the minister pointed mostly to the human factor which he says accounts for 90% of the fatalities. Are we surprised?

guest: Layton Beard, spokesperson for the Automobile Association

Leading Zimbabwean activist, Evan Mawarire has been arrested. He has been accused of organising the protests that turned violent on Monday. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has joined those calling on the Zimbabwean government to reopen the internet. Service provider, Econet, confirmed yesterday that they cut Internet connectivity after it received a warrant from the Minister of State in the Presidency. Violent protests have taken over Zimbabwe due to fuel increases of more than 150 per cent with five reported fatalities. Meanwhile, the MDC has asked the South African government to intervene and to get their views on this.

Guest: Nqobizitha Mlilo - acting spokesperson for the MDC

The engagement session between Mineral Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe and the community of Xolobeni at Mbizana in the Eastern Cape has been cut short after residents began singing struggle songs. Mantashe called off the meeting after one of the residents who used to belong to Amadiba Crisis Committee that's opposed to titanium mining along the Wild Coast, said they were pro-mining. Gun shots rang inside the venue as the Minister was busy outside but there are no casualties. To get an understanding of what is happening over there.

Fundiswa Mhlekude, SABC journalist in the Eastern Cape

Education MEC Sello Lehari is heading a team of officials to a meeting with school management. The meeting comes after trade union Solidarity announced its intention to legally challenge the suspension of Elana Barkhuizen. Provincial education authorities suspended Barkhuizen on Thursday last week. This after she took a photo of white and black Grade R learners seated separately in a classroom.

Former president of the Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo has been acquitted at the International Criminal Court. He was on trial for crimes against humanity relating to post-election violence in 2010 and 2011. For a perspective on this.

Guest: Izak khomo

Zimbabwe police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the country's second biggest city, Bulawayo. This follows yesterday's violent protests against a massive fuel price hike in which several people were killed and more than 200 arrested. Police moved in after protesters chanted for the removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and started looting businesses in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe's mobile phone networks and internet are partially shut down amid the on-going protests while banks, schools and businesses in Harare remained shut.

guest: Lovemore Kadenge who is the president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society

A large contingent of police have been deployed at Stilfontein Hoerskool near Klerksdorp in the North West. This ahead of a meeting between the North West MEC for Education, Sello Lehari and parents of the learners. Yesterday chaos erupted at the school, as angry black parents stormed class-rooms and removed their children, accusing management of racism and discrimination. The school which houses over 700 learners, was forced to suspend learning, for the second day. Learners say though they all fared poorly in exams, only their white counterparts were progressed to the next grades.

Guest: SABC reporter Lucas Mothibedi

Protests have broken out in Zimbabwe's two main cities following the more than doubling of the fuel price. Burning tyres and boulders are being used to barricade roads and block buses from carrying passengers. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the fuel price rise is aimed at tackling shortages caused by an increase in fuel use and "rampant" illegal trading.Zimbabwe's government is trying resuscitate the country's struggling economy. It faces a severe shortage of US dollar cash and confidence in its bond notes, which are supposed to be worth the same as the dollar, is still low.

Guest: Persistence Gwanyanya - Economist based in Zim

Issues pertaining to mental illness have come under the spot light after abuses of patients were reported in the media. The Esidimeni tragedy was one of the worst that even resulted in a commission of enquiry being set up. In light of these tragedies and those that don’t make it to the media. Experts in the field are calling for the psychiatric profession to play a greater role in advocating for patients’ rights and improving management of mental health in the public sector. Where then should the start?

Guest: Prof Bonga Chiliza, who heads the Psychiatry Department of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Medical School

Government says a task team has been established to reassure investors and trading partners in the red meat industry over the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. The outbreak in Limpopo has halted the export of products from cloven hoof animals such as cattle, pig and goats. Namibia, Botswana and the Kingdom of eSwatini, formerly Swaziland, have suspended meat imports.
Guest: SABC reporter Phanuel Shuma