Two more people have been recovered and two are still missing in Coffee Day following floods that destroyed infrastructure and washed a school away. This brings the number of recovered bodies to four. Mop-up operations have been a challenge due to the collapse of bridges that has made it difficult to access some of the affected villages. Members of the South African National Defence force have joined rescue teams as a search operation for the two people who are still missing continues.

Guest: Executive Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality, Mesuli Ngqondwana

Earlier on today, Secretary to Parliament Xolile George revealed that it will take two more years to rebuild Parliament building in Cape Town. According to him, the Development Bank of Southern Africa will lead the reconstruction project at an estimated cost of 2 billion rand. 

GUEST: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament’s spokesperson.

Today we celebrate Sergeant Connie Nkuna for going above and beyond the call of duty. Earlier this month, you may have heard about this touching story of Sergeant Nkuna, who helped deliver a baby on the side of the road. Sergeant Nkuna who was newly promoted in the position was serving her first day in Region B, Randburg when this incident occurred. We understand that the mother that she assisted chose the name Blessing for her daughter after Sergeant Nkuna said that the baby’s birth was a blessing.

GUEST (Studio) Sergeant Connie Nkuna, JMPD Officer

Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela has informed the ruling party she will be resigning from her position as premier. ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula announced during a media briefing today that she informed him of her decision to step down. Ntombela lost the chairperson position at the last provincial elective conference in January to Mxolisi Dukwana who was the interim provincial committee convenor. Mbalula says this is just a change of positions but there is no leadership crisis in the Free State. We’re now joined by Dr Harlan Cloete, Governance Systems Expert and research fellow at the University of Free State.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the work of the South African National Defence Force as the country commemorates Armed Forces Day. The day commemorates the World War 1 naval tragedy that claimed 616 South African troops when the SS Mendi ship sank on its way to France. An official ceremony was held earlier in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. Ramaphosa thanked SANDF members for their commitment and contribution to development in South Africa. To discuss the significance of Armed Forces Day as well as the current state of the defence force in South Africa, we are now joined by Defence Analyst, Helmoed Heitman.

Earlier on today, ANC SG Fikile Mbalula briefed members of the media on the outcomes of a Special National Executive Committee meeting that took place yesterday. The party has announced that the NEC has approved deployment of full time NEC members to support organisational work at Luthuli House and it has also approved deployments to its sub-committees.

GUEST: Mahlengi Bhengu –Motsiri, ANC National spokesperson

journal Nature Medicine has revealed that a 53-year-old man in Germany, often referred to as the Berlin patient has become the latest person to be cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant. The patient ceased antiretroviral therapy for HIV in 2018. To explain what this means in the battle against HIV is….

GUEST: Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)

Eskom is reviewing documentation and schedules around load-shedding stages to prepare itself just in case we move to stage 8 loadshedding as it works to restore power supply. The power utility’s CEO, Andre de Ruyter says they are working around the clock to de-escalate the ongoing stage 6 load-shedding by the weekend, however, the risk of stage 8 loadshedding is always there considering their challenges. We’re now joined by energy analyst, Roger Lilley.

Today we hear from the SA runner, Nontuthuko Mgabhi who will travel to Vietnam this week to raise funds for disadvantaged schools in Northern Natal. In 2020 Mgabhi made history when she became the first African woman to participate in the World Marathon Challenge – and she ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, all for a good cause.

GUEST: Nontuthuko Mgabhi, SA long-distance runner

Communities in Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape are still reeling from the impact of floods where bodies of two children have been recovered after they were swept away together with their mother. Four people are still missing and many are still stranded. The district municipality communities to remain vigilant as rains continue in the area. The heavy rains have also destroyed infrastructure and washed away a local high school.

Guest: Mesuli Ngqondwana, executive mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality