Isaah Mhlanga explains how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia affect South Africa’s oil and fuel prices. With Russia being the third top producer of crude oil - supply worries are seen in increased oil prices and the Automobile Association says South Africans can expect another hike in the petrol price next month.

Guest: Isaah Mhlanga, Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes

Earlier today, residents and members of the ANC caucus at the Ekurhuleni metro marched to the municipal offices, demanding 75% debt write offs on municipal accounts. The party says the impact of Covid-19 and increasing unemployment makes it impossible for residents to settle their municipal accounts. For more on this, we are joined by….

Guest: Jongizizwe Dlabathi, Whip of the ANC Caucus at Ekurhuleni Metro

In anticipation of what might happen to them as they have witnessed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan’s armed and security forces are stepping up their surveillance and military drills. The self-governed island democracy has long faced the threat of being absorbed by China, which has vowed to do so by force if it deems necessary. But do they have any reason to worry? Joining us for this discussion is…..

Guest: David Monyae, is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations and Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg

What informs the ongoing UNISA protest? Unisa support staff have embarked on a protest and they are accusing university management of reneging on a salary adjustment agreement that it entered into with the workers in September last year. This has led to lectures as well as a graduation ceremony being disrupted. However, the university has promised to make alternative arrangements for the graduates who have been inconvenienced by the disruption.

Guest: Thembani Baloyi – NEHAWU UNISA Secretary

Guest: Victor Dlamini, UNISA spokesperson

Alize Le Roux shares thoughts on the impact of climate change in Southern Africa. She recently revealed that about 170-million people have been directly affected in the past four decades and about 2.7-million people have been left homeless due to the effects of climate change.

Guest: Alize Le Roux, Senior researcher for African Futures and Innovation at the Institute of Security Studies

We look at how the Ukraine-Russian war is negatively affecting our economy and agricultural sector. During yesterday’s debate in Parliament on the Russia and Ukraine conflict. Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo warned that with South Africa being a net importer of oil, the persistent conflict in Ukraine is having a severe impact on fuel prices which, in turn, is driving up food prices. He also revealed that since the conflict, there have already been sharp increases in the prices of crude oil, maize, wheat and sunflower oil future contracts – and according to him this is likely to persist until a resolution to the conflict is found.

Guest: Christo van der Rheede, CEO of Agri-SA

Law authorities were left stunned in Cape Town after close to 40 people belonging to a taxi association stormed into the Philippi East police station, attacked officers and set two men free who were arrested for allegedly using fraudulent documents. However no arrests have been made yet - following this unfortunate incident as the matter is still under investigation.  

Guest: JP Smith, City of Cape Town's Mayco Member for Safety and Security 

The Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA) has found Advocate Dali Mpofu guilty of violating the General Council of Bar’s ethics rules when he told Advocate Michelle le Roux to shut up during a state capture hearing last year. Mpofu joins us now to react to this….. 

Guest: Adv Dali Mpofu 

Why are we finding it difficult to tackle racial discrimination in South Africa? Several pupils have left Hoërskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein. You may recall that the school was embroiled in racism allegations after several videos of a brawl between black and white pupils went viral on social media. According to the department of education in Gauteng, all the learners who have decided to leave the school were voluntarily removed by their parents for various reasons.  

Guest:  Matakanye Matakanya 

China’s Covid-19 situation continues to deteriorate. Much of the current outbreak across Chinese cities is being driven by the variant commonly known as stealth omicron or the B.A.2 lineage of the omicron variant. What is even more worrying is that early research suggests it spreads faster than the original omicron, which itself spread faster than the original virus and other variants. So what lessons can be learned from China’s current situation?  

Guest: Dr Richard Lessels, Infectious Diseases Specialist at UKZN