The Hawks have confirmed that more arrests have been made in connection with last year’s July unrest. Last week, the law enforcement agency nabbed 21 suspects in different parts of the country, including Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape. To explain how this operation was carried out is…. 

Guest: Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, Hawks spokesperson 

The Japanese government has launched a nationwide competition calling for ideas to encourage its citizens to drink more alcohol – this as the country attempts to boost its tax revenue. The Sake Viva! campaign, which is being run by the National Tax Agency, asks 20- to 39-year-olds to come up with proposals to help revitalise the popularity of alcoholic drinks, which have fallen out of favour because of lifestyle changes during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Guest: Aadielah Maker Diedericks, Secretary General of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA)  

Public servants are going back to the wage negotiation table with the government this week. They say they are ready to down tools if government does come with a better offer, something that could cripple public service. Unions initially demanded a 10% wage increase, however, government said it is unaffordable, proposing a 1,5% plus R1 000 minimum cash equivalent for all employees across all employment levels. Unions rejected that offer, proposing a 6.5% increase, government said it could only pay 2%. Affected professionals include police, teachers, nurses and staff in prisons. South Africa last had a public sector strike in 2010. We are now joined by Reuben Maleka, spokesperson for the Public Servants Association of South Africa. 

Opposition parties will apply for motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Phala Phala scandal. The parties have been meeting for the past few weeks to make a decision on how to keep the president accountable. They believe the president has a case to answer and want the motion of no confidence to be done in secret.

Mosiuoa Lekota

NotInMyName is urging Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to vacate his public office amid sexual assault allegations. The organisation is also calling on law enforcement agencies to urgently deal with this matter.  

Guest: Themba Masango, Secretary General of NOTINMYNAME 

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says while an expected reduction in fuel prices is welcome, it is concerned consumers might not feel much of the decrease as it may redirected towards the fuel levy and etolls in Gauteng. The organisation says government may seize the price reduction opportunity to increase the fuel levy. So what informs this concern? We are now joined by Outa’s Wayne Duvenage.

guest: Mahmood Oumar

Where are the new generation of leaders from the Indian community in KwaZulu-Natal? Asks senior ANC member in the province, Logie Naidoo as he is worried about the absence of Indians in ANC’s provincial leadership structures. He is arguing that Indian community’s role cannot be trivialised in South Africa’s political landscape as they contributed immensely during the liberation struggle, producing stalwarts such as Ahmed Kathrada, Billy Nair, Mac Maharaj, Yusuf Dadoo and many others.  

Guest: Logie Naidoo, ANC member in KZN  

Yesterday, the department of justice and constitutional development announced that they have drafted a new bill that is aimed at repealing and replacing the archaic Trespass Act. The department feels that the Act has lost its relevance in our constitutional democracy as it forms part of colonial/apartheid era legislation that is no longer required in our democratic system. The proposed new bill to replace the act is ‘Unlawful Entry on Premises’. To furnish us with more details on this is…. 

Guest: Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson for the minister of justice and constitutional development

Following Cuba’s announcement that they will soon allow foreign investors into their wholesale and retail trade for the first time in 60 years. We hear from Professor Arthur Mutambara about his interpretation of this major announcement in terms of why now and what informed this pivotal decision – as we know that Cuba is currently facing its most severe economic crisis in decades, with rising prices and public discontent. 

Guest: Professor Arthur Mutambara, former Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe