The U.S Secretary for Treasury Janet Yellen is on a three-day official visit to South Africa as part of the Biden administration's strategy to engage more with Africa. On the other hand, the US Embassy has registered its dissatisfaction about the recent visit of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying that the remarks that he made while visiting South Africa represent an exhausting example of misinformation by the Russian government.

GUEST:  Dr John Stremlau, Honorary Professor of International Relations @ Wits 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has raised concern over the escalating violence in Eastern DRC that has left hundreds of civilians dead. The latest attack happened last week at a site for internally displaced persons and their shelters were looted and burned down. One region has lost more than 200 civilians in the past six weeks in a series of attacks by non-state armed groups. For more on the humanitarian situation in Eastern DRC, we are now joined by Joel Smith, Spokesperson for the UNHCR in DRC. 

How important are joint military drills with other countries and what do they symbolise in international relations? South Africa continues to defend its planned military drills with Russia and China in February as it maintains its neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The joint exercise is planned for the 24th of February in the East Coast.

Guest: Professor Abel Esterhuyse, Head of Strategic Studies in the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University. 

Let’s now speak to Lesego Peega from Kgabalatsane village, who is one of the co-founders of DEZGNED concept store, a thriving rural boutique – the first of its kind to be in a rural area. This as we celebrate her success story.  

So, what process can mineworkers who contracted TB and Silicosis between 1965 and 2019 follow in order to get compensated? Yesterday we spoke to the National Union of Mineworkers about the announcement by the Department of Health that it would commence a process of compensating the workers. Tshiamiso Trust will be administering those funds and they will give us clarity on some of the details and how qualifying beneficiaries can make their claims. 

Guest: Lusanda Jiya, Stakeholder and Communications Executive at Tshiamiso Trust. 

Frontier Hospital in Komani in the Eastern Cape has had long power cuts since Friday, disrupting services to patients. The hospital not only helps people from the area, it also handles referrals from smaller hospitals and clinics in the region. Residents in the area have been putting pressure on the Enoch Mgijima municipality  due to power cuts in the area, going as far as calling for the council to be dissolved. We’re now joined by SABC News Reporter, Abongile Jantjies who was at the hospital earlier, but before speaking to him, let’s listen to what Yonela Dekeda, spokesperson for the Health Department in the Eastern Cape on the hospital’s issues. 

The City of Tshwane is urging its residents to use water sparingly so that the impact of the current water challenges can be minimised. Last week, Rand Water notified the City about its intention to control the flow of water to Tshwane in order to reduce water consumption. For more on this, we are joined by ….. 

GUEST: Daryl Johnston, Tshwane MMC for Utility Services and Regional Operations and Coordination  

AfriForum plans to enter the energy space through its AfriEnergy plan- to help alleviate the country's current energy crisis. It announced its first leg of the organisation's 3-phase plan during a media briefing in Pretoria today. The plan includes assisting South Africans to access quality alternative sources of energy and help move poor households off-grid.

GUEST: Johan Kruger, AfriForum’s Head of Community Sustainability  

The United States and its allies has imposed more sanctions against Iran. The latest move targets a key economic pillar of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which funds much of the current administration’s brutal suppression.

GUEST: Na’eem Jeenah, Executive Director at Afro-Middle East Centre 

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has welcomed the North Gauteng High Court’s judgement which confirmed that Atul Gupta is a fugitive from justice and therefore does not qualify for a South African passport. You may recall that about five years ago, Atul Gupta approached the Consul General of South Africa in Dubai to apply for a passport. However, the department of home affairs rejected his application after receiving confirmation from the NPA that a warrant of arrest was issued against him in connection with criminal offences of fraud and money-laundering related to the Vrede Dairy Project. Joining us to elaborate further on this is…… 

GUEST: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs