President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the Special 350 COVID-19 Grant by a further three months. President Ramaphosa made the announcement at the State of the Nation address, SONA, last night. Many of you have experienced challenges regarding the R350. So we have invited SASSA to further explain the extension and how the organisation will tackle the challenges to ensure that every deserving person is paid the grant...

GUEST: Sassa spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi

The case of malicious damage to property and crimen injuria against Noma Mngoma, the estranged wife of former minister Malusi Gigaba, has been postponed until the 26 of March this year. She appeared briefly in the Pretoria Regional Court this morning. She was arrested in July last year by the Hawks regarding claims that she had damaged an expensive German four by four vehicle - that reportedly belonged to a friend of her husband. Yesterday the high court in Pretoria ruled that her arrest by the HAWKS was unlawful

GUEST: Victor Nkhwashu, the Attorney for Norma Mngoma

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and nine other accused persons, have been released on bail after appearing before the East London Regional Court today. The ten accused are facing charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act linked to the Buffalo City Municipality, Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal. The eleventh suspect didn’t appear in court today due to illness.
GUEST: Sipho Ngwema, NPA National Spokesperson

We now tell you more about the annual Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. This year’s postgraduate essay topic was for entrants to make the case for or against a change in the mandate and ownership of the South African Reserve Bank.

Guest: Mahfouz Raffee, Undergraduate economics student from the University of the Witwatersrand

In conversation with Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi about his plans to review permanent residence visas. What informed this decision basically is that the minister noticed a trend from the outcomes of numerous investigations the department has carried out over the past two years, especially those involving prominent people
Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs

World News: This month Libyans mark 10 years since the beginning of an uprising that led to the removal of Muammar Gaddafi who was regarded as Libyas strongman. A decade on, what’s the situation like in Libya today – why is the country battling to return to normalcy?
Guest: Ebrahim Deen, Researcher at the Afro-Middle East Centre

Tomorrow, SABC and many other broadcasters around the world, will commemorate World Radio Day. In celebrating this day, the SABC Thought Leadership Series will host a panel discussion on “The Future of Radio Is Still Digital – But Which One?”. Tune in to SAfm’s Talking Point with Cathy Mohlahlana as they will carry this event live between 10:00 & 12:00 midday tomorrow.
Guest: Jonathan James Lyamgohn, Group Head of Radio at Consolidated Media Associates Group in Nigeria

We continue speaking to opposition parties about their expectations of the State of the Nation Address, SONA, tonight and what they want to hear from President Cyril Ramaphosa. We now speak to the IFP about their expectation for tonight....

GUEST: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP MP and National spokesperson

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the deployment of SAPS officers to the State of the Nation Address tonight is a waste of taxpayer money. The EFF says the "mass" number of officers deployed for SONA is an abuse of power.
GUEST: EFF MP and Commissar, Sam Matiase

The Democratic Alliance has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use the State-of-the-Nation-Address to clarify what steps are being taken to ensure the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines. The party also wants him to outline steps for economic recovery from the impact of the lockdown.

GUEST: Natasha Mazzone, MP and Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament