As we conclude Women’s Month, we look at the 2nd Annual Women in Auto-Roundtable gathering that is currently taking place in Pretoria at the Maslow Hotel. Central to the discussions are the significant commitments made by stakeholders last year, which include creating opportunities for women-owned enterprises in the automotive sector. 

GUEST: Ms Siphiwo Mzwali, Women Economic Assembly Automotive Sector Lead and the Northwest Women Economic Assembly Coordinator

A group of 88 illegal mineworkers handed themselves to officials in the North West today. Police say the group emerged from underground at Marikana’s Sibanye mine. The group is aged between 15 and 40. They handed themselves to mine officials first before they were taken by police. We’re now joined by North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane.

What has been established so far about the building that burnt down last night and the people who were occupying it? The death toll now stands at 75. It is still not clear what exactly started the fire. Emergency teams say there’s still a possibility that more bodies will be discovered. 

Guest: MMC Kenny Kunene

NGO Gift of the Givers is currently assisting firefighters who have embarked on a search and recovery operation in a Johannesburg CBD building gutted by fire. We are now joined by the organisation’s chairperson to elaborate further on this…..

GUEST: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder and Chair of the Gift of the Givers Foundation

Action SA leader, Herman Mashaba says this morning’s fire tragedy was a disaster waiting to happen and he goes on to say that he was insulted and called names when he raised red flags about hijacked buildings. So far, the death toll has risen to 73 and we have been warned that this number is likely to increase.

GUEST: Herman Mashaba, Leader of Action SA

At least 73 people have since been found dead and more than 50 are injured after the five-storey building caught fire in the early hours of this morning. It is understood this was an abandoned building with an estimated 200 occupancy rate. To give us the latest in terms of what’s happening this afternoon is…..

GUEST: Prabashni Moodley, SABC News reporter

Government has started paperwork for the process of phasing out the public enterprises department. The planned closure of the department was announced earlier this year. It will cease to exist after next year’s elections. State Owned Enterprises will then fall under different departments. Considering the state of SOEs currently, how will this affect the management of these companies going forward? We’re now joined by Buyani Zwane, Lecturer at GIBS, specialising in  Leadership, Management, and Organisation Development.

Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago has defended the investigation by the bank that cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the Phala Phala saga. Kganyago was speaking in parliament earlier today. He told MPs today that the $580 000 stolen from Ramaphosa’s farm was handed to the manager at the farm as a security deposit. He says there was no obligation to report to authorities. We’re now joined by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, UDM MP

Petrina Pakoe, director of the Peninsula School Feeding Association tells us about a school feeding programme in St Helena Bay that has been applauded for providing nutritious meals to learners and also for ensuring that unemployed women who prepare the meals also benefit academically.

GUEST: Petrina Pakoe, director of the Peninsula School Feeding Association

It is day 2 of Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s bail hearing. Magudumana is applying for bail after her bid to have her arrest in Tanzania declared unlawful. She argues she is the primary caregiver of her two minor children and that she was forced to leave the country by Thabo Bester. Her lawyer says it is not true that she was found in possession of two other passports. He also says Magudumana cannot be a flight risk because her passport has been confiscated. What else came up in today’s proceesings? We’re now joined by SABC News Reporter, Ishmael Modiba.