Guest:Dr Tahir Sitoto

Many families are facing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19. For students, the uncertainty of when campuses may reopen and the harsh realties of ongoing lease agreements and campus accommodation.
In light of the announcement that was made earlier today by the Department of Higher Education, do you think that universities, TVET colleges and private institutions should take these measures? Or is this another reminder that fees never fell?

Guest: Dr Linda Meyer - Operations and Sector Support at Universities South Africa

A recent study was done on social workers who were holding debriefing sessions at the National Gender-Based Violence Command Centre. The command centre had gone from receiving 200 calls a typical day to a mammoth 3000 calls as a result of the lockdown. Most of the calls to the command centre range from child abuse, neglect, GBV and elderly abuse. These complaints have also seen a sharp increase. Some of the calls that are not linked to GBV have been for social relief.
This adds to social workers’ stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Here to advocate for why frontline workers should have their mental health prioritized and what interventions can assist on the ground, we are joined on the line by Helen Hajiyiannis.

Guest: Prof Helen Hajiyiannis - Director of the Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE)

In light of the recent discussions on the use of African traditional medicine in the fight against COVID 19, it has become evident that there is still an alarming dose of skepticism rendered against our methodologies, the viability of our remedies and practices.

In a time where international leaders still need to sign protocols to ensure access to universal rights exists amidst profiteering, the continent should be looking towards advocating for its own solutions rather than waiting for the race to a cure to be delivered at our expense.

Guest: Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi - Political Analyst and Traditional healer

Since the start of the national lockdown, we have seen quite a number of businesses and individuals donating towards the Solidarity Fund.
This outpouring of goodwill to the most vulnerable in our communities has been incentivised further through tax benefits by the South African government. For Duncan Luke, "​Giving money to good causes should be part of a person’s financial planning ​ ". He joins us now to discuss the implications of these tax benefits.

Guest: Duncan Luke - CEO of the Social Collective

The Arts industry has been one of the worst hit by the COVID 19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra has taken the time to appoint a new board member and patron to the Arts, Carolyn Steyn. You may know her from the 67 Blankets initiative for Mandela Day and her many philanthropic endeavors.

Guest: Carolyn Steyn - Board Member of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra

We spoke to a stalwart of the liberation movement. A man who spent his life working on building international solidarity towards a free South Africa.

he shared with us his journey of reintegration after 1994 and the importance of solidarity in light of this pandemic and the passing of Dennis Goldberg. We are joined by Mkhulu Ronnie Kasrils on the line.

Guest: Ronald Ronnie Kasrils - Member of the African National Congress | former Minister of Intelligence Services

Schools are to reopen in phases from the planned date of the 1st of June. The initial plan was to reopen schools on the 6th of May but the feedback from social cluster ministers was that the 18th of May could be more feasible.

What do you make of this? Are we ready to send our children back to school?

Guest: Nkosana Dolopi - Deputy General Secretary of SADTU

Guest: Murendeni Nefale - CEO of Pax Africana Holdings

Guest: Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane - Public Protector