When President Cyril Ramaphosa took the oath of office to become the country’s sixth democratically-elected Head of State on Saturday, another South African was on her own path to greatness - in the skies. KZN Ntuzuma-born Major Mandisa Nomcebo Mfeka made history of her own by becoming the first black woman combat fighter pilot in the country. At the presidential inauguration, recognition was also given to SAAF women who were a part of the momentous occasion

Two weeks ago, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa celebrated with jubilation and thanksgiving, the election of Rev Purity Malinga as Presiding Bishop who will succeed Bishop Ziphozihle Siwa. Having endured the cross and discrimination of patriarchy for over 200 years, women of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) have finally broken through the stained glass ceiling by the election of the first Presiding Bishop who is a woman, Rev Purity Malinga. We engage the Bishop on various issues including, the role of women in the church and why there’s reluctance to elevate women into leadership positions; ‘God and Government’ how far should the church’s intervention be in the governance and politics of the country; and her view on the removal of religion and bible studies in schools.

On the 08th of May we spoke to Raymond Perrier, Director of the Denis Hurley, and we were tracking the progress they made as the centre was used as a voting station. The Centre had also been involved with assisting homeless people to get ID documentation. During our interview, Raymond mention two women (Nosipho Makhanya and Thandeka Magwaza) who were part of a group of around 200 homeless people who had been issued with identity documents. These two women could not cast their votes because SAPS members from the mobile station at the city’s harbour allegedly burned ID books belonging to them.
SONGEZO MABECE was in conversation with Nosipho Makhanya, Thandeka Magwaza AND Raymond Perrier

Songezo Mabece was in conversation Elijah Mhlanga – Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Edication… Following reports of over 40 children who have been sent to hospital after being poisoned by food they bought (chicken Maotwana / amanqina) from a vendor (whose stall is outside the school); we zoom in on nutrition programmes and the risks that children are exposed to on a daily basis. Who monitors the food that is sold at tuck shops? Who should take responsibility when school children get sick from that was not part of the school’s feeding scheme programme? Does this not call for a review of the pocket money element – because this is the reason why children have disposable income and they buy what they want to buy during school hours

The Africa Shared Value Summit aims to raise awareness and advocate for the success of the strategic implementation of the shared value business model – profit with purpose – in Africa. The 2019 Summit will focus on the importance of shared value ecosystems in driving Africa’s business growth.
Songezo Mabece spoke to Lizette Khan, she will be presenting SAfm Viewpoint from the Africa Shared Value Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

The 10th Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture will be held on Friday the 24th of May at the Z.K. Matthews Great Hall at the Unisa Pretoria Campus. The theme for this year’s lecture is The National Question, Peace and Conflict. The lecture will be delivered by the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018.
Songezo Mabece was in conversation with Adv Max Boqwana, CEO of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation

The Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria is hosting an Africa Day Celebration tomorrow. Their theme is on ‘Protecting the rights of African Migrants in the context of xenophobia’. The centre wants to facilitate a conversation on Pan-Africanism and how we can stand in solidarity with African migrants on the injustice and inhumane experiences of xenophobia in SA.
Songezo Mabece spoke to Ms Bonolo Makgele, Programme Coordinator in the Democracy, Transparency and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria

New members were sworn in today, the new speaker was elected, the President was elected and the deputy speaker was also elected. Leading up to this day, some withdrew their MP nomination AND some did not show up today. What can we make of this? Now that we know who our parliamentarians are, what do you make of it?
Songezo Mabece spoke to Professor Somedoda Fikeni, a policy and political analyst from Unisa AND Mr Luyolo Mphithi – a 26 years old DA MP.

The 19th annual African Utility Week has just been concluded at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre. This conference is the leading conference and trade
exhibition for African power, energy and water professionals and it brought together
over 10 000 decision makers to source the latest solutions and meet over 350 suppliers.
We’re in conversation with Mr Miyelani Holeni, Group Chief Advisor at Ntiyiso
Consulting – he was a panelist and he also gave a presentation on Aligning
Municipalities within the roll out of Smart Meters.

GUEST: Mr Miyelani Holeni - Group Chief Advisor at Ntiyiso Consulting

Songezo Mabece spoke to Prof Simphiwe Sesanti – Associate Professor at the Institute for African Renaissance Studies at Unisa – about the relevance of Pan Africanism and about the African Unity for Renaissance Conference

African Unity for Renaissance Conference: opportunities, as well as the Continental Free Trade Agreement and the ways in which an innovative Pan African approach can effectively contribute to moving agendas forward. The conference will also scrutinize the relevance of Pan Africanism in the 21st century.