The View Point

The Auditor General recently released a report and it tells of gross financial mismanagement in the public sector. Now the public sector is bound to attract attention because it runs on taxpayer's money. But this doesn't necessarily mean that the same unscrupulous way don't exist in the private sector.

We’re talking about the manipulation of books and asking, why does SA turn a blind eye on the crime that happens in the private sector? When you follow the Zondo Commission, you will hear of how private sector companies are colluding with government institutions in unscrupulous financial behavior. Why does such continue when there are accountants and internal auditors in place, tasked with ensuring that the finances are in order? Does the accountability for the mismanagement or disappearance of money sit solely with the 'accountants'?

Guest: Michael Marchant - Researcher at Open Secrets(he’s also the co-author of the report The Corporations and Economic Crime Report

In 2015, activist Sulyman Stellenboom campaigned to draw awareness to colonial and apartheid-era statues around the Cape Town central business district. The same year students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) successfully lobbied for the statue of one of the institution’s major benefactors — Cecil John Rhodes — to be removed from campus. Last week, the statue of Orange Free State president Marthinus Theunis Steyn was removed from in front of the University of Free State (UFS).

Guest: Dr Mwirigi Kinyua

Guest: Prof Allan Aubrey Boesak

Professor Allan Boesak will be in conversation with the Founding Director of the Alkass Human Rights Centre, Dr Anwah Nagia.

They are zooming into a couple of issues relating to Human Rights violations; and how those who were violated stood strong and garnered international support. Dr Nagia believes that the many challenges that we see in the world (immigration, poverty, racism, civil wars, GBV) are a result of the endless violation of human lives.

Also a founding member of District Six Museum, and having done a lot of work around the Group Areas’ Act and its everlasting impact on the people who were violated, Dr Nagia has done extensive work in the Human Rights sector and various spheres of civil society and his conversation with Prof Boesak is guaranteed food for thought.

Guest: Dr Anwah Nagia - Founder and director of the Alkaas Human Rights Centre (and Palestine Museum) // He’s also one of the founding members of the District Six Museum // He was also a formers Senator and Councilor of the University of the Western Cape // Dr Nagia says he’s also building a Harry Porter library

Rev Prof Allan Aubrey Boesak is the recipient of 13 honorary Doctor's degrees and several awards. Among those awards, are the Robert Kennedy Human Rights Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award. He was recently inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. He is also the author of 22 books and has been teaching across the world. Prof Boesak continues his teaching and preaching while remaining active in global struggles for human rights.

Boesak's involvement in public life and South Africa's freedom struggle began in 1976. In 1983, he called for the formation of the United Democratic Front, which would grow into the largest, nonviolent, non-racial anti-apartheid formation in the history of the struggle. He became their most visible leader at home and abroad. He worked with Mr Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, Rev. Frank Chikane and a whole array of world leaders to end apartheid.

Guest: Rev Prof Allan Aubrey Boesak

Gauteng’s infections have increased dramatically from 17,261 to 63 404 in a matter of days. The province now faces a major increase in fatalities, The DA in the provinces says we should prepare for mass burials and a mass lockdown is being touted – but not confirmed. There are also concerns that the province is not as well prepared for an influx in coronavirus cases as the Western Cape is. There are five quarantine sites in the province, while no field hospitals have been built and the shortage of beds is expected to reach 5,000 in two weeks.

Guest: Dr Bandile Masuku - Gauteng health MEC

July marks the commemoration of Moral Regeneration Month, an initiative of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM), which is aimed at encouraging people to recommit to efforts of building communities grounded on positive values and rededicate to building a caring society in pursuit of creating lasting peace and prosperity in the country.

The commemoration takes place specifically in July to coincide with the celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July and the birthday month of former President Nelson Mandela, an icon who is considered to be the main leader of the formation of the Moral Regeneration Movement, and Mark the adoption of the Charter for Positive Values on 28 July 2008.

Guest: Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa - Chairperson of the MRM - Moral Regeneration Movement

We’re talking about relations between farm dwellers and farm owners in South Africa. A few days ago, the African Transformation Movement opened case after three families residing at Bampoen farm in Mkhondo Mpumalanga lost 14 of their cows after they were allegedly poisoned by the farm owner. They say they’ve been staying there for decades and the new farm owner said they should have a maximum 20 cattle in the farm.
This is not the first time that we get reports of clashes between farm dwellers and farm owners. This has been happening for decades and some of these clashed have seen hundreds of thousands worth of livestock and crop being lost. The reasons for these clashes vary – it could be burial right, ownership, a farmer refusing the community to access a river through his farm or compensation issues.

Guest: Prince Zolani Mkiva - General Secretary of CONTRALESA – Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa

Guest: MJ Dlamini - Chairperson, Gert Sibande region - African Transformation Movement

HIGHER HEALTH, the health and wellness agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that is dedicated to student and staff wellbeing, has been supporting the post-schooling education sectoral response to COVID-19.
H.H. has been training institutional management, student support services, campus health officers, academia, student leadership and the peer education networks to implement the protocols as the phased return to campuses starts.

We hear more about their two sets of tailor-made guidelines that will form the foundation for all other initiatives - these guidelines outline why and how students and staff may be impacted and how to assist individuals that may experience problems. We will also touch on lessons that they believe can be drawn from the challenges faced by the basic education department.

Guest: Dr Diane Parker - Deputy Director General for University Education – Department of Higher Education ad Training

Last week Friday, the Minister of Social Development finally announced the National Drug Master Plan. The document had been coming for a long time and the delay saw some of the crucial information in it being dropped. However it does show a shift in focus from the unrealistic goal of a drug-free South Africa to one of aiming to reduce the levels of dependence and harm that the use of certain drugs can cause.
Joining us, we have the South African Network of People Who use Drugs and they believe that this shift will mean less criminalisation of people who need help and hopefully a focus on the social challenges that have caused people to use drugs.

Guest: Shaun Shelly - Founding member and chair of SANPUD - South African Network of People Who use Drugs