The View Point

The Durban International Festival (DIFF) returns from 10 to 20 September 2020. It has announced the opening- & closing films for this year's edition of festival: This is not a Burial, but a Resurrection (opening) & Dust (closing). Now celebrating its landmark 41st year, this prestigious South African international film festival is a unique phenomenon on the African cultural calendar.

This event also provides work opportunities for young people in the Creative Industries through award design competitions, open calls for posters & festival-related activities.

Guest: Dr Ismail Mahomed - Director | Centre for Creative Arts, UKZN

When Andrew Mokete Mlangeni passed away on 21st July 2020, we were reminded of a threshold moment in the liberation struggle.

Agents for Change is a non-linear, self-driven, interactive experience of the many stories found in the Liliesleaf exhibits. The visitor begins with an aerial crime photography of Liliesleaf, taken by the police at the time of the raid. As you scroll over the image, you activate nodes of information.

With funding from the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), the Liliesleaf Trust has begun to extend these exhibitions online.

Guest:Nicholas Wolpe - Chief Executive Officer | The Liliesleaf Trust

For many young South Africans, the uncertainty of the future in the face of Covid-19 and the lockdown has brought on fear, anxiety and stress. Added to this are the huge job losses.

According to the National Income Dynamics Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey, three million people have lost their jobs since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Guest:Bongani Chinkanda - Founder & Managing Director | Diaries of a Salesman & Bravado

Since the announcement of the lockdown, predictions were made about the impact of Covid-19 on entrepreneurs. Estimations were made and various relief funds were set up – but Covid-19 has left every industry on its knees. We’re in conversation with two young entrepreneurs who had to close shop and yield to the impact of Covid-19 small businesses.

Guest:Thembalethu Pamba - Founder | Airport Car Parking Services (O.R Tambo & Lanseria

Guest:Dan Brotman - Founder | En-novate

Guest: Brian van Rooyen - Director, Labat Africa

Guest: Dr Mandla Lamba - Chief Investment Officer, Verityhurst Capital

Two months ago, we spoke about the 750AMPED initiative that looks to combat the panic, stigma, misinformation and disinformation around Covid-19 particularly amongst socially vulnerable communities and areas with high transmission potential.

This is done through the active deployment into communities of young majority women field agents advocating for attitudinal and behavioural change, whilst also gathering insights and disseminate information on prevention and support measures associated with the COVID-19 crisis response.

Guest: Dr. Nomfundo Mnisi - Vice-President of the South African Veterinary Council AND supporter of the 750AMPED initiative

Until the end of apartheid in 1994, only civil marriages concluded under the Marriage Act were legally recognised in South Africa. Post 1994, the new Constitution enabled the recognition of different forms of marriages, including traditional and religious marriages. But the laws have not been passed to recognise religious marriages as legally valid.

There was some hope that progress had been made in 2010 when the Muslim Marriages Bill was approved by Cabinet. But it’s never been passed into law.

Guest: Seehaam Samaai – Director of the Women's Legal Centre

In the last few weeks, the continent has seen a number of conflicts erupt in Zimbabwe, Mali, Cameroon, Somalia and other nations. The question that has been on the lips of many researchers is whether or not there are enough resources being deployed to the peace and security interventions plaguing the continent. Since its inception in 2002, the African Union has been under pressure to resolve the extensive peace and security challenges facing the continent.

Guest: Izak Khomo - former Presenter of Spotlight Africa | Channel Africa

Is there still a moral case that can be made for the African National Congress?

This is in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa saying the ANC is “accused number one” in his open letter to the party about corruption. He highlights the actions that need to be taken in order to address this issue decisively & in accordance to the party's resolutions from the 2015 electoral congress.

Guest: Mavuso Msimang - Member of African National Congress

Nolwazi is highly skilled at facilitating discussion panels and curating events and conversations on these issues, and on politics and current affairs, and has done so for organizations such as UN Women, the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), SABMiller’s “No Excuse” campaign against gender-based violence, the Apartheid Museum, the South African Book Fair, the Abantu Book Festival and the Kingsmead Book Fair, and the Live Mag SA youth debate series. Nolwazi has also worked with the United Nations International Children’s Fund, curating and launching their 2018 report, Children, HIV and Aids: The world today and in 2030.

Guest: Nolwazi Tusini - Journalist, Activist & Speaker