With Côte d'Ivoire due to hold its presidential elections next year. Former President Laurent Gbagbo has thrown his hat in the ring in a bid to regain his old job. Gbagbo served as president of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 to 2011. In 2019, he was acquitted by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court on charges relating to his role in a civil war sparked by his refusal to concede defeat in an election. So, what does his candidacy mean for the incumbent and the electorate at large - are we likely to see another political showdown between Gbagbo and President Alassane Ouattara? For more on this, let’s speak to…..

GUEST: Charles Nyuykonge, African affairs commentator

The Information Regulator has confirmed receiving two notifications from the IEC regarding a security breach that saw the unlawful release of candidate lists for the ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe party. However, the incident has raised questions about the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and how it should be implemented during this election season. Following this unfortunate incident, the Electoral Commission has assured the nation that they are investigating the matter. For more on this, let’s now speak to…..

GUEST: Adv. Tshepo Boikanyo, Executive in charge of the POPIA with the Information Regulator

Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan is the latest high-profile ANC MP to express his intention to retire from active politics when the term of the current administration comes to an end. You may recall that earlier this year, another ANC National Executive Committee member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma also announced that she won’t be returning to parliament next year post the elections. So what kind of legacy are these two senior leaders leaving behind? For more on this, let’s speak to….

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

Topic: “How do you deal with those uncles and old friends that you grew up with who always tax you when you go visit home?”

GUEST: Cynthia Tshaka, Renowned sports broadcaster & former SABC Sport presenter

Gunmen have attacked a primary school in Nigeria’s north-west region and abducted close to 300 school children. We understand that kidnap gangs, known as bandits, have seized hundreds of people in recent years, especially in the country’s north-west region. So what efforts are being made to rescue the abducted students? For more on this story, let’s speak to….

GUEST (Nigeria): Samson Omale, Multimedia Broadcast journalist based in Nigeria

Yesterday, the Gauteng Care Crisis Committee issued a statement outlining their concerns surrounding the intention of the Gauteng government to cut the budget on social services of R233 million and lack of communication from the Department of Social Development in the province on the status of their funding for the next financial year. These non-profit organizations (NPOs) work in the care of vulnerable communities in the province and faced major budget cuts this time last year. The MEC of Department of Social Development has issued a statement calling for patience among NPOs beneficiaries who have submitted applications that are under adjudication and offering clarity on the delays in communication with NPOs as a result of investigations into officials responsible for granting funding. We are joined by...

Guest: Mbali Hlophe - MEC: Social Development, and Agriculture and Rural Development in Gauteng (statement in PDF)

Northern Cape Finance MEC, Abraham Vooslo has tabled his 2024 budget - the last of the sixth administration at Harstwater in the Northern Cape. Job creation and economic growth remain top priorities. However, the province will lose an amount of R525 million in the 2024/25 financial year which totals to R1.6 billion over the next three years due to fiscal consolidation.

GUEST: Abraham Vooslo, Northern Cape MEC for Finance

Today is International Women's Day and this commemoration is being celebrated under the theme: Inspire Inclusion to build a better society. The Embassy of Sweden invited young girls to spend the day as the ambassador for the day. Young women between 16-20 spent the day with the diplomatic mission which included site visits and attended conference meetings with local stakeholders where young ambassadors would be exposed to the work done in advancing gender equality, human rights and democracy. The Ambassador for a Day initiative also included a roundtable and luncheon with women involved in diplomacy from Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, the European Union delegation and the United States of America. To tell us more about this initiative, we are joined by...

Guest: Håkan Juholt - Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa

Guest (ZOOM): Naledi Choenyana - University of Witwatersrand student and Young Ambassador

Guest (ZOOM): Leonah Ndlovu - African Leadership Academy student and Young Ambassador

Since the beginning of last month, we have been speaking to various political parties about their election manifestos, deliberately focusing on economic policy proposals. This as we believe that the issue of revitalising the country’s flagging economy should top every political party’s agenda ahead of this year’s national and provincial elections. So today we hear from the Freedom Front Plus. Last weekend you may have heard the party’s leader Dr Pieter Groenewald, promising a free-market system to rebuild the economy – but what are the pros and cons of a free-market economy and who benefits from it – will this kind of proposal be able to ease the country’s economic woes? Joining us for this conversation is……

GUEST: Wouter Wessels, FF Plus National Head of Elections

We look at the rich legacy of the Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA) and its Solar Farm Project. This as the college celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The school is part of a global education movement (United World Colleges) with over 18 schools and colleges across the world. As part of its long-term vision, the college has set a bold goal to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030. To tell us more about this and the school's broader commitment to environmental stewardship is…….

GUEST ON THE LINE (eSwatini): Mancoba Mabuza, Head of Public Relations for Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA)