The View Point

Legally, the South African constitution recognises the right to assemble, demonstrate and picket peacefully and unarmed, which is regulated in terms of the Regulation of Gatherings Act. Furthermore, the constitution protects disruption, providing it is peaceful and unarmed, and the Act draws the line at serious disruption. But South Africa is increasingly at odds with international standards around the proper management of assemblies within a human rights framework.

The Marikana massacre, the Fees Must Fall protests the Sharpeville massacre, the June 16 protests and the Bisho massacre - these peaceful protests were met with violence by the authorities and the SAPS. Yet, the protesters were often the ones painted as violent.

Guest: Stanley Malematja - Attorney at Right to Protest

Today, the Republic of Kenya announced that it has joined The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business as a full member of the 27-year-old organization. The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business is an independent, not-for-profit organization with strong working links with both Canadian and African businesses and governments.

According to the Chamber, Kenya is a leading and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with many attractive trade and investment opportunities, across many sectors.

Guest: Garreth Bloor - President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business

Dr. Sooka is in conversation with Thembi Nkadimeng and her lawyer Moray Hathorn on the journey they have walked together to get to this point where we have a trial date for when the trial of South Africa's death squad will begin in July this year.

Thembi's father died, her brother died, all of them pursuing this journey and her mother is now quite ill. Also, the lawyers hardly ever get interviewed and Moray has his own story to tell.

Guest: Thembi Nkadimeng - President | South African Local Government Association (SALGA)

Guest: Moray Hathorn - Human Rights Lawyer | Webber Wentzel

Yasmin Sooka is a South African human rights lawyer working in the field of transitional justice and international criminal law, with a special interest in sexual and gender-based violence.

Yasmin Sooka was the Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa, an independent non-profit Foundation established in 1996 by President Mandela’s government and the European Union, to address the legacy of Apartheid and to support the building of a human rights culture in South Africa.

Guest: Yasmin Sooka - Human Rights Lawyer AND CHAIR of the UN Commission on Human Rights for South SUDAN

With Easter weekend only days away, many locals are looking forward to spending time with family and having a drink or two. The notion of ‘only having one or two’ is a phrase often heard at social gatherings. However, this mindset poses a significant risk to all road users as South Africa braces for a surge in alcohol-related accidents.

With the proven impairment alcohol has on one’s driving ability, enforcement of alcohol laws need to be strict over this period to minimise alcohol-related accidents and save lives.

Guest: Rhys Evans - MD at ALCO-Safe

In 2020, NIDS-CRAM survey showed that net job losses between February and April were higher for women than for men. Women accounted for two-thirds of the total net job losses. Women are more likely than men to live in households that reported running out of money for food in April 2020. A retrospective look shows that between 2016 and 2020, women’s unemployment averaged 34.3% against 31% for men.

Guest: Victor Khangale - Marketing Manager | Lulaway Holdings (PTY) LTD

1. #ANCNEC (RET followers threaten to resign from ANC amidst Step Aside policy | Ramaphosa closing remarks & press conference postponed indefinitely)
2. #DAKZNElections (Rodgers wins but abandons inclusive diversity policy)
3. #NewLockdownRegulations (new laws before Easter weekend & plans for Ramadan as well)
4. #EFFbacksMpofu (Responding to comments by the DCJ at the Zondo Commission)

Guest: Dr Metji Makgoba - Independent Political Analyst

According to Matrics ‘on the Fringe’, the latest research by Youth Capital and Stellenbosch University, there are 250 000 young people attempting to obtain their matric certificate through the Second Chance Matric Programme, outside of the full-time schooling system.

Unfortunately, these young people, also called second-chancers, are not reported by the Department of Basic Education and this has a potential to block the life-changing opportunities that this programme can unlock for young people.

Guest: Mario Mayer - Policy Analyst | Youth Capital

On the 27th of April, Lunga Ncala will be attempting to break a world record of cycling for 24hours non-stop. He’s doing this in an attempt to raise R10 million rand and split the money between a couple of NGOs that deal with GBV assistance, drug rehabilitation, tertiary fees and food aid.

Lunga has cycled eight of the nine Provinces in South Africa. In 2018 he cycled 3000km around four African Countries - South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique with a friend Ronald Mathebula.

Guest: Lunga Ncala Ndlovu - Founder | Ride Abuse Foundation

The ability to express ourselves, either through speech or through written word, is something that some may take for granted. Up to 2% of a population (1,18 million people) cannot reliably meet their daily communication needs using natural speech in SA.

Due to their disability, this community cannot protect themselves or express themselves. This makes them the most vulnerable people in society, often spoken about and on behalf of others.

Guest: Prof Juan Bornman - Professor, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication | University of Pretoria