SADC leaders have expressed their  dissatisfaction that the continent was being targeted for unilateral and punitive measures through the new act, the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, that was recently adopted by the US House of Representatives. This was raised during the 42nd Ordinary Summit that took place in Kinshasa, DRC last week. All the leaders who attended the Summit unanimously agreed that the Act will have negative implications for African countries. To unpack this for us, we are joined by…. 

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

The first wife of the late amaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu has been granted permission to appeal the Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment, which dismissed her application to have 50% of the estate of the Zulu King. Legally speaking – what does this mean for the incoming King Misuzulu kaZwelithini?  

Guest: Mpumelelo Zikalala, Legal practitioner 

We are still on the crime statistics. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of multiple murders between April and June. stations that reported the highest murder rates were Umlazi in Durban and Plessislaer in Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, and Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. There were 221 murders combined. KwaZulu-Natal’s violence has been studied over a period of time and contributing factors vary from politics to taxis and random incidents of crime. We are now joined Mary de Haas, Violence researcher and honorary research fellow at UKZN. 

Following yesterday’s tragic death of five Vyfhoek Primary School learners, in Potchefstroom, who were run over by a mini truck inside their school premises – we hear from the North-West department of education as we understand that they have been visiting family members of the deceased learners.  

Guest: Elias Malindi, North-West Education Spokesperson

As the Mayor of Tshwane faces serious allegations of corruption; we get his side of the story. Randal Williams has been accused of flouting the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) after he allegedly persuaded opposition parties to endorse an unsolicited power contract, valued at R26 billion. Williams has since rejected the allegations, branding the entire move as a political smear campaign by opposition parties.  

Guest: Randall Williams, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality  

We look at the ongoing peace efforts in Ethiopia between government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. In recent weeks both parties raised the prospect of negotiations but key hurdles remain, with both sides blaming each other for the impasse. We are told that currently, the warring sides are at loggerheads over who should lead the negotiations. For more on this, we are joined by….. 

Guest: Professor Mammo Muchie, African analyst & Research Professor on Innovation studies at Tshwane University of Technology 

As we observe Women’s Month – we ask, has South Africa done enough to empower women, including increasing their access to economic activities? Our guest, Tryphosa Ramano argues that even though much has been done to ensure women prosperity in this country, some progressive empowerment Acts and policies are silent on gender equality in terms of financial services outreach and enterprise development, hence black women in particular remain marginalised. 

Guest: Tryphosa Ramano is chairperson of the Women Economic Assembly Finance Committee and a board member of the International Women’s Forum of South Africa 

How would you rate South Africa’s quality of oversight on public financial management and accountability? We ask this question because yesterday, the Association of Public Accounts Committees (APAC) concluded its annual general meeting that was held under the theme of “Enhanced oversight for ethical public financial management and accountability to grow South Africa together”. But are things going to change post the annual conference? For more on this, we are joined by….. 

Guest: Sochayile Khanyile, Chairperson of Gauteng Legislature SCOPA and General Secretary of Association of Public Accounts Committees (APAC)  

There’s more movement in the Democratic Alliance. The opposition party has removed Natasha Mazzone from her position as chief whip in parliament and replaced her with Siviwe Gwarube. Mazzone will now represent the Democratic Alliance in the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. She will also serve as the advisor to party leader, John Steenhuisen. The new appointments come after a string of resignation from the party’s black leaders. What should we make of these movements in the party? We are now joined by political analyst, Levy Ndou.   

As the ANC prepares for its upcoming 55th National Elective Conference, scheduled to take place in four months’ time. We hear from Xolani Dube about whether or not the party will succeed in implementing its renewal project. Our discussion is informed by the fact that earlier on today, former party deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe reminded party members that impeccable ethical and moral standards are a requirement for anyone hoping to serve the party and the people of South Africa.  

Guest: Xolani Dube, Political analyst from Xubera Institute for Research and Development