The View Point

When communities are confronted by both resilient structural violence and attacks on their bodies, violent responses will occur. This is especially evident right now in the US, where many of the protests have been characterised by violent action.
Protests in response to the deaths of Black people at the hands of police or military - George Floyd in the United States, Collins Khosa in South Africa, Adama Traore in France - speak to a growing rage across the globe at continued white supremacy and the use of state violence to support it.
We’re in conversation with the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mr Sello Hatang, - he is of the view that “in South Africa twenty-six years of democracy have not as yet ensured that Black lives matter as much as White lives”.

Guest:Sello Hatang - CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation

A recent report on the national lockdown showed that over 230 000 people were arrested for breaching national regulations. In a discussion held last week with Sasha Gear, she raised the argument that the basis of these arrests may be in antithesis to the values that underpin restorative justice. Restorative justice is a balance between giving effect to the interests of the victims and the rehabilitaton of the offender to society, predicated on the rule of law.

Mike Batley - Executive Director of Restorative Justice Network

In a recent study conducted by Momentum Holdings and UNISA, household incomes lost over R800 billion at the end of the first quarter.

Guest: Dr Tshepiso Matentjie

Guest: Dr Johann van Tonder - Behavioural Economist, Momentum Holdings

We speak to the spokesperson of #Asivikelane, Phumeza Mlungwana.
Asivikelane provides a platform for residents in informal settlements to communicate severe water, sanitation and refuse removal shortages during the Covid-19 crisis. It is a growing network that already brings together 153 informal settlements in five metropolitan municipalities and five smaller towns. This campaign is not just about services, but fundamentally about agency and voice.

Guest: Phumeza Mlungwana - Spokesperson of International Budget Partnership

The death of George Floyd in Minnasota sparked country-wide protest spearheaded by #BlackLivesMatter movement. Closer to home, the recent findings of the SANDF inquiry into the death of Collins Khosa has caused much outrage and raised questions around number of non-COVID related deaths since the national lockdown.

Guest: Mr Jamil Khan - PhD Critical Diversity Studies Candidate, University of Witwatersrand and Author (Khamr)

Guest: Dr Obenewa Amponsah - CEO of Amponsah and Associates; former Director of Havard Centre for African Centre

As we closed Africa month, much of the focus of these celebrations were around the response to COVID 19 and what was Africa doing wrong. As we look into Youth month in SA, we spend it finding leading visionaries that challenge African leadership and put young people at the forefront of the most pertinent issues.

Guest: Dr Shakira Choonara - Public Health Practitioner | African Union Youth Council

The South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD) notes with alarm the significant size of the crowds that have gathered outside of retail liquor outlets and the celebratory atmosphere accompanying them.

They are of the view that although COVID-19 restrictions on alcohol may have been well intended, past research shows alcohol consumption leads to more severe lung diseases, like adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other pulmonary diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Guest: Simon Howell - Drug Expert

Naledi Chirwa chose to speak about the sex work industry and the challenges faced by the men and women working in the industry – she will lead this conversation, with the guests that she chose.

Guest: Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng - Gender Commissioner

Guest: Dr Katlego Rasebitsi - Sisonke

She is a Activist, Mother, Academic, Feminist and Actor. She is currently completing her Masters in Theatre and Performance at the University of Witwatersrand. At the age of 25, she is Member of Parliament and sits on the Parliamentary Committee for Health. She was listed as the 30th candidate of GP Legislature and National Assembly in the 2019 Elections. She was featured among the Mail and Guardian's Young 200 South Africans.

Guest: Naledi Nokukhanya Chirwa - Member of Parliament, Economic Freedom Fighters

Medicines have evolved over time and so has the realisation of the importance of quality control and regulatory processes. Complementary medicines were previously perceived to be unregulated, although the Medicines Act does not distinguish between allopathic and complementary medicine. As the era of unregulated complementary medicine ended, the requirements in terms of dossier content left many role-players at odds.

Guest: Tendai Mafuma - Legal Researcher at SECTION27