Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya Interview

Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission for the position of Chief Justice after President Cyril Ramaphosa nominated her earlier this year. The Deputy Chief Justice is the only candidate being interviewed for the position. One of the issues she highlighted in the interview was the need for an impartial judiciary.

Guest: Mbekezeli Benjamin, Researcher at Judges Matter, a watchdog over the judiciary 

What are the most pressing issues facing society in South Africa today and how would you like those problems to be tackled post the elections? Our guest, Nkosikhulule Nyembezi says: Health and Education – Peace and Security – Poverty, Unemployment, and Inequality; Corruption and Governance and Immigration are some of the issues that need the country’s urgent attention. 

GUEST: Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, Policy analyst based at the University of Cape Town

Reacting to the application for arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli minister of defence Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh. Amnesty International South Africa says this move by the ICC Prosecutor sends an important message to all parties to the conflict in Gaza and beyond that they will be held accountable for the devastation they have waged on the peoples of Gaza and Israel.

GUEST: Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director for Amnesty International South Africa

The Joburg Library has been closed since 2021 for repairs. The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, as well as a number of other organizations, feel that these repairs shouldn't be taking this long. This past weekend, the Foundation and others gathered at the Beyers Naude Square (outside the library) to call on the City and Executive Mayor to take action & safely reopen the library.

Guest: David Fleminger, Johannesburg Heritage Foundation Chair

We continue analyzing today’s Constitutional Court judgment in relation to MK party leader, Jacob Zuma.

Guest: Professor Susan Booysen, Political Analyst and visiting professor at Wits University

The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan revealed this morning that a panel of ICC judges will now consider this application for the arrest warrants. But how significant is this announcement considering the fact that Israel is not a member of the court?

GUEST (UK): Jeremy Corbyn, UK MP & former leader of the Labour Party

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) was one of the organizations admitted as a friend of the court in the IEC’s bid to challenge Zuma’s candidacy in the May 29 polls.

Guest: Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution

The Global Watch: Post the death of the Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other Iranian officials in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday. President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his deep condolences to the government of Iran - to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected. We understand that the helicopter crashed in foggy weather in the mountains near the border with Azerbaijan. Politically speaking – what does Raisi’s death mean for Iran’s foreign policy and for South Africa in particular. For more on this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Asia Dialogues (AFRASID)

We hear from the MK Party, following the Constitutional Court’s decision to bar former President Jacob Zuma from running for parliament in next week's national and provincial elections. You may recall that Zuma was convicted in 2021 for refusing to testify at the Zondo Commission that was set up to investigate corruption during his presidency. So what’s next for the MK Party? We find out from……

GUEST: Nhlamulo Ndhlela, uMkhonto Wesizwe party’s national spokesperson 

Earlier on today - the Independent Electoral Commission revealed that the declared value of donations to political parties has surpassed the R100 million-rand mark for the first time since the Party Funding Act was introduced. Democratic Alliance (DA) declared the highest of all donations for the fourth quarter while Change Starts Now (CSN), one of the unrepresented political parties that was registered with the Electoral Commission in February 2024, declared total donations valued at R35 820 000. For more analysis on this, let’s speak to…..

GUEST: Dr Ongama Mtimka, Political analyst based at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha