As COVID-19 infections are decreasing in South Africa. Dr Sammy Mokoena, Free State Provincial Head of Outbreak Response has observed increases in infections in the age group 0-11 years and the elderly, particularly those in old age homes who have either taken one dose of vaccine or none at all. 

Guest: Dr Sammy Mokoena, Free State Provincial Head of Outbreak Response

Amid a scandal over events he hosted two years ago that essentially broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces growing calls to quit, some coming even from within his own party. You may recall that Johnson became the first serving UK prime minister found to have broken the law while in office when he was fined by police for attending a birthday party in June 2020. However, following these developments, Johnson continues to rebuff calls for his resignation.

Guest :Musa Mdunge, Political analyst & PhD candidate based at the University of Dundee

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa helps us understand how the grounding of Comair flights will have a negative effect on domestic tourism. Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has already expressed concerns about this matter.

Guest: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Chief Executive Officer at the Tourism Business Council

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has just announced that the price of 95-octane unleaded petrol will rise by R2.33 a litre, while 93-octane unleaded petrol will go up by R2.43 a litre. Also what happened this afternoon is that the Minister of Finance announced that he has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking for the extension of the reduction in the general fuel levy.

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

A new report by the African Child Policy Forum shows thousands of African children are accused of witchcraft and are victims of ritual attacks, physical and psychological abuse. South Africa is among the countries with reports on ritual attacks and witchcraft accusations against children. The African Child Policy Forum says despite there being laws that protect children, enforcement remains a problem. The report titled “Uncovering Our Hidden Shame, Addressing Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks in Africa” studies the prevalence of ritual attacks and witchcraft accusations against children on the continent.

Guest: Dr Joan Nyanyuki, Executive Director of the African Child Policy Forum

The Council on Higher Education says there is no need to panic following reports on universities with unaccredited courses. Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande recently told parliament that Walter Sisulu University had five unaccredited qualifications. The University of Fort Hare also has a B.Comm Course that needs to be accredited. The university called off a graduation earlier this month as it looked into rectifying the issue. So what exactly is going on and what does this mean for students who have either started studying towards these qualifications or finished.

Guest: Professor Themba Mosia, Chairperson of the Council on Higher Education

Independent Online News is reporting that residents of Parkwood have decided to take law into their own hands - after they allegedly caught a suspect, who allegedly tried to snatch children in the area. Apparently, residents then decided to burn a vehicle belonging to the alleged kidnapper.

Guest: Robin-Lee Francke, IOL News Senior Reporter

So where did the jobs the 370 thousand new jobs created between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 come from? Covid-19 worsened South Africa’s labour market, with many companies shutting down, but Stats SA says the unemployment rate has declined to 34.5 percent in the first quarter. The organisation had raised concern about the impact of Covid-19 on the accuracy of unemployment statistics in April, so how accurate are these numbers?

Guest: labour analyst, Mamokgethi Molopyane. 

Following our call to John the Scammer on this show yesterday, it is clear there is a scam making rounds in South Africa where scammers tell unsuspecting victims they have been rewarded R95 000 from and SASSA Covid-19 promotion. They then ask for more details like bank account numbers and other personal information in order to carry out their scam.

Gest: SASSA Spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi to give clarity for those who might have fallen for this scam. 

Disgruntled community members in Shwaiza-Reneke have closed down municipal offices calling on the ANC to remove councillors who defied the mandate of the party by electing their own candidate as the speaker.

Guest: Bennie Gaborone, (Mamusa community member)

Hlomani Chauke, Coordinator of the ANC Interim Provincial Interim Committee in the North West