Trade union Solidarity today launched a skills bank where engineers and technicians can register so their skills can be re-recruited to help alleviate the crisis at Eskom. The creation of this knowledge bank comes in the wake of announcements made by Pres Cyril Ramphosa and Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan that the services of competent former Eskom employees, locally and abroad, should be used to help alleviate Eskom’s skills shortages. Solidarity offered its assistance and called on all South Africans to make Eskom’s rescue a national project.

Guest: Dr Bheki Mfeka, State Owned Enterprise Specialist

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned on Thursday following the fall out of national unity government, setting the country on an economic crisis and a possible early election. Draghi, an unelected former central banker has led a broad coalition for 18 months. Draghi's coalition crumbled on Wednesday when three of his main partners snubbed a confidence vote he had called to try to end divisions and renew their fractious alliance.

Guest: Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow at Africa Asia Dialogues

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is expected to kick of its elective conference from Friday – 22 July following a series of postponements earlier this month. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to show – up amid controversy related to the party’s step aside resolution and the Phala Phala farm incident. The province is a stronghold for the RET (radical economic transformation) faction and it seems to be exerting authority. The conference is expected to face tough contestation for provincial leadership.

Guest: Political Analyst Xolani Dube

President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the plight of entrepreneurs providing services for government entities. He was speaking earlier at the inaugural Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference. Ramaphosa says government needs to fix the issue of taking forever to pay businesses providing services for the state. 

Guest: Black Business Council CEO, Kganki Matabane. But before speaking to him, here’s a clip of President Ramaphosa at the conference. 

The Public Protector’s Impeachment Inquiry has adjourned. Three witnesses have given testimony so far. Mkhwebane’s legal representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu claimed that she sought the input of the State Security Agency for the correct wording in her order about the constitutional mandate of the South African Reserve Bank, where she recommended that it gets amended in order to avoid economic instability. What else happened at the inquiry today?

Guest: SABC News Political Reporter, Joseph Mosia.

The Department of Transport has been given 21 days to respond to the demands of taxi associations. If the Department does not respond, the National Taxi Association will embark on a total shutdown. The industry has been calling on the department to assist them given the fuel hikes. Some taxi associations have implemented taxi tariff hikes on commuters as a result.

Guest:  Lwazi Khoza, Spokesperson for the Department of Transport.

South Africa’s inflation rate continues to skyrocket. Stats SA says it reached 7.4% last month, reaching a 13 year high. Bread, electricity, fuel and public transport prices among others saw the saw the sharpest increase. These are basic necessities that most people can no-longer afford. Does inflation targeting still serve the interests of South Africans considering the current economic climate?

Guest: STANLIB Chief Economist, Kevin Lings.

Tembisa residents have taken to the streets today in protest against among other things, the proposed electricity tariff hike as well as lack of service delivery. Police fired rubber bullets earlier when they clashed with residents. How is the situation now?

Guest: Xolani Mnisi, Tembisa resident and Public Relations Officer of the Tembisa Community Forum.

The Democratic Alliance in Kwa-Zulu Natal conducted oversight inspections of community halls provided to KZN Flood victims. The DA has raised concerns that the provincial government's efforts to build new homes has been slow. The DA is set to approach the SA Human Rights Commission on the inhumane conditions that victims are exposed to within the sites and get temporary housing allocated to victims.

Guest: Mmabatho Tembe - Democratic Alliance (KZN) Spokesperson for Social Development

Ndifuna Ukwazi has filed a notice of motion before the Equality Court to challenge the City of Cape Town's amendments to the Street, Public Places and Prevention of Noise Nuisance by-laws.

Guest: Jonty Cogger - Attorney at Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre.