Earlier on today, the department of correctional services confirmed that former police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli has been released on parole. Mdluli and co-accused Mthembeni Mthunzi were sentenced to five years in prison for kidnapping, assault and intimidation in September 2020. According to the department of correctional services, “Mdluli qualifies to be considered for parole after serving 1/3 of the sentence as he falls under the Phaahla sentence.  

Guest: Singabakho Nxumalo, Spokesperson of the Department of Correctional Services  

Guest: Professor Andre Duvenage, Political analyst based at North West University Business School  

Yesterday, the International Monetary Fund delegation visited Tunisia to commence negotiations over a bailout package aimed at rescuing the country’s ailing economy. It is public knowledge that Tunisia’s political instability has worsened the country's economic conditions since President Kais Saied ousted the government in July 2021. 

Guest: Naeem Jeena, Executive Director, Afro-Middle East Centre 

At least 1700 employees who work for Mafube, Masilonyana, Tokologo and Kopanong local municipalities in the Free State have not been paid their salaries. Many of them say it has been three months since they last received a salary from the municipalities. Two of the municipalities were listed among those with no capacity to deliver services by Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke. Many of the workers are on the verge of losing their assets and have called for an urgent intervention from provincial government.

Guest: Tiisetso Mahlatsi, Provincial Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union in the Free State

Two sets of twins have died in a shack fire in Hendrina, Mpumalanga. Police say two shacks caught fire when power was restored after load-shedding in the area. They suspect an illegal connection could have been the case of the fire. The children has been left in the care of a 17 year old who was sleeping in another shack when the fire started.

Guest: Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala. 

As the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal prepares for its upcoming provincial elective conference that is due to take place in two weeks’ time. We speak to the party’s provincial spokesperson, Nhlakanipho Ntombela about how they are going to deal with party members who are facing criminal charges who want to contest for provincial leadership positions.  

Guest: Nhlakanipho Ntombela, ANC spokesperson in KZN  

Two more suspects have been made in Belfast following the discovery of 39 people at a farm in Belfast in Mpumalanga. The 39 victims who include women and children had allegedly been trafficked from Mozambique to come and work at the farm. The father and son duo arrested today are alleged to be the masterminds. For more on that we are now joined by Mpumalanga Hawks Spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng says it will take to the streets on Tuesday in protests against the proposed Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill. The bill proposes to put control over school and language policies in the hands of the department and move it away from schools. The party says if this bill gets passed into law, it will disempower Scholl Governing Bodies with regards to language and admissions policies. It raises concern that mother-tongue, especially in Afrikaans schools will be destroyed. The party will march outside Gauteng MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s office. We are now joined by the DA’s Khume Ramulifho. 

Former Post Office CEO, Mark Barnes has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint South Africa’s 100 best people to fix the country.  

Guest: Mark Barnes, Former Post Office CEO,  

We hear from the department of mineral resources and energy on why fuel prices are going up yet again. We are told that the latest fuel price increases are as a result of higher average international oil prices during the month of June. So we just want to understand if there was no other possible solution that could have been considered before arriving to this decision.  

Guest: Robert Maake, Director for Fuel Pricing Mechanism at the Department of Energy