The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way we engage everyday life. For countries such as Mali and South Korea, it meant holding national elections in unprecedented times. With South Africa holding its next election in a year from now, we need to consider the possibility of holding digital elections.

Guest: Terry Tselane - Executive Chairperson of Institute of Election Management Services in Africa

The Economic Freedom Fighters have called on the Presidency not open the economy too early as it would lead to the death of thousands of South Africans. Blood that will be left on the hands of his government, if they move from level 4 to level 3. The EFF criticized the Higher Education department for not making electronic devices and data available to all students for online learning. They has also commented on the social relief measures and proposing for grants to be made permanent with an increase of up to R1000.

How does they reconcile this in a time where people are not allowed to be active participants in their economy? Can their interventions be sustainable post-COVID 19?

Guest: Marshall Dlamini S.G of the EFF

With South Africans taking their first steps to recovery from the economic implications brought on by the national lockdown, they are doing so with extreme caution. The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a new culture of hygiene-awareness in the country - both through the regulations stipulated by the government, as well as citizens returning to life in the new world.

We speak about how Covid-19 has changed the face of business and how it has highlighted the need for endless innovation, especially in the smme sector.

Guest: Gary Formato - Co-founder of Water Efficient Technologies

As the race to find the cure for COVID 19 continues, the Malagasy government has come forward with what they have claimed to be the cure and critical intervention in combatting the virus on the continent. There is a growing number of countries that have openly supported COVID-Organics within the AU. Whilst many international institutions have dismissed the product as a cure, it sheds light on how scientific research is preferred to African traditional medicine. Given our history with cures to communicable diseases, should we not be using this opportunity to endorse our own solutions than waiting for answers from the rest of the world?

Guest: Aanu Adeoyo - Reporter for the Mail and Guardian and the fellowship with WITS Journalism

Guest: Mkhulu Zama Ndebele

Along with not being given PPE or guidelines for best practices for seeing clients, traditional healers feel they have been excluded from the national response to Covid-19. Despite millions of people making use of them in South Africa, traditional healers claim government has sidelined them. In the past, healers partnered with government to treat HIV and TB successfully by being trained to identify and refer clients to hospitals and they are calling on government to give them an ear so that they can be part of the solution.

Guest: Mkhulu Zama Ndebele - Deputy Chairperson of Buyisa - A council of traditional healers

We’re in conversation with the South African Youth Council, talking about their views on how government has dealt with the issue of the youth when addressing Covid-19.
They feel that government ministers have been somewhat uncooperative and not willing to allow all stakeholders to have their say. They also say that NEDLAC has a bigger role to play in these Covid times, but government is not giving them a chance. Speaking of NEDLAC, how accessible is it to the public and is NEDLAC youth friendly?

Guest: Thembinkosi Josopu - President of the South African Youth Council

The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions has joined the call for government to scale down to level 3 as soon as possible. COSATU said the Covid-19 pandemic had deepened the economic crisis with restrictions on several businesses.
While a labour union is calling on the reopening of economic activities and workplaces, there are several companies that have seen protest action for not being able to provide employers with PPEs. Can corporate South Africa, with the losses brought by the lockdown, afford an era of litigation due to employers contracting the coronavirus at work? Is corporate South Africa ready to open up shop and still ensure the health and safety of all its employees and clients?

Guest: Matthew Park - COSATU’s Parliamentary Co-ordinator

The public health crisis of Covid-19, requiring citizens to be vigilant about hygiene measures like hand sanitizing, has not only turned the spotlight on the need for people to take personal responsibility for their health, but also the basic human right of access to healthcare. It has shown that health insecurity affects everyone and as a country, we have an opportunity to put in place all the resources aimed at designing an NHI that will work for all South Africans. Professor Kuku Voyi is of the view that South Africa is at an advanced stage towards a National Health Insurance (NHI) and opportunities can be seized during these Covid times.

Guest: Prof Kuku Voyi - Academic chairperson of the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria

The South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED), together with the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), is working on educating suppliers of essential Covid-19 products on applicable standards for quality, efficacy, safety and value. As the county ramps up local production of PPE and other related items, they feel that there is a need to create awareness so people can be vigilant as to what the products they might buy should comply with as a way of protecting public wellbeing and enhancing the prevention of the virus. Tomorrow morning, they will host a training webinar for members and all companies operating in (or intending to enter) the medical device sector.

Guest: Avanthi Bester - Chairperson of SAMED

Last week, we spoke to the Wholesale and Retail SETA about how SA should be expanding its manufacturing capacity and seriously advancing its industrialization efforts. A couple of questions came in from those who are part of the 2020 Wholesale and Retail SETA learnership programme and concerns were raised about the way forward for the programme and the payment of stipends?

Guest: Tom Mkhwanazi - CEO of the W&R SETA (Wholesale & Retail SETA