Guest: MEC Thabo Mokone

Companies in different parts of the world have been exploring the idea of a four day work week. The pilot project has hit our shores. South Africans can now participate in the six months trial that will look at whether or not this model could be adapted here. This is a bid to improve productivity and wellness at work. How can Could this work in South Africa? We are now joined by 4DayWeekSA Director and Co-Chairperson of the 4 Day Week Coalition Karen Lowe.

 guest: Sedick Jappie from Productivity SA.

As the African National Congress gears up for its 55th National Conference that is due to take place in December this year. We speak to ANC NEC member and former deputy president of the ANC Youth League, Ronald Lamola, who has been calling for a generational mix within the ANC leadership structures and he has also made it clear that he is available to serve as the party’s deputy president.     

GUEST: Ronald Lamola, ANC NEC Member & Minister of Justice & Correctional Services   

An investigation into the tragic Pongola accident that killed 21 people, mainly children, has found the truck driver to be at fault. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) led the probe after the truck collided with a bakkie ferrying school learners on Friday last week. To tell us more about the outcomes of the report, is ….. 

GUEST: Lwazilwaphesheya Khoza, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport 

The Health Professions Council of South Africa says hospitals are buckling under pressure due to long hours of load-shedding. The council is calling on government to exempt all healthcare facilities from load-shedding. It says the long hours without power are straining a healthcare system that is already overwhelmed. Are hospitals not meant to be exempt from load-shedding, how have they been coping? We are now joined by Health Department Spokesperson, Foster Mohale. 

Is South Africa facing a leadership crisis? Buyani Zwane helps us understand the reasons for an increasing sense of crisis permeating society. When addressing students at Unisa yesterday, former President Thabo Mbeki said "I think we face a major, major challenge here at home; it's a leadership challenge." He went on to say - many of the country’s current challenges like the ongoing power blackouts could be resolved through having good leadership in government and in society. So what do you make of the former president’s assertion?  

GUEST: Buyani Zwane, Lecturer at Gibs Business School and CEO of Breakthrough Development

Government has finally signed three wind power projects that will add 420 MW to the grid and help curb the worsening electricity crisis in the country. The three projects fall under Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program launched in April 2021. The signing of the other 22 successful IPP bidders will be announced before the end of October this year. The department of Minerals Resources and Energy signed Coleskop, San Kraal and Phezukomoya Wind Power projects in Centurion. The three wind projects will offer Onshore Wind Energy technologies.   

GUEST: Dr Chuma Mangisa, Leadership expert

World News: What do leaders gain when they refuse to relinquish power? In his last address before world leaders at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, promised to leave a legacy of free-and-fair elections as his eight-year tenure comes to an end in May next year. Buhari also criticised leaders who refuse to relinquish power, saying he has seen how this has caused problems for many countries. Was he telling the truth? For more on this, we are joined by….. 

Guest: Dr Chidochase Nyere, from UJ’s Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation  

Inflation has slowed down in South Africa for the first since beginning of the year, but it is still above the Reserve Bank’s limit. The slowdown is therefore unlikely to sway the central bank from delivering a second consecutive 75 basis-point hike in interest rates. Food and fuel prices have been pushing our inflation rate up, but we have seen a decrease in fuel prices over the past few weeks. We are now joined by Stanlib’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says there is an increase in the number of whooping cough cases in South Africa.  Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that gets into your nose and throat. The NICD says 147 cases were reported from the beginning of the year to the 15th of September with a steady increase in the number of cases reported since May and a sharp increase from July through August and September. It says this is the first steady increase since 2020 when the country introduced Covid-19 prevention measures. What is this and should we be worried. We are now joined by Private Health Practitioner, Dr Angelique Coetzee.