Earlier this week, a Home Affairs-led law enforcement operation led to the arrest of at least 51 illegal migrants who were being held in slave-like conditions at a plastic factory in Alberton. The fifty-one were subjected to inhumane and unspeakable working and living conditions in a factory owned by a Chinese national. Following this incident, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has warned business people who continue to employ illegal migrants that they will face the full might of the law. Minister Motsoaledi joins us now to elaborate more on this…. 

Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs  

On World News today we look at the 14th BRICS Summit which is currently underway and ask - how is BRICS membership benefiting South Africa and given the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine – how significant is this year’s meeting? According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the value of South Africa’s membership of BRICS has grown substantially since we joined this group of emerging economies 12 years ago. Total South African trade with other BRICS countries reached R702 billion in 2021 up from R487 billion in 2017. So clearly, South Africa is benefiting out of this alliance. To explain the intricacies of BRICS membership is….. 

Guest: Professor Patrick Bond, Political Economist & Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg 

THE INNERVIEW: Today we examine the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, asking – was it worth it? Yesterday, the Zondo Commission released the final part of the State Capture Report and as expected, many people expressed different views in terms of what must happen next moving forward. But one thing that cannot be ignored is the fact that not everyone is in agreement with the findings of the report and also not everyone was pleased with how the commission executed its mandate. On the other hand, there are those who are of the view that the commission was a necessary exercise that South Africa needed to root out corruption. Four years later – how would you rate the work of the commission? But most importantly was it worth it? Joining us for this debate is…..and…… 

GUEST: Matshela Koko

GUEST: Sipho Pityana, Convener of Save South Africa  

FNB Money Series Feature: Today we focus on yet another pertinent issue, giving you advice on whether “should you rent or buy your business premises?”. This as part of FNB’s commitment to educating SMEs and equipping them with the right tools and advice to promote, grow and market their businesses.  

Guest: Andiswa Bata, Co-Head, SME Segment at FNB  

This morning, the Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla announced the first case of Monkeypox in the country during a media briefing. The patient is a 30-year-old male from Johannesburg who has no travel history, meaning that this cannot be attributed to having been acquired outside South Africa. According to the World Health Organization, global monkeypox cases are at 2 103, with one recorded death. Should the public be concerned of new cases as the COVID-19 Regulations have fallen away?

Guest: Dr. Fundile Nyati - Chief Executive Officer at Proactive Health Solutions 

In the fifth part and final submission of the Zondo Commission report, the Chief Justice suggested that whilst direct election may not prevent corruption, serious consideration should be given to citizens electing the President instead of voting for political parties. This recommendation has been previously made in the Van Zyl Slabbert Commission back in 2003. What should we read into this recommendation? Will it aid the deliberations surrounding the ongoing Electoral Act amendments? 

Guest: Prof. Dirk Kotze - Professor of Political Science at the University of South Africa 

We hear from Hooda Abrahams-Fayker on why the Black Sash Trust has decided to initiate legal action against government in relation to the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. They want the North Gauteng High court to set aside a means test regulation as they argue that it excludes many poor people from accessing the R350 grant.   

Guest: Hooda Abrahams-Fayker, National Advocacy Manager at Black Sash  

The Gauteng office of the SA Human Rights Commission has confirmed that they will be looking into the grievances of the victims of the Yeoville Market fire. The organization has called on the community to remain law-abiding whilst engaging with law enforcement agencies and to ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to book. The fire destroyed goods to the value of R50 000 as it ravaged twenty-three stalls. 

Guest: Buang Jones - Gauteng Provincial Manager at the South African Human Rights Commission 

How important is this year’s Commonwealth heads of government meeting? We are told that the Commonwealth countries will focus on critical matters such as trade, investment, rule of law and innovation and that they are also expected to adopt declarations on childcare and protective reforms. But what about other pressing global issues like the ongoing war between Russian and Ukraine? Joining us to explain the significance of this meeting is…. 

Guest: Khayelihle Khumalo, SABC International Reporter  

Statistics South Africa has announced that the country’s consumer price index has broken through the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. This is a results of increasing fuel and cooking oil prices. South Africa’s CPI inflation reached a five year high of 6.5 percent in May. It was 5.9 percent in April. One of the key drivers of the increase is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Guest: Economist, Xhanti Payi.