Covid-19 has negatively affected South Africa’s circumcision programme and far fewer men have been circumcised in the past year than in previous years.

Health NGO Right to Care, says medical male circumcision has been a core component of South Africa’s HIV prevention strategy since 2010, but we seldom talk about the link between circumcision and cervical cancer.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women, and the cancer which causes the most deaths among women in our country. Globally, cervical cancer causes 300 000 deaths every year.

We’re in conversation with Dr Nelson Igaba, from Right to Care, talking about the benefits of protection for women whose male partners have been medically circumcised.

Title:                     [• Dr. (Mr.)]   

Name:                   [•  Nelson Igaba]

Position at organisation:  [• Senior technical specialist for voluntary medical male circumcision at Right to Care] 

The  importance of Local Municipal Elections in improving Future Economic Outlook

As local Municipal Elections approach, the Free State Black Business Chamber has stated that the upcoming municipal elections provide the best opportunity for the improved economic outlook of black businesses in the province.

Municipalities in the Free State are on the verge of collapse, and this has had a profoundly negative impact on Black Businesses in the province. The representatives of Black Business in the Free State, believe there should be a dialogue around the implementation of structures that impact the free state economy

Title:                    [•  Mr.]   

Name:                  [• Reginald Mutsi]

Position at organisation:  [• Chairman of the FSBBC ]  

The Treasury’s protectionist policy has been hailed as a big win for the local cement industry, which has been battling for survival since 2014. Under SA’s preferential procurement policy framework, which has been in the making from as far back as 2007, the government can designate sectors for localisation, meaning that their products will be prioritised for purchasing by the state.

A Treasury circular released early this month notified all relevant state departments that, in terms of its preferential procurement regulations, that no imported cement can be used on infrastructure projects funded by the government as of 4 November.

While this might be a good move to solidify our industries as a country, what does this mean for international trade law? And, considering the challenges that business faces in South Africa, do our industries have the capacity to service government projects of this magnitude?

Title:                                  [•  Prof (Mr.)]   

Name:                                [•  Geo Quinot] 

Position AND organisation:  [• Professor in the Department of Public Law AND Director at the African Procurement Law Unit at the University of Stellenbosch]

Title:                                  [•  Mr.]   

Name:                                [•  Kamogelo Mampane] 

Position AND organisation:  [• Executive Chairman of the Supply Chain Council of South Africa and Founder of TK Global Experts]

The Department of Social Development has a programme called the Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) ambassadors. This is in partnership with the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) to train volunteers which will deal with GBVF cases around the country.

Volunteers in communities working with Civil Society Organisationsin the country’s 30 GBV hotspots have been trained to deal with GBVF.

We find out more about the progress of this programme, how it all started the partnership with the HWSETA, and the challenge faced when trying to recruit ambassadors (volunteers) and what the volunteers can and cannot do.

  Title:                                 [• Ms]   

  Name:                               [• Siza Manganoe]  

  Position at organisation:   [•  Chief Director for the Integrated Anti-Substance Abuse programme and Social Crime Prevention Programme]

The best way to describe Paul O’Sullivan is by ‘stealing from Marianne Thamm’s book ‘To Catch A Cop – The Paul O’Sullivan Story’, where she says … Paul O'Sullivan is no suave James Bond in a tuxedo, equipped with special equipment, downing his martini surrounded by a bevy of women. When dealing with criminals he can be abrasive, brusque and uncompromising. But who wouldn't be in a world that is populated with real thugs and dangerous killers, people who kill, maim and disrupt law and order and destabilise the country? These are sociopaths and psychopaths who do not care how much harm they cause as they go about their "business". So, what drove or drives O'Sullivan? Revenge? A thirst for justice? It's simple really. Paul O'Sullivan hates criminals and low-lifes like dogs hate flies. His long career in international law enforcement has equipped him with the intellectual and physical tools to deal with the most canny and violent of criminals.

Title:            [• Mr]   

Name:       [• Paul O’Sullivan]  

Title:            [• Dr. (Mr.)]   

Name:       [• Matthews Phosa]  

The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture has been tasked by Cabinet to lead South Africa's National Oral History Programme. The program's objective is to generate information that will be added to the country's current archival collections. From tomorrow, the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA) will host a conference in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (National Archives of South Africa) and the Free State Provincial Archives. The conference is themed "The World in Troubled Times: Oral History Challenges and Opportunities."

Through this year’s conference, OHASA hopes to contend with notions of celebration, commemoration and leadership as narratives of memory, to remember and reflect on our past and to understand the immense contribution of women. 

Title:            [• Prof. (Ms)]   

Name:         [• Christina Landman]  

Position at organisation:  [•  Head of Publications at OHASA (the Oral History Association of South Africa] 

Professor Zakes Mda has recently launched a book titled, AROLA.

The book focuses on African history and draws parallels to what is being taught in schools. This book aims to correct false notions about African history and African civilization. . As the Prof Mda has said elsewhere, “It is important for the African child, both on the continent and in the diaspora, to internalize a new mindset that we have not always been slaves. Our history does not begin with slavery and colonization.”

Although the book is targeted at middle grade and young adults, it is of interest to readers of all ages. All will indeed find it very entertaining while they learn facts on Africa’s contribution to humanity

Title:                     [• Prof (Mr.)]   

Name:                   [• Zakes Mda]

Mark Boyens, an executive medical sales leader once said “Accountability is one of those golden concepts that no one can be against…However, its evocative powers make it also a very elusive concept because it can mean many different things to different people”

Now on Friday, the health portfolio committee met to receive a briefing from Minister Joe Phaahla about the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) Digital Vibes report released earlier in the week. The department briefed MPs on the reports core findings and suspensions of senior officials. The acting Director-General Dr. Nicholas Crisp said that it was not a forgone conclusion that implicated officials would be charged.

Drawing from the events of last week and many other similar events, today we ask WHY IS ACCOUNTABILITY SO DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN?  

Title:                                  [• Mr.]   

Name:                                [• Gavin Stansfield] 

Position AND organisation:  [• Director, Mcaciso Stansfield Inc]

This week marks the start of a significant effort to raise awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the critical role that teachers play in education and development around the world. The country honours another type of front-line hero as we mark Teacher Appreciation Week.

Now the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a number of challenges to the education sector not only for students but also to educators. Teachers found themselves adapting to new teaching methodologies and finding ways to keep children entertained and engaged as their homes became their new classrooms.

We’re in conversation with Education Specialist, Jackie Cook, and she is extremely passionate about education and the role that teachers play in shaping our youth and is available to chat to you and your listeners. 

  Title:                                 [• Ms]   

  Name:                               [• Jackie Cook]  

  Position at organisation:   [•  Education Specialist and Chief of Academic Operations at Teneo Online  ]

We’re in conversation with Dr. Katlego Mothudi, the managing director of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), tracking the progress made by the the Let’s Vaccinate campaign which was launched by medical schemes in September. This was launched by the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) which is a representative body of medical schemes (representing medical schemes across eight African countries, including South Africa). 

We will also speak about the initiatives that the schemes have put in place to support government in meeting the vaccination target of 70 – 90% of the population.

Title:                    [• Dr. (Mr.)]   

Name:                  [• Katlego Mothudi]

Position at organisation:  [• Managing Director of the Board of healthcare Funders]