The Human Sciences Research Council is holding a two-day conference looking into the economic performance of our cities and how we use economic data to inform service delivery. The gathering will also look into how cities should respond and economic recovery to shocks such as natural disaster and unrest. To tell us more about the discussions that emerged from day one, we are joined by....

Guest: Dr Justin Visagie - Senior Research Specialist in the Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) research division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

Lynton Lefevre chats to us about the KnitWits acts of kindness. The 67 Blankets for Mandela Day’s KnitWits recently donated toys and blankets to the Hopelands Village that cares for abandoned babies. This as part of their commitment to show love and to make a positive impact in the world.

GUEST: Lynton Lefevre, Brand Manager for 67 Blankets for Mandela Day’s KnitWits

Last week, we had an anonymous caller who shared a question regarding the Road Accident Fund (RAF) after losing a loved one. Her application was approved as she had a young son and the money was placed in the trust on behalf of the son. Her question was on whether lawyers can put the money disbursed by RAF into a trust after the death of a claimant and if the spouse can access those funds outside of the lawyers assigned. To help us navigate the matter and the role of the RAF, we are joined by...

Guest: McIntosh Polela - Head of Communications at the Road Accident Fund

Following weeks of mounting pressure and increasing gang violence in Haiti. The country’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has finally resigned. According to various reports, he will step down after the establishment of a transitional authority that will govern the country until new elections are held. For more on the way forward post this development, we are joined by……

GUEST: Jacques Junior Baril, Haitian ambassador to South Africa

The U.S Embassy has reacted to the Multi-Party Charter letter that was drafted by several opposition parties in South Africa, asking the U.S and several other nations to help counter threats of domestic and foreign interference in the upcoming election that is due to take place in May this year. According to its statement, the Embassy has no reason to doubt South Africa’s electoral system, adding that the IEC has a longstanding and excellent reputation for conducting free and fair elections. For more on this, let’s now speak to…

GUEST: Emma Powell, DA’s Shadow Minister for International Relations and Cooperation 

Speaking of resignations, ActionSA has announced "Team Fix South Africa" who will form part of the Parliamentary list running in the national and provincial elections. One of the notable candidates on the list is Dr. Kgosi Letlape who terminated his membership from the ANC last week. To tell us more about his new role and new party, we are joined by...   

Guest: Dr. Kgosi Letlape - ActionSA member and newly  appointed Shadow Minister of Health

A national voter survey has revealed that the African National Congress' support will fall to 39%, the Democratic Alliance gain support to 27%, the Economic Freedom Fighters support will fall to 10% and that new kids on the block, Mkhonto weSizwe Party support will come in at 13%. The survey also indicates that the Multi-Party Charter accumulated 33% and are 6% off the pace of the ANC. This the second telephone survey of this nature since the inaugural poll in October 2023. The survey outlined that the biggest issues facing the nation are unemployment, corruption, loadshedding, weak leadership and crime. To help us breakdown this new information, we are joined by...  

Guest: Dr. Greg Mills - Executive Director of the Brenthurst Foundation

A toddler was reunited with their family over the weekend after a repatriation from Senegal to South Africa. The mother of the baby is serving a prison sentence in Senegal on charges of drug trafficking last February and gave birth days after her arrest. Due to the Children's Act of 2005, the Department of Social Development is obligated to assist children in distress and place them in a conducive environment for their development. The Department of Social Development has repatriated 21 children home since 2015 from ten countries. To tell us more about the process and the challenges faced in bringing back children, we are joined by... 

Guest: Lumka Olifant - Spokesperson of the National Department of Social Development

Residents in Johannesburg have been experiencing water shortages over the past week (9 days) due to a lightning strike that hit a City Power transformer and damaged the Eikenhof system overseen by Rand Water. Our next guest is calling for officials to not to normalize the use of water tankers as a long-term solution. To unpack what impact this crisis will have on residents in the middle of the heatwave, we are joined by...

Guest: Dr. Ferrial Adams - Executive Manager of WaterCAN

Later this evening, the Electoral Commission is expected to reject attempts aimed at discrediting the country’s electoral system ahead of this year’s general elections. This follows the Democratic Alliance's led Multi-Party Charter's decision to write to several foreign countries, urging them to help counter threats of domestic and foreign interference in the upcoming elections. The Freedom Front Plus which is part of the Charter says they are worried about the integrity of this year's elections. Earlier on today, the party’s leader Dr Pieter Groenewald spoke to Sakina Kamwendo, take a listen to what he had to say……

GUEST: Terry Tselane, Executive Chairman of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa