Religion has been on the spotlight in South Africa this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday we address the abuse of power by so called pastors and we asked if it’s not time to regulate churches. Today we are talking about extremism in the Christian faith. South African pastor, Harry Knoesen was found guilty of high treason, incitement to carry out violent attacks, and recruiting people to commit attacks. The leader of the National Christian Resistance Movement had been using Facebook to recruit former members of the military in his plot to kill black people. He was exploring the possibility of using chemicals to poison black people. He was going to poison water reservoirs that supply water to black communities. Police closed in on him and some of his associates in 2019. He appeared in court briefly today, however the matter was postponed to Monday to begin sentencing proceedings.

Guest: Theology expert, Professor Itumeleng Mosala

Anger is mounting following the suspension of Dr Tim de Maayer, a pediatrician at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. The suspension comes after he raised issues at the hospital in an open letter addressed to Gauteng government. In the letter published in the Daily Maverick, de Maayer paints the poor state of the hospital where he works. De Maayer talk about children unnecessarily dying due to lack of resources and understaffing. He makes a call to government officials, asking if they would take their children to the hospital and whether they are satisfied with paying millions after being sued when they could just ensure hospitals have adequate resources. A petition calling for the pediatrician’s reinstatement has received over 10 thousand signatures. Gauteng Health MEC Dr Nomthandazo Mokgethi the hospital’s management on the suspension.

Guest: the City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Health and Social Development, Ashley Sauls. 

Irish budget airline Ryanair has refused to scrap its travel policy that has caused outrage in South Africa. The organisation is adamant that all South Africans travelling on flights to the UK must prove their nationality by taking a test in the Afrikaans language. To react to this we are joined by….

Guest: Lance Schultz, CEO of the Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB)

Earlier today, some members of the Economic Freedom Fighters were forcefully removed from Parliament when they attempted to prevent President Cyril Ramaphosa from addressing the National Assembly. Several women and male MPs were manhandled by marshals. Naledi Chirwa was one of them and she joins us now to talk about what transpired earlier on…….  

Guest: Naledi Chirwa, EFF MP

Guest: Moloto Mothapo, Parliamentary spokesperson

We are often told that the population of young people in Africa is growing so fast that half the world’s young people will be living in Africa by the year 2040. Also the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa says there is growing consensus that Africa’s youthfulness will continue to grow for the next 50 years while the other continents are ageing. On the other hand, when you look at our own history, June 16 which we all commemorate as Youth Day wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for youth. Thomas Sankara was only 33 years old when he became president of Burkina-Faso and Julius Malema was only 32 years old when he formed the country’s third-biggest political party and yet when you look around, most of the sectors that exist in South Africa, including government - leadership positions are occupied by older people. Why is this – is it because we don’t trust young people?

GUEST: Tshiamo Malatji, 23-year-old Community Organiser in Bloemfontein

GUESTS: Narius Moloto, from the PAC 

Guest: Kival Singh, FNB Retail Climate Change Lead

It seems like more is still brewing in the Eastern Cape’s ANC following that conference where Oscar Mabuyane was re-elected as Chairperson last month. Disgruntled members of the party in the province are calling for a redo of the conference. Their lawyers have written to acting Secretary General, Paul Mashatile asking for the outcomes to be revoked and for the newly elected leadership to be dissolved. The members from the Dr WB Rubusana region say there were many irregularities prior to the conference and they have threatened court action if Luthuli House does not dissolve the newly elected leadership within three weeks.

Guest: Ondela Sokomani, Member of the Nonyamezele Mxenge Branch in Dr WB Rubusana region.

Taxi associations have distanced themselves from social media posts saying there will be a national shutdown against rising petrol prices on Friday. National Taxi Alliance says while its members are feeling the impact of the increasing fuel prices, it is still in negotiations with government. Social media posts have been circulating all week, asking people to not go to school or work on Friday. The National Taxi Alliance says it will only consider joining hands with different stakeholders if negotiations with government on the fuel prices and other industry related issues fail.

Guest: Theo Malele, Spokesperson of the National Taxi Alliance.   

Guest: police spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe

Following a complaint laid by former intelligence director-general Arthur Fraser. The Hawks have confirmed that investigation of the multimillion-dollar burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm is already underway. To furnish us with more details on the scope of the investigation is….

Guest: Nomthandazo Mbambo, Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbabo, Hawks spokesperson