Limpopo police have opened an inquest following the discovered of eight bodies at a mine near Burgersfort. The deceased are suspected to have been mining illegally before they go trapped. Police say heavy rains in the area pushed mud towards the entry of the mine and blocked, leaving the deceased unable to come out.

Guest: Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.

Do South Africans have reason to worry yet about the Covid-19 strain that was reported by researchers at Stellenbosch University? Scientists say the XBB.1.5 variant is the most transmissible sub-variant detected in the pandemic so far. It was discovered during a process of DNA sequencing in the laboratory. The Health Department says those who are not vaccinated, should do so as soon as possible.

Guest: epidemiologist, Dr.  Joe Barnes.

Humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers has been at the forefront when it comes to helping people in need during times of crisis. Unfortunately, it has been reported that their Cape Town office has fallen victim to crime where several appliances, donations, and laptops have been stolen. The organization is calling for communities to stand up against criminal activities. We are joined by...  

Guest: Ali Sablay - Project Manager at the Gift of the Givers

A man has been arrested for the illegal dispensary of diesel and gas worth the value of R200 000. The suspect was unable to produce a license permitting him to sell 3800 litres of diesel and 27 gas cylinders found in his possession. There has been a rise in these incidents in the past 12 months with an Eskom employee getting arrested for stealing diesel worth R500 000 from the Atlantis operations. To help us unpack the criminality, we are joined by...

Guest: Chad Thomas – Organized Crime Investigator at IRS Forensic Investigations

Brazilian authorities are investigating who was behind the storming of the Brazlian Congress, Supreme Court and the Presidential  Palace over the weekend. Thousands of Bolsonario protestors stole the country's original 1988 Constitution and seized guns from the presidential security offices. This morning, the governor of Brasilia (Ibaneis Rocha) has been suspended for not securing the capital and stopping protestors on Sunday. To unpack the latest developments, we are joined by...

Guest: Prof. Patrick Bond - Political Economist and Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg.

Today is the annual commemoration of the death of SACP and ANC stalwart Joe Slovo who died on the 6th of January in 1995. Slovo will always be remembered for having participated in the drafting of the Freedom Charter in 1955 – he was also the Chief of Staff of the ANC's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. Post 1994, Slovo was appointed minister of Housing after South Africa’s first non-racial democratic general election. 

GUEST: Dr Alex Mashilo, SACP Spokesperson  

The South African Society for Educational Psychologists has expressed concern about certain medical aid that have stopped funding them despite a proclamation by the Minister of Health. According to the organisation, discrimination against educational psychologists has a negative impact on children, parents, and practitioners. To tell us more about this issue… 

GUEST: Dr. Guru Kitnasamy – Representative of Society for Educational Psychologists of South Africa 

Researcher at Wits University and gender-based violence activist - Lisa Vetten - says there are several complex reasons for the rising number of teenage pregnancies in South Africa. Over 100 teenagers gave birth on Christmas and New Year's days. The figures that the National Health Department has released, have raised alarm bells for local health care authorities. Vetten outlines some of the challenges that teenage girls are facing ... 

GUEST: Lisa Vetten, Researcher from Wits University and Gender-Based violence activist  

A Durban High School matric learner from the class of 2022 will be attending Harvard University in the United States. Nureldin Mohamed has been accepted to Harvard University with full financial support based on his Cambridge AS results (A grades) and predicted A-level results. He joins us on the line to discuss his matric academic journey, this accomplishment, and future plans... 

GUEST: Nureldin Mohamed 

The Ekurhuleni Municipality says it has secured the area where a fuel tanker overturned earlier today after scores of community members rushed in with containers to collect the tanker's leaking fuel.  We find out more about what happened and the current state of the scene… 

GUEST: William Tladi - Ekurhuleni Emergency services spokesperson