Today we speak to Ntombenhle Khathwane about how Old Mutual has been supporting her business. Old Mutual has been supporting SME’s for a very long time but they have refined their SME offering geared towards actual challenges identified by SME owners. 

Guest: Ntombenhle Khathwane, AfroBotanic business owner  

The National Association of Artisanal Miners is calling on members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources to help speed up the process of decriminalising small-scale mining in South Africa. The organisation says it has complied with government’s requirements to register cooperatives in order to be formalised, but nothing has come out of it and small scale mining remains illegal. 

Guest: Naam National Coordinator, Paps Lethoko and Pontsho Thwala from the Wits School of Mining Engineering.

Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke has released her first audit report on the floods in KwaZulu-Natal. She says government has been slow in helping victims of the April floods and the Eastern Cape. The KwaZulu-Natal government had planned to build 1810 temporary residential units for those who lost their homes, however, only 736 structures have been built. Auditor General says assessments were not adequately prepared and did not enable appropriate planning and implementation. We are now joined by Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke. 

Following yesterday’s heated exchanges in Parliament, regarding the Phala Phala matter. It has since emerged that President Cyril Ramaphosa did not report the foreign exchange transaction that was the source of the US dollars stolen from his farm, as required by law. Post this revelation, EFF says they are now convinced that so far the president is guilty of at least one crime, in failing to report the transaction. 

Guest: Sinawo Tambo, EFF National spokesperson  

Cope’s Acting Provincial Secretary in Gauteng speaks to us, following what transpired earlier on – after him and other party members disrupted Mosioua Lekota’s press briefing.  

Guest: Mxolisi Ntobela, Cope’s Acting Provincial Secretary in Gauteng  

The last leader of the Soviet Union has died at the age of 91, after suffering from a serious and long-term illness. Mikhail Gorbachev was instrumental in ending the Cold War between the United States, introduced a host of economic reforms, and brought Soviet troops out of a protracted war in Afghanistan. But many argue that his legacy within Russia is complicated. Joining us to talk about his leadership style and his legacy is…… 

Guest on the line (Russia): Andrey Kortunov, Political analyst & Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council  

The Information Regulator has summoned the South African Police Service on details related to the release of personal information of the women who are victims of the gang rape that took place in Krugersdorp in July. The summons comes after SAPS’ failure to give details on how personal information of the eight women was disclosed. Personal information of the victims, including home addresses, names and other details was leaked and the Information Regulator says this constitutes interference. The details were shared via Whatsapp and the regulator wants to know the circumstances under which the Whatsapp message was drafted. For more on that, we are now joined by the Information Regulator’s Alison Tilley.

Yet another council, are we likely to see results this time? President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a nine member anti-corruption advisory council to help in the fight against corruption. The council will be chaired by Professor Firoz Cachalia and will advise president Ramaphosa on how to effectively implement the national anti-corruption strategy 2020-2030. It will also give input on matters related to the state capture inquiry’s recommendations. Are we not likely to see an overlap of duties between this council and structures that already exist to deal with corruption? We are now joined by governance expert, Sandile Swana. 

Just when we thought that things are slightly getting better in relation to Covid-19. Health experts have warned that another Covid-19 wave could hit South Africa at the end of September or early October this year. But unlike the previous variants, they say the enormity of the next wave will probably be lower. For more on this, we are joined by…. 

Guest: Professor Barry Schoub, Chair of the Ministerial Committee on Covid Vaccines  

The Democratic Alliance has declared R15.9 Million worth of funding from its donors. The Independent Electoral Commission revealed in its 2022-23 first quarter disclosure report on party funding. R15 million came from one single donor. The DA followed by the ANC with R10 million. Action SA declared R750 000 while the Patriotic Alliance declared R310 000. These are the only four parties that declared their donations to the IEC. According to the Political Party Funding Act, parties have to disclose donations from donors from R100 000 and upwards to the IEC. For more on that we are joined by IEC’s Political Party Funding Manager, Matsobane Nkoko.