Most people who care about measuring poverty—policymakers, academics, non-profit organisations, and the like—agree that the way the government currently determines poverty levels and social security policy does not work.

According to the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII), the national poverty line figures were of great concern, particularly because the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SDG) of R350, does not even meet the food poverty line, now set at R624 a month. They believe that the setting of poverty lines is a choice about what poor people deserve to have, and it is always a choice made by non -poor experts.

Title:                   [• Mr.]   

Name:                 [• Nkululeka Majozi]  

Position at organisation:  [• Researcher at the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII)] 

As the world continues to navigate these uncertain times, mental health matters have come into the spotlight. In the midst of social distancing, lockdown, and a global pandemic, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are a very real concern. But why is it that children often don’t have a voice or a space to articulate their struggles in such times? 

For many children, these are strange and scary times, particularly as they absorb what they see on their screens, the emotional temperature of their immediate environment, and the abrupt changes happening in their world.

Title:            [•  Ms]   

Name:                      [• Tiyese Jeranji]

Position at organisation:  [•  Health journalist at Spotlight NSP]

The South African Future Trust released a report titled “From Survival to Opportunity through Covid-19 and Beyond…”. The report is an analysis by Oppenheimer Generations Philanthropies and The Brenthurst Foundation on survey data collected from the SA Future Trust’s SMME loan holders. It reveals who it reached, how they were impacted, and offers insights into the future of the SMME sector in SA. How resilient are SMMEs? How vulnerable are they to shocks such as changes in regulations and the unrest in July? Was the Trust able to secure jobs for employees in these SMMEs? Are SMMEs optimistic about their future?

Since inception in March 2020, the SA Future Trust has supported small businesses through the Covid-19 crisis and remains committed to accelerating economic growth and job creation in SA.

Title:            [•  Ms]   

Name:                      [•  Ashley Fynn]

Position at organisation:  [•   Economist & Social Investment Associate at the Oppenheimer-Generations Philanthropies]

The Imbumba Foundation, in partnership with the Old Mutual Foundation’s 21 Acts of Goodness campaign, will be rolling out a matric support and dignity pack programme. This project will aid students across South Africa.

Given the recent unrest in parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng, and the ongoing challenges presented by the global pandemic, the Imbumba Foundation and Old Mutual Foundation felt a responsibility to roll out, already existing projects, across South Africa.

The 21 Acts of Goodness campaign for 2021 hopes to aid 21 000

matriculants with university and NSFAS support and provide career guidance for 210 000 matric learners.

Title:            [•Mr.]   

Name:       [• Richard Mabaso]  

Position at organisation:  [• CEO of Imbumba Foundation]  @ubuntubami

Last month on #TheAfrikanNarrative we had listeners call in and enjoy radio in the TshiVenda language. In an effort to keep celebrating our indigenous languages, today we focus on the language of isiZulu. Members of the Zulu culture are also known as “AmaZulu” which, directly translated, means people of heaven or people of the weather or the heavens. The Zulu are descendants of the Nguni-speaking group of the Bantu language, which includes the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele communities

Title:            [• Prof (Mr.)]   

Name:                      [• Sihauwu Ngubane] 

Position at organisation:  [• Professor of African Languages in the UKZN School of Arts; AND head of the performing arts at UKZN]

HRH Zolani Mkiva (MP) is a Member of Parliament and the incumbent Secretary General of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA). He is a permanent delegate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). He is also a member of the ANC National Caucus.

Title:                   [• HRH (Mr.)]   

Name:                 [• Zolani Mkiva ]  

Position at organisation:  [• Member of Parliament; Secretary General of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) ] 

Heritage month: Using the arts to contribute towards the holistic development of our country.   

Title:            [• Ms.]   

Name:                      [• Mandisa Dlanga]   

Position at organisation:  [• Vocalist and Artist]  

Parliament, provincial legislatures, municipal councils, the Executive, boards, members of commissions, accounting officers, managers and employees – all these institutions and personnel, have a significant role to play in upholding the constitution. If one drops the ball, everything can easily spiral out of control.  

Looking at current state of affairs in the country and how the constitutional values that are supposed to govern us have been dismantles, Aubrey Sedupane, author of Reinforcing Constitutional Values in the 6th Term - We are running out of time! Joins on the line, to discuss way in which SA can realign itself and uphold the rule of law.    

Title:                   [• Mr.]   

Name:                 [• Aubrey Sedupane ]  

On Wednesday the 09th of September the world observes International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day.

What makes this a matter of utmost urgency is that South Africa has by far the highest FASD rate in the world.  The World Health Organization estimates the global FASD prevalence rate to be approximately 15 per 1000 live births (1,5%).

Title:                   [• Dr. (Ms.)]   

Name:                 [• Leana Olivier] 

Position at organisation:  [•  CEO of  the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research) ]

We’re profiling Beko, a home appliance brand that uses product innovation to support a healthier lifestyle. Beko is implementing energy efficiency projects and also investing in renewable energy systems to contribute to the fight against the climate crisis and in an effort to reduce their customers’ carbon footprints.  We’ll hear more about their involvement in the ‘Eat Like A Pro’ initiative which aims to help tackle the global epidemic of childhood obesity reinforcing the importance of healthy eating and nutrition; talk about the sustainability, affordability of their products; and we’ll find out more about the jobs they’ve created since opening shop in  SA less than two weeks ago.

We are living through difficult times globally and in South Africa. Due to the pandemic and recent unrest, many South Africans have been left unsettled. These times have also resulted in significant mental health issues.

As schools return to some semblance of normal, the I am a School Fan initiative is being launched to instil a sense of care and community, and support within schools. The initiators of the campaign, SADTU say they would like this campaign to have a lasting impact and to help children feel safe when they are at school

Title:            [• Mr.]   

Name:                      [• Xolani Fakude ] 

Position at organisation:  [• head Secretariate at SADTU]