A t least 20 families affected by the Boksburg tanker explosion are pursuing legal action against a number of stakeholders who could be liable for the explosion that claimed 37 lives. The legal action is being taken against the company that owns the tanker, Infinite Fleet Transport as well as the outsourcing company that employed the driver. However, other parties including Prasa, the City of Ekurhuleni, the fire department as well as the South African Police Service could be held liable. The law firm representing the families, RH Lawyers Incorporated says the proceedings will take the form of a class action lawsuit. We’re now joined by Frank Mbiriri, Associate Attorney at RH Lawyers Incorporated.

The Social Development department is raising concern over an increase in gender based violence cases in the province. It says many of them were reported during the festive season. Many of the women died in the hands of their intimate partners, including Zibuyile Ngubeni from Bergville who was bludgeoned to death by her husband. The department is calling on communities to work together in protecting women. How will the department be addressing gender based violence in the province?

Guest: Mhlabunzima Memela, Spokesperson for the Social Development Department in KwaZulu-Natal.

Our next guest has filed a court application against the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. They want to hold her in contempt of court for not releasing documentation in relation to the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the data used to inform the COVID-19 regulations and the extension of the State of Disaster (2020 - 2021). Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has consulted with lawyers and has shared her opposition to sharing such documentation as it is protected by her office being part of Cabinet. To unpack what led to this process, we are joined by... 

Guest: Piet le Roux - CEO of Sakeliga 

The Department of Health says there have been no major changes yet in hospitalisations and deaths related to Covid-19 after a new covid-19 variant was reported by scientists in South Africa. While encouraging people to get vaccinated and get vaccine boosters, it says immunity of South Africans is still strong. The department will also finalise a change in timelines for additional boosters and ensure everyone over the age of 18 can get a vaccine booster. Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla was briefing the media earlier today.

Guest: Health Department Deputy Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

The Department of Minerals Resources and Energy has approved the environmental authorization for gas and oil exploration on the West Coast. Our next guest is raising concerns that this approval has not taken into consideration the negative impact will have on ocean wildlife as endangered leatherback turtles migrate to the area. They also argue that the decision is in direct contradiction of the country's commitment to climate change. To help us unpack this further, we are joined by...

Guest:  Liz McDaid - Strategic Lead at The Green Connection

For those who may have missed it, there was a viral video on social media that showed the crowds not singing the English and Afrikaans segments of the national anthem. During the course of the video, crowds could be seen heckling after the Sesotho verse of the album.

Guest: Brett Heron - Member of Parliament of the GOOD Party

The public school system in the state of Seattle has filed a lawsuit against big tech firms for the social harm that their social media apps cause to young people. According to the lawsuit, students' performance has worsened and schools hiring professionals to identify children at risk. The lawsuit seeks compensation for monetary damages and other penalties. This is not the first of its kind as  U.S. lawmakers accused Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits at the expense of children's mental health following testimony by whistleblower Frances Haugen back in 2021. To unpack the latest developments, we are joined by...

Guest: Emma Sadlier - Social Media Law Specialist and Founder of The Digital Law Company

How do the families of the Cradock Four feel about the death of Apartheid police minister, Adriaan Vlok without accounting for his crimes? The Cradock Four, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, and Sicelo Mhlauli were anti-apartheid activists. They were arrested in a road block, assaulted, tortured and later brutally murdered by apartheid security police. Mkhonto and Mhlauli’s bodies were found in Gqeberha, while Goniwe and Calata’s bodies were found in the bay a few days later. It has been 38 years since that murder and Vlok eventually dies without having accounted to those families. We’re now joined by Lukhanyo Calata, son of Fort Calata.

As we all start the year in high spirits with aspirations to be more efficient and achieve more goals this year, how do we turn those ‘new year, new me’ goals and new year’s resolutions into something tangible? How can we turn that positive energy into implementable goals, instead of just aspirations that we keep renewing at the beginning of each year without results?

Guest: Clinical Psychologist and President of the Pan-African Psychology Union, Dr Saths Cooper.

It has been over a year since the blaze that ravaged Parliament and the rebuilding process has still not gotten underway. Opposition parties have voiced their concerns about the viability of their temporary home at City Hall and the practicality of virtual meetings for the foreseeable future. Our next guest is calling for the Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngqakula, to hold the State of the Nation Address 2023 at the Union Building. We are joined by...

Guest: Dennis Bloem - Spokesperson for the Congress of the People