Former US President Donald Trump has announced that he is running again for president in 2024. The announcement comes just a week after the 2022 mid-term elections, which saw a lacklustre performance from Trump-backed Republican candidates in key Senate races and competitive House elections. But the big question is - can he rule America again? Joining us for this discussion is …….. 

GUEST (UK): Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham 

According to Rene Richter, MD of RemChannel, the latest findings in the RemChannel Survey points out that, in the professional services environment, the “Great Resignation” trends continues to be seen. Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director of Old Mutual SME, says SMEs can learn from trends seen in large companies who continue to see employees leave to “greener pastures” by ensuring that their employee value proposition (EVP) is strong enough to retain their core staff. 

Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director of Old Mutual

guest: Khwezi Tiya, Coega CEO.

Some great news, two students from the University of Limpopo have made history, winning the World Dance Championships Amateur League and Dutch Open Amateur Latin Championship, winning gold and bronze medals in their debut international act in the Netherlands. Happy Ramano and Adelaide Hlungwani landed in OR Tambo International Airport earlier today after successfully representing South Africa. We are now joined by World Dance Champion, Adelaide Hlungwani. 

We continue with our outside broadcast from the International Convention Centre in East London where the Eastern Cape Investment Conference is taking place. Central to the idea of functional businesses to invest in, is a conducive environment where they can thrive. What is the role of local government in encouraging investments? We are now joined by Melusi Ngqondwana, Executive Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality.  

There has been a lot of outrage with regards to the proposal by the basic education department to have unisex bathrooms in schools. Many are raising issues around safety as the reason for their rejection of the idea. The department says the proposed guidelines seek to protect children of diverse sexual and gender identities from discrimination and the violation of their rights. To explain more on the proposal and its intention,

Guest: Likho Bottoman, Director of Social Cohesion at the Department of Basic Education. 

According to the department of education in Gauteng. School pupils in the province are still being taught by teachers who have been accused of sexual misconduct. Following this revelation, the Democratic Alliance has warned that innocent lives are at risk and they are urging the department to take action against those found guilty.  

GUEST: Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education  

How far is the legal battle to gain access to sealed apartheid-era records? The South Gauteng High Court is currently hearing a case brought by non-profit organisation, Open Secrets against the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. In the decade long battle, Open Secrets wants access to information about secret apartheid-era military procurement projects, including visits and liaisons with people in different countries during the height of apartheid-era international arms sanctions busting. Why has this case taken this long and what are some of the reasons being given for sealing the information? We are now joined by Hermione Cronje, Head of Legal at Open Secrets. 

The special investigations Unit says it has recovered over R33 million from Northlink College in the Western Cape. The college had used funds received from NSFAS between 2017 and 2021 that were not allocated to students and invested them without authorization. The SIU is calculating interest the college has made from the investment and will have it paid into the SIU trust account. This is the first recovery of government funds  since the signing of Proclamation R88 of 2022 in August. The proclamation authorises the SIU to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at NSFAS and recover financial losses suffered by the state.

Guest: SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago.