Researchers in South Africa this week launched a clinical trial which seeks to find out whether treatment with Lactin-V, which is derived from a strain of bacteria - can protect women from HIV. This first-in-Africa study will enrol 60 healthy young women between 18 and 23 years of age, to receive 11 doses of Lactin-V over the course of four weeks. Lactin-V has already been tested in more than 200 women in the US and shown to be safe. For more on this study we are now joined on the line by Professor Thumbi Ndung'u, Deputy Director for the Africa Health Research Institute...
GUEST: Professor Thumbi Ndung'u, Deputy Director for the Africa Health Research Institute

South African dockworkers In Durban are protesting and refusing to off-load an Israeli ship in solidarity with Palestinians. Members of the South African Trade and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) won't off-load the cargo from the Israeli vessel following a call from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions to refuse to unload Israeli ships and goods from seas and airports. The protest action comes just days after similar action was taken by dockworkers in Italy...
GUEST: Honourable Shaik Emam, MP and NEC member of the National Freedom Party (NFP)

ACDP reacts to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire: The party has been very consistent in saying that ‘every sovereign state has the right to defend itself against any form of attack’ and according to them, this right also extends to Israel
Guest: Rev Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)

KZN’s Social Development Budget Vote: The department outlines its plans in terms of how they’re going to implement various programmes that are aimed at tackling poverty, social protection and social development amongst the poorest of the poor, and the most vulnerable and marginalised.
Guest: Nelisiwe Vilakazi, Head of Department for KZN’s Social Development

Yesterday, Israel’s security cabinet voted to approve a tentative cease-fire, after days of fighting with Hamas that claimed hundreds of lives. The truce came into effect this morning. But what guarantees do we have that violence won’t ensue again? We find out from…
Guest: Naeem Jeena, Executive Director of the Afro-Middle East Centre

What constitutes the township economy? And how does this informal economy provide unique insights into township informal business and entrepreneurship? How do we measure Informal economies and how much do townships contribute to South Africa's economy? And lastly how can we revive South African's townships after the Covid pandemic? To answer this we're joined on the line by...

GUEST: Dr Thami Mazwai, Adviser of the Sukuma Relief Fund, which was established to support small businesses as result of the Covid-19 pandemic and who also led the National Planning Commission's Project Team on Township Economy

The MEC for Education in KZN, Kwazi Mshengu has tabled the budget for the Department of Education in the province. We speak to MEC Mshengu about some of the challenges and achievements they have registered over the past 2021/22 financial year.
Guest: KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu

The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in KZN, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, officially delivered her third annual Budget Policy Speech at the KZN Legislature in Pietermaritzburg today. We speak to Vusi Zuma the spokesperson for KZN Agriculture and Rural Development who will unpack the major plans by the Department for the 2021/22 financial year...
GUEST: Vusi Zuma the spokesperson for KZN Agriculture and Rural Development

As phase two of the vaccination roll-out gets underway, the Pan South African Language Board has criticised the government for not doing enough to ensure COVID-19 information is disseminated in indigenous SA languages. The board says government officials continue to communicate information mainly in English, which often gets lost in translation.

GUEST: Xolisa Tshongolo, acting CEO of the Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB

Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke will lead an elections review panel. The review panel is to advise the IEC if polls can go ahead under the current COVID-19 conditions.
Prof William Gumede joins us to unpack the results of the 40 by-elections that took place yesterday. The big winner was the ANC as the ruling party managed to retain 27 of the 40 wards it contested. We also speak to IEC Commissioner, Mosotho Moepya…

Guest: Professor William Gumede, From the School of Governance at Wits

Guest: IEC Commissioner, Mosotho Moepya