The View Point

As part of this year’s Youth Month activities, the Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Non-Governmental Organisations, will commemorate the annual Drug Awareness Week which started on the 22nd of and ends on the 26th of June.
Every South African has a role to play in creating greater awareness about the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse, which has reached unprecedented levels and the objective of the Drug Awareness Week is to educate the public, and young people in particular, about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse for a drug-free South Africa.
Once thought to only be a “township problem”, substance abuse and related crimes are now a serious national concern, with the emergence and easy availability of designer drugs such as nyaope and whoonga reaching rural areas.

Guest:Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu - Deputy Minister of Social Development

Limpopo has recorded 582 active cases of COVID 19 since the start of the pandemic. Their response has been focused on district, municipal and community-based approaches. By doing so, the MEC has concentrated their recovery plan on two levels: (1) not only responding COVID 19 cases and (2) other chronic diseases as well. There are also interventions set to be implemented alongside the relaxation of the risk-adjusted strategy.

Guest: Dr Phophi Ramathuba - MEC of Health Limpopo

The coronavirus pandemic has emphasised the importance of food security and nutritional wellbeing for all South Africans and has exposed the vulnerability and weaknesses in our food systems. The United Nations has recognised the threat of the pandemic on food security and the nutrition of millions of people.

In light of this and the many news reports around malnutrition, ADSA (The Association for Dietetics in South Africa), the NSSA (The Nutrition Society of SA) and DIP (Dietetics-Nutrition is a profession), three bodies representing dietitians and nutritionists in South Africa, have written an open letter calling on government to address malnutrition in all its forms.

Guest: Maria van der Merwe - Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist and spokesperson for the NSSA (The Nutrition Society of SA) and former Provincial Nutrition Programme Manager for Department of Health in Mpumalanga

According to the Debt Counselling Association, 10 million people in South Africa have bad debt. Those who are struggling with bad debts spend almost two-thirds of their income on repayments. The rise of retrenchments, salary pay cuts and the rising cost of living will develop a breeding ground for people to become more over-indebted.

One Life has started a campaign aimed to manage their income to debt ratio and alleviate anxiety on financial responsibilities.

Guest: Hayley Parry - Money Coach and Facilitator of 1Life’s Truth About Money initiative

On Wednesday, all eyes will be on the Minister of Finance who will be tabling the long-awaited adjustment budget. Tito Mboweni has to juggle a GDP that is contracting come year end, deal with SOEs that are in life support, widen social development safety net, avoid a walk-out by the public sector over the National Wage Bill and ready itself for a pandemic whose peak is imminent. As our first guest argues, What matters are the credibility gaps, not the fiscal measures that the Treasury announces.

Guest: Mandla Isaacs - Political Economist and Managing Director of Zehuti Advisory

As we are faced with re-opening of schools in this month and in response to the National Department of Health’s recommendation that should wear face mask, Careers Inc, a company that works with schools in low quintile areas, have decided to take a role of working with corporate, government and the general public to raise funds to distribute Uniform reusable, washable cloth face masks to non-paying schools .

Guest: Kgupi Gunguluza - CEO of Careers Inc

There was a recent election held for the new President and Committee of this association. Its vision for their tenure is clear: equitable, transformed, ethically- run and inclusive development of black businesses for sustainable growth in South Africa.

Guest: Polo Leteka Radebe - President Association of Black Securities Investment Professionals

In a recent wave of studies conducted by GfK since the start of the national lockdown, consumers' fears have subsided when it comes to COVID 19 pandemic and found a new focus: unemployment and jobs. Only 21% of consumers have been working as normal between level 5 and level 3 lockdown with many feeling the economic fallout of retrenchment and salary cuts in recent months. Consumers are shifting their priorities and demanding more value from their brand consumption.

Guest: Rachel Thompson - Insights Director GfK (Growth from Knowledge)

As provinces battle to respond to the needs of their people during COVID 19 pandemic, the spotlight has firmly returned to government spending, procurement standards, supporting local businesses and eradicating corruption during these tough times. Under the leadership of our next guest, she has spoken out against allegations of maladministration, corruption and tender irregularities.

Guest: Gadija Brown - MEC Free State Treasury

The Nelson Mandela Museum has taken their experience digital and started an e-legacy program for young learners to close the educational gap that is present due to the COVID 19 pandemic. This program has been aligned to the school curriculum, cultivates critical thinking skills and seeks to reach disadvantaged learners. Further, the Museum has opened these e-classrooms to get learners to engage in debates on topical issues that affected the class of 1976 and what young people face in South Africa today. This enriching experience allowed for the Museum to host an Essay Competition that received entries from the length and breadth of our land.

Guest: Nosipho Hani Khumalo - Project Facilitator

Guest: Solomzi Bovana - Education Officer Nelson Mandela Museum

Guest: Stacey Thadekile Dube - Nelson Mandela School of Science and Technology

Guest: Vuyelwa Makunga - Ndamase High School

Guest: Lathitha Nyembezi - Holy Crosa High School