Labour Appeal Court confirms that the dismissal (of an employee) for testing positive for cannabis is automatically unfair and is discriminatory.

An employee was dismissed for testing non-negative for cannabis while on duty during a routine medical check. He thought this was unfair and saw the actions of his employer as discriminatory. He took the matter to court, and he lost. On appeal to the labour appeal court, things went his way.

To help us understand how the Labour Appeal Court reached this decision, I’m joined by attorney and founder of The Legal Affair, Nonhlanhla Mtshali.

Guest: Nonhlanhla Mtshali, Attorney and founder of The Legal Affair

In conversation with Reverend Frank Chikane about the relaunch of the anti-Apartheid Movement. We understand that the rebirth of this all-important movement was set in motion two years ago and was not solely a response to recent events in Gaza. But what are its primary objectives?

GUEST: Rev Frank Chikane, Chairperson of the South African Anti-Apartheid Steering Committee

Lawyers representing former president Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party have asked the Constitutional Court for an extension to file answering affidavits. The MK Party and Zuma’s lawyer are of the view that the time afforded to the respondents is unreasonably short and that it would be impossible to furnish a meaningful answering affidavit within 24 hours. Do they have a point though or they are simply pushing it?

GUEST: Mpumelelo Zikalala, Legal practitioner

The state has called detective Keitumetse Portia Mashele to the stand at the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial at the high court in Pretoria. Mashele has confirmed that she was the one responsible for collecting buccal DNA swabs from accused number 2 Bongani Ntanzi - following his arrest on 16 June 2020. Ntanzi is one of five men on trial for the murder of the Bafana Bafana captain. Meyiwa was shot dead in 2014, while at Kelly Khumalo's parental home in Vosloorus on Gauteng's East Rand. Mashele says she swabbed both sides of his mouth and then placed the evidence in the kit which was sealed then placed in a forensic bag.

GUEST: Pearl Magubane, SABC News reporter

Student-led protests against Israel’s war on Gaza have intensified across the United States and hundreds of students have been arrested while protesting against the ongoing war in Gaza. So how is the US dealing with these protests and how will these protests impact the upcoming elections? For more on this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Brooks Spector, Associate Editor at The Daily Maverick

The South African Federation of Trade Unions is calling on government to penalise employers who do not comply with regulations when it comes to paying the required pension fund contributions in South Africa. According to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), about 4 200 registered companies have violated section 13A of the Pension Funds Act (PFA), which compels them to follow procedures for payments and benefits to retirement funds.

GUEST: Trevor Shaku: National Spokesperson for the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU)

Earlier on today, we spoke to AfriForum about their submissions to the Department of Employment and Labour regarding draft regulations on proposed sectoral numerical race targets – and guess what they didn’t mince their words on why they want affirmative action policies to be scrapped. Let’s now hear from Duma Gqubule on why South Africa decided to formulate empowerment policies and the significance of these policies thereof. 

GUEST: Duma Gqubule, Independent labour analyst & economist

How often do you tell someone “Google is your friend?”. Well, it seems Google is also your friend when it comes to elections 2024. Google has undertaken a number of steps to support election integrity in South Africa. The big question is, how are they doing that? For more on this, let’s now speak to…..

GUEST: Abongile Mashele, Senior Manager: Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google

My Vote Counts recently launched its position paper on coalition governments in South Africa and they have identified 7 proposals, primarily touted by the DA and ANC, at the centre of the coalition discussion and have taken a position on each. The organisation wants coalition agreements to be made public before the elections. To elaborate further on this, let’s speak to……

GUEST: Joel Bregman, Senior Researcher @My Vote Counts

According to Amnesty International’s annual report, thirty years after the end of apartheid in South Africa, the right to life and dignity continues to be trampled on, and some lives are deemed more valuable than others. The report also warns that the fight for freedom, dignity and human rights is far from over. For further elucidation on this, we are joined by….

GUEST: Genevieve Quintal, Spokesperson for Amnesty International South Africa