Today, the 9th of November is known as World Adoption Day and meant to to raise awareness and celebrate adoption worldwide. It is said the number of adoptions in South Africa (and around the world) is steadily declining.
What are some of the challenges regarding adoption in South Africa and what needs to be done?

Guest : Lithalethemba Stwayi - Attorney at the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria

Scores of SABC staffers are picketing outside the public broadcasters offices country-wide. They are protesting against the planned sacking of over two-thousand permanent and freelance employees. Management says the move is necessitated by the current financial crisis facing the corporation.

guest: Aubrey Tshabalala - Communications Workers Union General Secretary

As you know that yesterday the IEC announced that elections will take place in May next year. And I guess, the campaign season will soon start.

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign the Political Party Funding Bill into law as a “major priority” so voters can know where parties get their money before the crucial 2019 general election. She said the bill‚ sitting on the President’s desk since it was passed by parliament in March‚ is “extremely important” in ensuring the rights of voters and enabling greater accountability and integrity among political parties.

Guest: Sheilan Clarke - Communications officer at My Vote Counts

Former Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Deliwe de Lange together with three other senior officers appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday on fraud and corruption charges. The five were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). The arrests relate to procurement irregularities relating to emergency [blue] lights amounting to more than R84 million Forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan was quoted saying there were at least another 30 police generals under investigation.

guest: Dr Johan Burger - Senior research consultant at the Institute for Security Studies

Mental illness among female inmates in SA is rife but the psychological services provided by the government are inadequate and failing to meet the mental healthcare needs of these inmates.

This is according to a study conducted by the Commission for Gender Equality in 2017 which found that mental health problems are prevalent in female Correctional Centres and that female inmates face challenges with regards to accessing the relevant mental health services.

Dr. Thabo Rapoo - Director of Policy and research at Commission for Gender Equality

Mangaung Metro, has started to intensify the disconnection of water services for defaulting customers. These include business,provincial government, parastatals and domestic consumers. Spokesperson, Qondile Khedama says the disconnection comes as a last resort to collect revenue after customers failed to pay or make arrangements for their accounts. He says final letters of demand have been issued to those consumers.

guest: Qondile Khedama, spokesperson for the Mangaung Metro

It’s been reported that that the Northern Cape majority of the province’s hospitals and clinics are unable to cope with multitudes of patients at overcrowded facilities, while the shortage of ambulances has exacerbated the situation at all hospitals.

Guest: Fufe Makatong Northern Cape MEC for Health

Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha says his province is lobbying for the VBS Mutual Bank to be saved. The Premier said today that his provincial government was conducting a forensic investigation into this scandal.

Guest: Stan Mathabatha - Premier of Limpopo

It’s been reported that that the Northern Cape majority of the province’s hospitals and clinics are unable to cope with multitudes of patients at overcrowded facilities, while the shortage of ambulances has exacerbated the situation at all hospitals.

Guest: Isak Fritz -DA health spokesperson, Northern Cape.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay is expected to table a motion of no confidence in Executive Mayor Mongameli Bobani next month. This after allegations reported in The Herald newspaper, that Bobani received hundreds of thousands of rand in an allegedly corrupt relationship with a Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) service provider.

Nqaba Bhanga - DA Eastern Cape leader