The South African Local Government Association in KwaZulu-Natal has called on government to provide councillors with security in light of escalating attacks and killings. Provincial SALGA Chairperson Thami Ntuli says this follows the assassination of Msunduzi ward 41 councillor Mabhungu Mkhize last week, at Imbali outside Pietermaritzburg. Earlier this month, NFP councillor Ntombenhle Mchunu was brutally murdered at KwaNongoma. Ntuli elaborates. In the previous 10 months 17 councillors were killed in that province. Is Salga’s proposal practical seeing how councils battle with providing services to communities? 

Guest: Sboniso Mngadi – Spokesperson for the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Guest: Kwanele Ncalane – Spokesperson for the KZN Community Safety and Liaison

Guest: Thami Ntuli – Chairperson of SALGA in KZN

Guest: Martin Meyer - DA KZN Spokesperson on COGTA

Our next guest Nontobeko Gcabashe says that she believes social cohesion is possible through grassroots women leaders, provided they are given the platform to showcase their capabilities. She is Programme Manager of Kagisano at Afesis-corplan and they are setting up a community development programme which they say seeks to work hand-in-hand with community structures to prevent collective violence inclusive of gender-based violence (GBV), taxi wars, xenophobic attacks, gang wars. 

Guest: Nontobeko Gcabashe - Programme Manager of Kagisano at Afesis-corplan

Guest: Bertha Chiguvare – Programme Coordinator at Lawyers for Human Rights (Implementing the programme in Limpopo)

Last week we spoke to Floyd Brink who is city manager for the City of Johannesburg. A question was posed to him from a listener regarding the electricity billing in Johannesburg. Let’s take a listen to the question and the response Brink gave….

Guest: Tshifularo Mashava – CEO of City Power

Health experts say that Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a condition that is often misdiagnosed. Not only that, but plagued by myths and misunderstandings, particularly regarding treatment. It is said to affect approximately 1 in 20 children and stays with them into adulthood where we see about 1-million adults in South Africa.

Guest: Prof Renata Schoeman - Psychiatrist and Head of Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School and convenor of the 4th Southern African Multidisciplinary ADHD Congress

 Guest: Dr Meryn Young - Specialist psychiatrist and member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists

This morning, Bryan is answering your frequently asked questions for the month of August. 

Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

Climate change and energy policy affects us all on the daily basis. Last year, South Africa has committed that it would implement the Just EnergyTransition Partnership if it could access concessional loans and grants to the value of USD$1,5 trillion. Since these negotations, various non-state actors may work behind the scenes to dilute the nation’s response to  climate change or energy mix. The public has a right to know whether non-state entities are using bilateral meetings and other fora to influence public policy to protect their profits instead of our future.

Guest: Tracey Davies - Executive Director of Just Share (Non-profit shareholder activism organisation)

Guest: Caroline James -  Advocacy Co-ordinator at amaBhungane (Non-profit centre for investigative journalism)

When opposition parties gathered to discuss a united front in un-sitting the ANC in next year’s elections, one of our listeners remarked that they did not see a representation of women. The Multi-Party Charter for South Africa was only presented by parties led by men. As we build-up to the 2024 elections, it seems like the future of women will again be determined by the men leading these parties. Even within the ruling party, some of the women who raised their hands form the position of president were not supported by their fellow women. In light of this, we thought to look at what has happened to the voice of women in politics. The women of 1956 marched by themselves without the involvement of men and changed the narrative. So what is happening today? 

Guest: Mandisa Mashego - Project Director: South African Electoral Reforms at New Nation Movement

Guest: Nomsa Marchesi – Former DA MP and now with Rise Mzansi

Guest: Qaanitah Hunter - Assistant Editor: Politics and Opinions at News24 

Today (Monday 28 August) marks exactly 60 years since Dr Martin Luther King Jr made his famous “I have dream” speech in 1963.

60 years down the line, has Dr Martin Luther’s dream been fulfilled in the USA? The fact that America already had a black president and currently has a deputy who is female and black, is this proof enough that the country has transformed since Dr King made the speech was made? 

Guest: Dr. Felicia Wilson Young - Education officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development

Guest: Dr Dinesh Sharma - Cultural psychologist and internationally acclaimed author, one of his books being ‘The Global Obama’ 

Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited 

We are coming to you live from the Sandton Convention Centre where leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are meeting for the 15th BRICS summit to discuss closer cooperation and sustainable growth. 

Guest: Busisiwe Mabuza - Chairperson of the BRICS Business Council