The ANC is denying allegations by opposition parties that it attempted to bribe coalition partners in the City of Johannesburg in exchange for votes to remove the DA’s Dr Mpho Phalatse from her position as mayor. The party says the Democratic Alliance is mischievous and struggling to come to terms with the poor management of the coalition they have been leading. 

Guest: ANC’s Chairperson in the Greater Johannesburg Region, Dada Morero. 

A consortium of researchers has published a new analysis of data which suggests that street-based female sex workers in South Africa have extraordinarily high HIV incidence, emphasising the need to sustain and strengthen efforts to mitigate risk and provide adequate care. For more on this, we are joined by….. 

Guest: Dr Alex Welte, from the SA Centre of Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis

UNICEF is calling for South Africa to be active in protecting and nurturing vulnerable children. This follows latest data from Imperial College London revealing that Covid-19 UNICEF associated deaths have left almost 150 000 children orphaned. When including children who lost primary and secondary caregivers such as grandparents, the number rises to over 200 000.  UNICEF says the figures speak to the importance of a holistic and child centred response to the impact of Covid-19 on children.

Guest: UNICEF South Africa’s Deputy Representative, Muriel Mafico

Seven opposition parties in the City of Johannesburg have laid corruption and bribery charges against the ANC. They allege that a R150 000 bribe was offered to some councillors by ANC councillors in exchange for votes in support of removing Joburg mator, Dr Mpho Phalatse. Two councillors from the IFP and Patriotic Alliance gave wrote affidavits saying they were approached moments ahead of last week’s vote of no confidence against the DA’s Vasco da Gama. 

Guest: DA Councillor, Bongani Nkomo

According to data that was released by Statistics South Africa earlier today. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 0,7% in the second quarter of this year. The devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal and load shedding contributed immensely to the decline. To explain what this means is….. 

Guest: Dr Lumkile Mondi, Lecturer at the School of Economics and Finance @Wits

Former president Jacob Zuma has launched a private prosecution against News24 journalist Karyn Maughan and State advocate Billy Downer. You may recall that last year, Zuma opened a criminal case against Downer for allegedly leaking his medical records to Maughan and he also approached the NPA to have Downer prosecuted, but his request was rejected, hence he decided to apply for a private prosecution certificate. For more on this now, we are joined by….. 

Guest on the line: Mzwanele Manyi, Spokesperson for the JG Zuma Foundation

In a report published yesterday, Human Rights Watch says China is increasing the arbitrary collection of DNA in Tibet. This is not the first time China has been accused of collecting DNA from populations. According to a 2020 report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute entitled “Genomic surveillance”, state authorities obtained biometric samples from nearly the entire population of the Tibetan Autonomous Region under the guise of free annual physical exams. Joining us for this conversation is ….. 

Guest: on the line (US): Maya Wang, China Researcher at Human Rights Watch

Yet another gang rape story, this time, in Limpopo. Police are investigating the gang rape of five women at a funeral parlour. Six gun-wielding suspects allegedly stormed into two funeral parlours situated next to Leporong along the R37 road in Malipsdrift. They raped the women and assaulted the men they found at the funeral parlour. One of the funeral parlour employees was shot and wounded. For some reaction to that, we are now joined by Businesswoman and activist, Andy Kawa. Andy took Minister of Police to court for her un-investigated gang-rape case, and won, 12 years after her ordeal. Her case set a precedent for other rape victims.

The Ndengetho High School in Durban has been closed indefinitely. This is after learners at the school burned a few classrooms down during a protest after their cellphones were confiscated by the teachers. The principal says the school’s code of conduct prohibits carrying of cell phones in school premises. However, it had been lenient with it. The schoo confiscated about 400 cellphones while removing banned substances from the school, including weapons and drugs. The pupils allegedly started burning classrooms and breaking windows afterwards in protest. 

Guest: KwaZulu-Natal’s Education Department head of communication, Muzi Mahlambi.   

Guest: Dr Faisal Suliman, Chairperson of the South African Muslim Network