The Weekend View

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has issued a dire warning about the current draft of the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement. With the final negotiations imminent, AHF is concerned about the document's glaring oversite of equity and transparency. AHF says the consequences of passing this agreement are unimaginable and that the African continent is at risk of entering the next global health crisis blindfolded, with hands tied and again at the mercy of wealthy nations.  The pandemic agreement is a potential international agreement currently being negotiated by the 194 member states of the WHO, including the U.S. Many governments and WHO leadership felt it was necessary to develop a new agreement to address some of the weaknesses in capacities and lack of international cooperation that occurred during the global response to COVID-19. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ngaa Murombedzi, Regional Advocacy Policy and Marketing Manager at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

Dozens of university  campuses across the United States were THIS WEEK taken over by students protesting against the war in Gaza. More than a thousand demonstrators have been arrested in the protests, as universities and police struggle to deal with dismantling student camps. Students have launched rallies, sit-ins, hunger strikes and, most recently, encampments against the war demanding that their institutions financially divest from Israel. On Tuesday night, a masked pro-Israeli group assaulted a pro-Palestinian student camp, before police officers were called to the University of California campus. Activists at Columbia and other universities say the protests are similar to those at the end of the 1960s against US involvement in the Vietnam War. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to w Brooks Spector, a fomer US diplomat and Associate Editor at the Daily Marverick....

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has lambasted the Democratic Alliance for what it calls an attack on workers rights. The DA, in its economic policy, proposes to scrap or phase out the national minimum wage. The party this week also staged a protest outside COSATU's headquarters in Johannesburg, opposing the minimum wage. The party asserts that should they win in the upcoming May 29 elections, they plan to gradually phase out the national minimum wage, citing concerns over its impact on job opportunities and the financial burden it places on businesses, particularly smaller enterprises. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Cosatu acting National Spokesperson Matthew  Parks .

In our Sunday Morning discussion we explore the impact of vandalism and theft on public infrastructure and what needs to be done about it. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mthobeli Kolisa, Chief Officer for Infrastructure Delivery, Spatial Transformation & Sustainability at the SA Local Government Association - SALGA - and Chumile Sali from ASIVIKELANE, an initiative that gives a voice to residents in South Africa's major cities who face severe basic service shortages.

After successful performances in 15 countries over the past 17 years, one of the Philippine's longest running theatre shows is finally making its way to the South African stage. Siddhartha the Musical is set to perform at the Joburg Theatre on the 11th and 12th of May. The already fully booked show will be free to the public. There will, however, be several other performances at various schools in Gauteng. Since its premiere in 2007, the musical has been staged more than 180 times in countries including Singapore, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to The show's director, Junrey Alayacyac*,Who says the cast is excited to be on South African soil. 

Section 27, Equal Education, and the Legal Resources Centre are urging Parliament to reinstate clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill to prevent unfair discrimination in language and admissions policies against learners and hinder their access to public schools. The organizations, in a statement, says that the proposed changes by the National Council of Provinces will water down important clauses that entrench proactive oversight powers on the part of provincial education Heads of Departments (HODs). For more on this, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mila Harding, a legal researcher at Section 27. 

 Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court - ICC - is planning to seek arrest warrants for their military and political leaders on suspicion of war crimes. Reports suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be among them. The ICC has been investigating Israel's actions in the occupied territories for the past three years and recently the war in Gaza where Israel's retaliatory bombardment has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. The ICC is also investigating the actions of Hamas for the October 7 attacks in which Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized 253 hostages. Netanyahu has called the prospect of senior Israel figures joining the wanted list "an outrage of historic proportions", accusing the ICC of attempting to paralyse Israel's ability to defend itself. Many analysts say the fact that Netanyahu has chosen to make such harsh public comments suggests that, behind the scenes, such a scenario is being actively discussed. The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. For more on this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.

Registered voters had an extended deadline of MIDNIGHT last night to apply for special votes. The application process was open to voters who can't travel to their voting station on election day because they are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or are unable vote at their voting station on election day. The Electoral Commission had earlier distanced itself from a widely circulated message claiming that it had granted permission for everyone over the age of 60 to cast a special vote on 27 and 28 at the polling station where they are registered. For the latest, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo.

Health and safety is an important component of all workplaces and the South African legislation creates certain obligations on employers to create a safe workplace and to report on any injuries during the course and scope of work. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) has recently had several amendments which will be coming into law shortly. On Wednesday, South Africa celebrated Workers Day highlighting among others unsafe work places and because these amendments IMPACT workers , it is important for employers to understand the details of the amendments, their obligations as employers, and the aim of the legislation. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Biron Madisa, Associate in Employment Law practice at legal firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr - CDH 

The ANC's relationship with its former President Jacob Zuma has been ruptured, according to Zuma's predecessor.  Former president Thabo Mbeki says Zuma has betrayed the liberation movement and must no longer be considered a comrade. Mbeki was in Soshanguve,Tshwane to persuade voters to give the ANC another chance. Zara Groenewald file this report.