We look at the growing tensions between South Africa and the United States of America over several policy issues. This after four U.S congressmen recently asked President Donald Trump to reconsider South Africa’s eligibility from the African Growth and Opportunities Act. Removal from this trade act would be a major blow to South Africa’s agricultural sector. But what should South Africa do to protect its interests? For more analysis on this, we are joined on the line by…

GUEST (U.S): Pearl Matibe, Washington DC based geopolitical analyst and correspondent with expertise in foreign policy and international security: regularly covering the State Department, Pentagon, and White House

Earlier today, the Western Cape High Court heard the application by advocacy NGO My Vote Counts, which challenges the constitutionality of the Political Funding Act. The organisation wants the court to declare parts of the Act unconstitutional, arguing that in its current form, the Act undermines the right to transparency and accountability in political party funding. Joining us to elaborate further on this is…..

GUEST: Elisha Kunene, Researcher and Spokesperson for My Vote Counts

The water community action network, WaterCAN, recently released a statement on the water situation in Joburg. According to the statement, there’s no water and not enough information. Added to that, there’s inadequate planning which equals to a deluge of anger among residents. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…

GUEST: Dr. Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN Executive Manager

The Healthy Living Alliance is looking to the Minister of finance, Enoch Godongwana, to increase the sugar tax levy from 10% to a more meaningful 20%. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…

GUEST: Angelika Grimbeek, The Healthy Living Alliance’s Nutrition Programme Manager

Drilling for a borehole has temporarily halted Gautrain services between Park and Rosebank stations. According to the Gautrain Management Agency, investigations have established that  illegal drilling for a borehole was being conducted on a private property above the tunnel. Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, MMC for Community Safety in the City of Joburg City joins me on the line to tell us about the city’s strict regulations on drilling boreholes…

GUEST: Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, MMC Community Safety in the City of Joburg

Cape Town based Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who was often described as the ‘world’s first openly gay imam’, was gunned down in an apparent hit murder in Bethelsdorp, Gqeberha. Dr. Faisal Suliman, South African Muslim Network Chairperson, joins me on the line to react to this shooting…

GUEST: Dr. Faisal Suliman, South African Muslim Network Chairperson

According to the latest report that was written by Professor Ivan Turok and Justin Visagie, titled “Striking disparities in employment across South Africa: Evidence from a new spatial database”, South Africa’s eight metros are not evolving in ways that raise productivity and this impedes the country’s national economy. Some of the contributing factors to this are water and energy crisis, infrastructure decay and collapse, accompanied by instability and mismanagement in local government. For further elucidation on this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Professor Ivan Turok, Distinguished Research Fellow in the Equitable Education and Economies research division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

As the EU leaders are converging in Paris today to discuss possible solutions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. The United States of America has decided to kick start its own peace process by having direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia. This as European and Ukrainian officials worry about being sidelined by Washington in peace talks. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine and that there can only be peace if Ukraine’s sovereignty is secured. So how significant are these two separate meetings and why are EU leaders concerned about the US’s negotiation strategy?

GUEST: Professor John Keiger, former Research Director of the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge

Following Eskom’s public notice, warning the City of Ekurhuleni about extended power cuts due to unpaid electricity bills. The City’s MMC for finance Jongizizwe Dlabathi has revealed that the municipality has lodged a dispute on the amount of money Eskom claims to be owed, also stating that it was unfair for the power utility to issue a notice while still engaging with the city. Dlabathi joins us now to elaborate further on this……

GUEST: Jongizizwe Dlabathi, MMC for Finance in the City of Ekurhuleni

Today we hear from our former Deputy President and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete. She is someone who needs no introduction really as we all know that her contribution to the country’s liberation struggle says a lot about her resistance, loyalty to the country and leadership qualities. Just like any other politician in this country, who has lived long enough to have witnessed the dark side of South Africa, she will tell you that our hard-won civil liberties and political freedom should never be undermined or reversed.

GUEST: Baleka Mbete, former Deputy President & former Speaker of the National Assembly