Guest: Mr Rodgers Basikopo Makamu - Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders including the entire Executive Committee

This morning to wrap up our Municipal Watch feature, we speak to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. She is joining us to share her views on the state of municipalities and what’s she’s doing to turn them around. A few weeks ago she gave an overview of government interventions to address governance problems at municipal level which has affected service delivery. Having listened to this segment over the years, you as our listeners would’ve heard some of the corruption and mismanagement happening in our municipalities and how officials running these municipalities could never give clear explanations on their role in bringing municipalities down. 

Guest: Thembi Nkadimeng – Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Across South Africa, there is a growing movement of community activists stepping up in neighbourhoods to enhance the lives of members of their communities. Driven by a vision of reclaiming common humanity in communities, many leaders are making a difference now and for future generations in rural and urban areas. Join us as we connect with these change-makers shaping the present and future of rural and urban South Africa.

Guest: Bridget Munnik – Manager of the Westbury Youth Centre

Guest: Phethani Madzivhandila – Writer, Activist and Co – founder of Khonani Integrated Development Agency 

Guest: Ndithini Thyido – Chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum

We continue our GBV discussion with NACOSA as they embark on their #it takes a village campaign. The country continues to bear the brunt of gender based violence which happens on a daily bases. Their belief is that if we pull together, we ac actually with the battle against the cancer of GBV. To talk more on this campaign and find out what difference it will make, we are joined by....

Guest: Dr Ntlotleng Mabena - Technical Specialist: Community Based Violence Prevention and Response

Guest: Ndumiso Madubela - Adolescents & Young People Programme Specialist

Guest: Thato Senosha - GBV Prevention Coordinator

Guest: Hannerie White – Capacity building specialist (Human rights perspective)

Researchers from Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences reported on a groundbreaking clinical research at the Union Conference on Lung Health meeting in Paris revealing that an oral antibiotic taken once daily for six months significantly lowered the likelihood of developing drug-resistant tuberculosis. The study showed that the risk for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis infection in children was reduced by 56% with levofloxacin. TB remains as one of the top causes of death in children globally and is one of the top killers of children below 5 years of age. 

Guest: Professor Anneke Hesseling-  Director of the Desmond Tutu TB Centre and the overall Principal Investigator of the TB-CHAMP trial, at Stellenbosch University

This year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign for No Violence Against Women and Children is run under the theme: “Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one behind”. As much as themes change every year, the scourge continues everyday. Clearly something is not right about our society as NGOs blame legislature, some blame the way in which we raise about boys, while others blame government policies. Where exactly should we be pointing the finger? Also have we run out of things to blame?

Guest:  Adv Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale – Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality

Guest: Adv Praise Kambula – Head of The Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable persons in the Department of Justice

Guest: Lechesa Tsenoli – Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 

We end the programme by talking to the Competition Commission on some of the investigations and cases they have Often when you listen to the news you will hear reports of how the commission has found companies doing all sorts of wrong things like price fixing, manipulation and colluding. The latest case of interest to the South African public is that of the manipulation of the rand. More than 20 banks are under investigation for alleged price fixing of the currency. To educate us more on how the Competition Commission finds out about these cases and how they come to a conclusion.

GUEST: Makgale Mohlala - Divisional Manager for Cartels at the Competition Commission

Guest: Magic Nkwashu - Disability rights activities 

Guest: Phuti Mabelebele - Chief Director: Advocacy and Mainstreaming rights of Person with disables at the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities 

Guest: Nomcebo Zikode - Grammy Award winner 

In 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed amendments to the Municipal Systems Act which sought to impose a blanket prohibition on municipal workers holding office. The South African Municipal Workers Union challenged the constitutionality of the amendment and won through the Labour Court ruling which declared that Section 71b of the MSA Amendments are unconstitutional, invalid, and set aside. As the political heads are studying the ruling, how do we as citizens feel about this ruling? As a citizen, is there a better way of limiting political influence in our municipalities?  

Guest: Dumisani Magagula – General Secretary of South African Municipal Workers Union 

Guest: Sandile Swana - Political analyst and governance expert

Guest: Cllr Thami Ntuli – Chairperson of SALGA in KZN