Animal organisation Four Paws says it has been engaging government to take action to address ownership and trade of big cats in South Africa. The escape of Sheba the tiger caused outrage across the country around the ownership and captivity of big cats. The organisation is also calling for an end to commercial breeding of big cats. Midvaal Local Municipality Mayor, Peter Teixeira also said on this show that legislation needs to be tightened to prioritise both the safety of people and wild animals. How have engagements with government over the past few years been going? We are now joined by Elize Parker, Press Officer at Four Paws. 

The resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden at the age of 42 has sent shockwaves across the world, with many applauding her for leaving her position in her prime, while some feel she still has a lot to offer. Arden became a member of parliament in 2008 at the age of 28, as a candidate for the labour party. She became the country’s prime minister at the age of 37, and steered it through natural disasters, Covid-19 as well as a terror attack. To discuss Ardern’s legacy and her work over the past five years, we are now joined by Dr Harlan Cloete, governance expert and research fellow at the University of Free State.  

Former President Jacob Zuma intends to appeal the full bench judgment halting him from giving any further effect to his private prosecution bid pending President Ramaphosa's court challenge. This was revealed by his legal team at the Gauteng High Court today.   

GUEST: Mpumelelo Zikalala, Legal practitioner  

Canada’s health authorities are proposing that Canadians must restrict their boozing to just two drinks per week. This is a major drop from ten drinks a week for women and 15 for men. However, there are those who are arguing that these new guidelines are so ridiculous to an extent that people won’t follow them. But what’s the main message from these new guidelines?

GUEST: Professor Sue Goldstein, who is from the School of Public Health at Wits University 

The Automobile Association (AA) says there are concerning elements about the 2022 festive season road fatalities presented by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday. Mbalula revealed that road fatalities declined from 1685 to 1451, a 13.9% decline compared to the same period in the previous year. However, the AA is disputing this, saying the official recorded number of fatalities by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) over the 2021/2022 period was 1808, not 1685.  

GUEST: Layton Beard, AA Spokesperson 

Joburg Water has issued an advisory, asking customers in the city to implement level one water restrictions. The entity says, the higher water demand as a result of the heatwave and load shedding has impacted several Johannesburg Water infrastructure units. 

GUEST: Puleng Mopeli, Joburg Water spokesperson

IEB matric results are out and Redhill School in Johannesburg achieved a 100% university entrance and 17% of the pupils received seven or more distinctions.  Keranya Moodley attained an average of 92% with seven distinctions, six of those are 90% or above. What role did her school and her family play in supporting her?

Guest: Keranya Moodley 

Coastal schools reopened for the 2023 academic year today. Education MEC in KwaZulu-Natal Mbali Frazer, together with Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga visited several schools in KwaZulu-Natal to mark the first day of this year’s academic year. However, Motshekga expressed her disappointment as she found that many schools in the province have poor infrastructure and lack basic facilities. According to her, some of the schools have infrastructure problems dating back to apartheid years. But what is her department doing to turn things around?   

GUEST: Zanele Modise, Equal Education’s Head of National Organising   

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has commenced her 10-day trip to Africa as Washington looks to deepen economic ties with the continent. Her visit follows that of China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang who also visited five African countries last week to strengthen China-Africa relations. So I guess the key question is why now and why visit Senegal, Zambia and South Africa?  

GUEST: Victor Kgomoeswana, Author of Africa is Open for Business & Marketing and Communication Director at the University of Limpopo  

Former MMC for Human Settlements in the City of Tshwane, Abel Tau is now a leader of a new political formation. He is now the leader of the United Africans Transformation. The party is registered with the Independent Electoral Commission and will focus on a variety of issues including patriotism, law and order, multi-racialism and world class education. The move comes after Tau was expelled from ActionSA following a disciplinary process. The disciplinary followed sexual assault accusations against him. He says the disciplinary process was unlawful and is challenging it in court. What can we expect from the United Africans Transformation?

Guest: Abel Tau, the leader of the party.