We dissect the outcomes of the SA Human Rights Commission’s Report. Two years ago, the commission’s Eastern Cape office embarked on an Inquiry aimed at addressing concerns regarding the alleged excessive regulation of learners’ appearances and school uniforms in educational institutions. Post its investigations - the commission found that in certain cases, school uniform and appearance policies infringe on learners’ right to dignity and it also concluded that binary school uniform policies discriminate in their application between boys, girls and gender-nonconforming learners. The Inquiry was initiated in 2022 following an incident that occurred in 2021 after a 13-year-old learner from Astra Primary School in Gqeberha was reportedly victimized due to her Afro hairstyle.

GUEST: Dr Eileen Carter: Provincial Manager for the South African Human Rights Commission in the Eastern Cape

The possibility of a national bus strike is looming as there is a deadlock between employers and trade unions in the bus passenger sector. At the core of the demands, workers would like a comprehensive health benefit, an increase in allowances for second drivers and 8% salary increment. After talks failed yesterday on the core demands from workers, NUMSA will be engaging shop stewards in the coming days to obtain a fresh mandate that will be presented to employers. If this is not resolved, commuters may find themselves stranded ahead of the Easter holidays. To tell us more about the next steps, we are joined by...

Guest: Phakamile Hlubi-Majola - Spokesperson of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa

The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital has partnered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities in providing critical maternal and children's health services to communities. The partnership has seen the launch of the first Lactation facility and the re-opening of family rooms within the Neonatal Unit in one of the nation's largest hospitals. To tell us more about the role they play in this initiative, we are joined by... 

Guest: Zanele Mvelase - board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities

Environmental activist organizations held a protest during the opening day of the African Energy Indaba in Cape Town. The protest was aimed to challenge executives attending the Indaba from the use of gas as a transitionary fuel, highlighting some of the concerns they have with the environmental and economic implications. In recent weeks, there have also been reports surrounding the limited supply of industrial gas beyond 2026 and there have been questions surrounding the long-term reliability of the energy source. To tell us more about the concerns they have raised, we are joined by... 

Guest: Lisa Makaula,  Advocacy Officer at the Green Connection

Latest data released by Statistics South Africa shows that the country’s economy grew by 0,1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year – meaning that our country has marginally avoided a technical recession. But should we be optimistic about the state of our economy, given the fact that it is growing too slow to create more jobs? We find out from ……

GUEST: Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist of Econometrix

As global leaders continue to monitor Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has been going for two years now. Norway’s Ambassador to South Africa, Gjermund Saether asks, “if we abandon the core principles of the UN Charter to appease an aggressor, can any UN member state feel confident that it is protected?” He also argues that Russian authorities have isolated themselves from the rest of Europe and brought back terrible memories of World War 2. But what kind of solutions are needed to end the ongoing war in Ukraine? We find out from him…..

GUEST: Gjermund Saether, Norway’s Ambassador to South Africa

Following its decision to lift a two-decade-old Zimbabwe sanctions programme. Yesterday, the United States of America imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his wife and other senior leaders, citing rights abuses and corruption. The announcement comes months after Mnangagwa was re-elected to a second term in a contest that the opposition party and human-rights groups said was tainted by fraud. So, what does this latest decision mean for the country moving forward? For more on this we are joined by…..

GUEST: Martha Shumba, Civil society activist who is anti-sanctions

Today, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) held a media briefing to provide an update on the status of the registration process, payment of allowances to beneficiaries and student accommodation. In recent weeks, the financial aid scheme has faced numerous challenges at the start of 2024 academic year which has led to many students being left without access to their higher education institutions of choice. To share their solutions to these challenges, we are joined by....

Guest: Ishmael Mnisi - Spokesperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme

Today, the health fraternity commemorates World Obesity Day in a bid to raise awareness not only on the risks of not addressing your weight but also shed light on the medical implications. Obesity affects one in eight people around the world. One of the trends that has become part of this discussion is the rise in weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy as an alternative to traditional bypass surgery. From the US to China, these type 2 diabetes drugs have been in high demand in recent months due to their popularity on social media. To tell us more about the dangers of these drugs is….. 

Guest: Dr Mosima Mabunda - Head of Wellness at Discovery Vitality