Sisi Ntombela has stepped down from her position as premier in the Free State. ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula announced on Tuesday that she had informed him of her intention to resign. Mxolisi Dukwana who defeated her at the last provincial elective conference is taking over from her. What plans does she have for the future?

Guest: former Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela.

Advocate Pansy Tlakula explains the stand-off between the national department of health and her office. Earlier this week, Information Regulator SA confirmed that they have referred the department of health to the enforcement committee because it has failed to provide information about personal data it collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GUEST: Adv Pansy Tlakula, Chairperson of the Information Regulator

Sophie Tendane from The Namibian newspaper tells us more about Jill Biden’s first trip to Africa as first lady of the United States of America. We understand that her visit to the continent forms part of the Biden Administration’s objective of supporting democracies around the world.

GUEST: Sophie Tendane, Journalist for The Namibian newspaper

Small and medium enterprises that can afford solar panels can breathe a sigh of relief through tax rebates. Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwaqna says households and businesses that install solar panels can claim a 25% rebate of up to R15000 from government. However, apart from that, he didn’t touch on any other form of financial relief for SMEs that have been battling to stay afloat due to increasing production costs.

Guest: Kganki Matabane, CEO of the Black Business Council. 

Today we hear from Sherie de Wet, founder of the washable and reusable sanitary pad brand Palesa pads. She started her business after realising that many young girls were struggling to afford or access sanitary pads.  De Wet’s business has continued to grow and this has resulted in her being approached by retail giants Ackermans and most recently Pick ’n Pay to supply them with her sanitary pads.

GUEST: Sherie de Wet, founder of the washable and reusable sanitary pad brand Palesa pads.

Mpumalanga police have confiscated 31 bags of dagga worth over R1.3 million at a farm in Mpumalanga. Three suspicious vehicles were spotted inside the maize farm in Delmas and when members of the farm watch moved closer, two of them fled. The driver of the last car fled on foot after opening it. Both the dagga and the car have been taken by the police. 

Guest: Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.  

Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana has allocated R30 billion towards inflation linked increases for social grants. The old age and disability grants increase by R90 from the f1st of April and a further R10 from the 1st of October, a total incrase to R2090 per month. Child grants will also rise to R510 from R480 and the foster care grant will increase to R1130. For some reaction to that, we are now joined by Black Sash’s Executive Director, Rachel Bukasa.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced that government is acting decisively to bring additional capacity onto the grid, and that they are working hard to transform the electricity sector to achieve energy security in the long-term.

GUEST: Goerge Tshesane 

BUDGET SPEECH: Finance Minister says Municipalities owe Eskom R56.3 billion and the debt keeps on rising. However, government is working closely with Eskom to address this problem, and we are likely to see the power utility providing incentivised relief to municipalities whose debt is unaffordable.

GUEST: Miyelani Holeni, Group Chief Advisor at Ntiso Consulting Group  

the ongoing civil war in Somaliland which has led to more than 60 000 Somalis fleeing to Ethiopia’s Somali region in the past few weeks. According to the UN, the fighting has affected humanitarian operations, with increased access challenges, especially in internally displaced persons locations.

GUEST: Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, Chairperson of the African Diaspora Global Network