It is Day 2 of the Section 194 inquiry into suspended Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office. Her legal team submitted arguments to the evidence leader on Monday. Mkhwebane has told the inquiry today that her suspension by president Cyril Ramaphosa was unlawful. Her legal representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu says the process is illegal and and biased against Mkhwebane. Experts have been called in to give testimony on the characteristics of a public protector who is fit to hold office. 

We’re still having that conversation on the report for Equal Education which reveals 80% of South African public schools are dysfunctional. A listener sent us shocking photographs of a dilapidated Ratjeke Primary School from Ga-Ratjeke in Greater Letabala Municipality. The school has no roof, the walls have caved in and the children are learning next to an old wall without any covering. The basic education department in the province says the school is on its priority list. We are now joined by Councillor Matome Serumula from Letaba Municipality. 

As the November deadline nears for the Children’s Amendment Bill to be finalised. We hear from the African Christian Democratic Party on why they are still opposing certain sections of the bill. The party is concerned that the bill fails to deal with the rights of unmarried fathers. 

Guest: Marie Sukers, ACDP MP

SARS employees who are members of Nehawu and PSA will down tools following a wage deadlock. SARS made a 1.39% wage increase offer, however, Nehawu has rejected it. The union says this is an insult to its members and they will continue withholding their services to the revenue collector. Their list of demands includes a 12% wage increase. We are now joined by Nehawu spokesperson, Lwazi Nkolonzi. 

A tavern has been shut down and police are investigating following the death of a 23 year old man in Limpopo after participating in a drinking competition. The man died after consuming a full bottle of jagermeister in one go for a R200 prize. He allegedly collapsed immediately after finishing the bottle and was taken to a clinic where he was declared dead on arrival. We are now joined by Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo. 

To react to this report is Matakanye Matakanya who is going to talk to us about the important role that is being played by school governing bodies in ensuring that our education system functions optimally – he will also share thoughts on what their limitations are in promoting and restoring qualitative education in this country.     

Guest: Matakanye Matakanya – General Secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies 

We unpack the findings of the Equal Education Law Centre’s Report into underperforming schools in South Africa. The report suggests that at least 80% of schools are dysfunctional, and most of these schools serve black and coloured learners. The same report also recommends that parents and school governing bodies be given more powers to hold underperforming schools accountable.  

Guest: Philasande Mkuzo, Junior attorney @ Equal Education Law Centre

The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes is currently hosting the United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford for bilateral consultations. The purpose of the meeting is to review the progress made on the commitments undertaken during the South Africa – United Kingdom Bilateral Forum held in May last year between Minister Naledi Pandor and former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. For more on this, we are joined by….. 

Guest: Khayelihle Khumalo, Khayelihle Khumalo, SABC International Reporter 

The ANC in Gauteng elected 30 additional Provincial Executive Committee members at a conference that concluded yesterday. The conference convened for a second time after it was delayed due to concerns over the quarantined votes from the Ekurhuleni regional conference. Dr Bandile Masuku as well as Khusela Diko form part of the new PEC leadership. The pair was implicated in a PPE tender scandal in 2020, leading to the loss of their government jobs, and were later reinstated following disciplinary processes. Is this a good move for the province?

Guest: political analyst, Levy Ndou

Yet another dark weekend in south Africa. 21 people were shot dead on Sunday in different taverns in the country. 15 were shot dead at a tavern in Soweto, while four were shot at a tavern in Pietermaritzburg, while another two were killed in Katlehong, bringing the number to 21. That’s three mass shootings in one night and details on the motive still remain unknown. Have we got a security crisis in South Africa? 

Guest:  Dr Chris de Kock, Crime Analyst and former head of the Crime Information Analysis Centre at the South African Police Service.