As Russia’s invasion continues – we hear from Igor Kossov about the latest developments in Ukraine. This as Russian forces are advancing closer towards Kiev, capital city of Ukraine.

Guest on the line (Ukraine) Igor Kossov, is an investigative reporter and editor at the Kyiv Independent

Will the sanctions hurt Russia? Yesterday, US President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions on Russia, with measures that will impede the country's ability to do business in major currencies. Also the European Union has imposed substantial territorial sanctions on financing, trade in key sectors and investment. So will these sanctions prove effective? How do sanctions normally work? Joining us for this conversation is…..

Guest on the line (UK): Leigh Hansson is a sanctions expert and partner at international law firm Reed Smith

Following his state of the province address which he delivered yesterday. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala joins us to explain why his administration has decided to enter into negotiations with the national government to buy the SAPREF refinery in Isipingo, south of Durban. You may recall that earlier this month, shareholders of Sapref decided to suspend operations indefinitely by the end of March as they want to sell the plant. 

Guest: Sihle Zikalala, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal

Godrich Gardee Attorneys has embarked on a campaign that is aimed at assisting South Africans who have experienced alleged racial or any other form of discrimination to join a class action suit against the country’s financial institutions. To tell us more about this class action suit is…..

Guest: Godrich Gardee, Attorney at Godrich Gardee Attorneys (GGA)

Can our Defence Force Stand the Test of Time? Also can they protect us as citizens? In conversation with Professor Lindy Heinecken, Military Sociologist & Vice Dean for Research at Stellenbosch University. She will help us understand South Africa’s military might and its notable weaknesses. Seeing what’s happening in Ukraine at the moment, one will have every reason to be worried about the state of SANDF. I’m sure most of you have noticed that recently, there have been some disturbing reports about the state of our military, with some suggesting that the situation at SANDF is such that there is an increasing risk that it won’t be able to protect the country’s integrity - as our army is reportedly not adequately armed to protect military bases and facilities. Also about three days ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that the armed forces are “facing many challenges” in the face of the country’s limited resources.

GUEST: Professor Lindy Heinecken, Military Sociologist & Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University, also Author of the book “South Africa’s post-apartheid military

Now here's an interesting development where child maintenance is concerned! Did you know that fathers who fail to pay maintenance for their children could be forced to settle their debt - even 30 years later. In a recent case, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that where a person ordered to pay regular maintenance did not do so, the other party had up to 30 years from the time of the original order, to claim the money. The case relates to a mother who sought relief from her former spouse 25 years after a maintenance agreement was signed. The father had repeatedly failed to honour the agreement. The monthly payments outstanding from 1993 to January 2019 had escalated, with interest, to almost three-point-five-million- rand. 

GUEST: Leah Jagwanth - Attorney and Associate at Herold Gie Attorneys  

With violence escalating in Ukraine – what sort of reaction should we expect from its allies? About two days ago, the United States and its allies ruled out sending troops to defend Ukraine but have started to impose sanctions targeting investment and trade related to the Russia-controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, while on Tuesday Boris Johnson announced what he called the “first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia”. Is this enough though or should they be doing more to assist Ukraine and its citizenry?

Guest  (UK) Guest on the line (UK): Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham

In conversation with Andre Groenewald, South African Ambassador to Ukraine about the current situation there but also about the safety of South Africans who study or work in that part of the world, as you know that yesterday evening Russia launched a full scale attack on Ukraine.

Guest (Ukraine) Andre Groenewald, South African Ambassador to Ukraine

Grade 12 learners at Madadzhe Secondary School in Ha-Tshikonelo outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo have not been taught Maths, Life Science, Maths Literacy, and Economics, since schools opened in January 2022 due to a shortage of teachers.

The Education Department in the province had earlier announced that the school will be merged with a neighbouring one but that has not yet happened. The Department says the delay in the merger was due to resistance by some parents.

Some concerned Grade 12 learners say this will affect their matric results at the end of the year. Learners also claim that this teacher shortage has been affecting them since last year when teachers were being transferred to other schools. 

GUESTS: 

1. Michael Makungo - SABC Reporter in Limpopo  
2. Martin Mashaba - Limpopo Department of Education’s Deputy Director-General  
3. Truth Ndou - Grade 12 learner at Madadzhe Secondary School in Ha-Tshikonelo outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo  

• They haven’t had teachers since last year - teachers have been moved to other schools 
• There are 181 learners at Madadzhe and 6 teachers 
• She is in grade 12 and hasn’t been taught Maths, Maths Literacy, Life Science and Economics this year