Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has officially unveiled the state-of-the art studios at Kanyamazane FM in Mpumalanga. The unveiling forms part of the MDDA’s ongoing work to support the development and diversity of community and small commercial media. For more on this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Shoeshoe Qhu – CEO, Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)

Cope leader, Mosiuoa Lekota has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration of failing to improve the lives of South Africans. The party is also of the view that the country’s Constitution needs to be amended so it can allow South Africans to vote directly for presidents, premiers and mayors. Lekota joins us now to elaborate further on this……

GUEST: Mosiuoa Lekota, COPE President

Animal rights activists have hailed South Korea’s decision to pass a bill that bans breeding, slaughtering and selling dogs for their meat. Dog meat has long been a part of South Korean cuisine, and at one point up to a million dogs were believed to be killed for the trade every year. To react to this, we are joined by….

GUEST: Steve Smit, Founder of Justice for animals

As more people continue to lose jobs in the country. The presidency says big businesses must reconsider their planned retrenchments and has also urged the business sector not to rush laying off more workers. Head of the project management office in the presidency, Rudi Dicks says Business must continue to work closely with government so they could find lasting solutions.

GUEST: Rudi Dicks, head of the project management office in the presidency.

The Minister of Defense of Somaliland, Abdiqani Mohamud Aateye, has announced that he has resigned from the ministerial position after opposing the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia. Ateye says ministers were not consulted on the Ethiopia port deal, but only learned about it through the media. Recently, Ethiopia signed a historic agreement to use the main port in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, paving the way for Ethiopia to set up commercial marine operations.

GUEST: Abdirizak Ali Osman, Independent political analyst

The National Union of Mineworkers has embarked on an appeals process – after more than 401 workers were fired by the Gold One mine yesterday. Their dismissal follows what the company deems to have been illegal sit-ins by miners at their underground gold mine in Springs last year. Workers downed tools over a labour dispute on organising rights at the mine leading to over 500 workers failing to resurface from an underground shaft.

GUEST: Livhuwani Mamburu, NUM National spokesperson

Residents of the Denver temporary shelter were dealt another blow and have lost all their belongings as a result of the recent heavy rain. The structures were erected as a temporary housing solution for the victims of the Usindiso building fire in Marshalltown that claimed the lives of over 77 people in August last year. Some of the displaced fire victims were moved to the area in November. Civil society groups have lambasted the conditions the victims live in. General Workers Industries Union's Mametlwe Sebei has urged government to ramp up aide efforts. He joins us now to elaborate further on this…..

GUEST: Mametlwe Sebei, President of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA)

Today we celebrate Miss Intombi Yomhlanga 2023 winner, Liyema Lando. Post her victory, Lando said she is hoping to inspire other young girls to believe in themselves and their dreams. The Intombi Yomhlanga beauty pageant celebrates girls who have not been sexually active.

Guest: Liyema Lando, winner of the Miss Intombi Yomhlanga 2023 title

The SACP says it has never approached or delegated any person to approach any entity, public or private, to request funds illegitimately and it has also rejected the allegation that the NSFAS funded its political activities. To elaborate further on this, let’s now speak to….

GUEST: Dr Alex Mashilo, SACP spokesperson

However, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has denied any wrongdoing on his part and refuted allegations of kickbacks at NSFAS, saying that the report by OUTA was simply orchestrated with the intention to tarnish his reputation. Last week, OUTA announced that it was in possession of recordings of meetings between NSFAS board chairperson, Ernest Khosa and a representative of NSFAS service provider. The organisation says the recordings reveal how service providers allegedly paid millions of rands in kickbacks to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Khosa, and the SA Communist Party in return for tenders and protection for service providers.

GUEST: Chantal King, DA Shadow Minister for Higher Education