Earlier on today, Statistics South Africa released the unemployment rate for the fourth quarter. The latest results indicate that the number of unemployed persons increased by 28 000 to 7,8 million in the fourth quarter of last year, also during the same period about 169 000 jobs were gained. But what is even more worrying is the fact that the total number of unemployed youth increased by 46 000 to 4,6 million. So what is it that we are missing when it comes to tackling unemployment rate in this country?

GUEST: Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-General of South Africa 

Yesterday, the United Kingdom and the European Union signed a new agreement that will allow goods to enter Northern Ireland freely from other parts of the U.K. The agreement comes more than six years after British voters chose to leave EU – but why has it taken so long to be finalised? To help us understand post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland is……..

GUEST: Musa Mdunge, Political analyst & PhD candidate based at the University of Dundee

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal says the growing number of informal settlements in the eThekwini metro is concerning as it affects not just tourism, but the overall quality of life for both the people who live there and those who live nearby.

GUEST: Marlaine Nair, DA KZN spokesperson for Human Settlements

The Gauteng department of health is urging families to come forward to claim their relatives who have passed on. Gauteng mortuaries have over 930 unclaimed and unidentified bodies. Pretoria, Germiston and Johannesburg have the highest number of unclaimed bodies. The health department says it is not coping with the numbers and encourages families with loved ones who are missing to check mortuaries. We’re now joined by Gauteng Health Department Spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba.

Some good news for our police. The South African Police Service’s Special Task Force Unit now ranks among the top 10 SWAT teams in the world. They came 9th out of 55 law enforcement teams from 55 from all over the world, making them the best in Africa. The competition assessed tactical acumen, mental focus and physical endurance. The team moved four spots up from 13th place in 2022. So what does the Special Task Force Unit do and what does this win mean?

Guest: police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe

How high are the water levels now at the Orange and Vaal Rivers? The Water and Sanitation Department has been warning residents who had been evacuated due to high levels of water to not go back home yet. Twelve sluice gates were opened last week to release water in a bid to preserve water storage infrastructure following days of heavy rains that left dams and rivers overflowing. The department is monitoring the water levels and will notify residents when it is safe to go back home. What’s the latest update?

Guest: Leornado Manus, Acting Director General for Infrastructure Management at the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Tensions are still high in Wesbury following the shooting of an alleged gang leader that was following by multiple shooting incidents since Friday. About 10 shootings have happened in the area and residents continue to live in fear. Nine people have been shot and one has been killed in the past 24 hours. Peace talks between community members and the police stalled earlier. What has happened since then? We are now joined by SABC News Reporter, Horisani Sithole.

Last week Friday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that the council sitting, which was convened by KZN Cogta officials that led to the ousting of Nongoma Mayor Albert Mcnwango, was invalid. According to the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal, the high court ruling proves that the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Ms Bongi Sithole-Moloi, abused her authority in terms of how she handled this matter.

GUEST: Thami Ntuli, IFP’s Chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal

Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has laid criminal charges against former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. This following De Ruyter’s recent interview with Annika Larsen where he alleged that the ANC is treating Eskom as a feeding conduit. Maimane says de Ruyter is compelled to give evidence and name the cabinet minister he has implicated in corruption at the power utility.

GUEST: Mmusi Maimane, Leader of Build One SA

Vote counting is currently underway in Nigeria’s tightest presidential election. We understand that Saturday’s voting was marred by long delays at polling stations and some parties have raised alarm over allegations of irregularities, which could lead to a disputed outcome. Many have described this year’s presidential poll as Nigeria’s most competitive election to date.

GUEST: Dr Akinola Olojo, Project Manager of the Lake Chad Basin team at the Institute for Security Studies