The Weekend View

Government THIS WEEK unveiled a roadmap to end the highly controversial but lucrative captive lion breeding industry. With about 7,800 animals in 348 breeding facilities, South Africa has the largest number of captive lions in the world. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a press briefing on Wednesday that, recomendations from a panel of experts she appointed to formulate steps for the industry's closure, involve among others supporting breeders towards voluntarily exiting the sector, burning of all stockpiled lion bones, humane euthanasia of compromised lions, and disallowing any new breeding facilities. This process started 6 years ago with a colloquium on captive lion breeding for hunting. For some clarity and reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ashleigh Dore, Wildlife and Law Project Manager at Endangered Wildlife Trust .

Zimbabwe YESTERDAY introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold. Central Bank Governor, John Mushayavanhu said the ZiG would be structured and set at a market-determined exchange rate. This is the latest attempt to try to stabilise an economy that has lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years. The currency replaces a Zimbabwean dollar that has lost three-quarters of its value so far this year. Zimbabweans have 21 days to exchange old, inflation-hit notes for the new currency. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Takunda Mugaga,  Chief Executive Officer at the  Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce ..

COSATU and its affiliate, the Communications Workers Union YESTERDAY marched to the National Treasury offices in Pretoria in support of workers at the South African Post Office - SAPO - and SABC. Workers at SAPO have been forced to face delays in their salary payments with six-thousand workers also facing retrenchments. Employees of the SABC are still in dispute over the payment of salary increases while a third have either been retrenched or forced into becoming freelancers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to COSATU's Acting National spokesperson and parliamentary coordinator, Mathew Parks

Banyana Banyana lost one-nil to Nigeria in the first leg of the Paris Olympic Qualifier played at the MKO Abiola stadium  in Abuja YESTERDAY evening.  The Super Falcons converted a penalty in the 42nd minute. That match  was not broadcast due to issues outside of the SABC's control. The second leg will be played on Tuesday, at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane. Banyana Banyana will need to overturn the one goal deficit to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic games......
 Meanwhile Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating Young Africans of Tanzania 3-2 in penalties at Loftus Versfeld Stadium LAST NIGHT. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC Sports Analyst, Mathews Mpete...

ActionSA says it will be taking action against South Africa's unregulated polling industry and those in the media who have become enablers of political disinformation under the guise of legitimate polling. The party cites an article published on the 10th of March, it says 3 media outlets published a poll without any reference to the origin of the poll.  Action SA believes that polls in South Africa have no regulation and are open to abuse with the aim to influence electoral trends.  ActionSA says it will now begin the long road to fight for regulation of this industry, and will not stand back and allow the shadowy figures in the polling industry to operate with impunity. To discuss this  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Andre Francois Coetzee, Actions SA Chief Strategist and Mari Harris, Ipsos sub-Saharan Africa Knowledge Director 

The National Assembly THIS WEEK approved the Expropriation Bill as amended by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) with a vote of 205 in favour and 108 against. The bill makes provision for the expropriation of property, without compensation, if deemed in the public interest. It's adoption means it will now go straight to the president for signature and on to South Africa's statute books. The DA, Freedom Front Plus and IFP want the President to refer the Expropriation Bill back to Parliament or to the Constitutional Court for a decision on its constitutionality. Some like the South African Farmers Development Association - SAFDA - have welcomed the bill as a transformation breakthrough. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAFDA executive chairperson, Dr. Siyabonga Madlala 

Starting from TOMORROW Eskom will be implementing  a 12.7% electricity price increase, as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The power utility in October 2023 applied to Nersa for the approval of its Retail Tariff and Structural Adjustment Application and the schedule of tariffs for the period from  the first of April 2024 to  the 31st of March 2025. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Energy expert from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI)- Professor Sampson Mamphweli

Limpopo MEC of Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba YESTERDAY verified that the sole survivor of THURSDAY's* tragic bus accident is in good health. Ramathuba also confirmed that nine of the deceased are identifiable, however the remaining bodies would have to undergo DNA analysis. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  MEC Ramathuba 

 The Easter holiday has also seen thousands of cross border travellers throng the country's border crossings as they visit neighbouring countries. With it also comes an increase in illegal border crossings, illicit cross border trade and human trafficking. To look at the situation on the county's borders Bongiwe Zwane spoke the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority - BMA , Dr Michael Masiapato 

The horrific Limpopo accident that killed 45 pilgrims from Botswana on their way to the Easter service in Moria on Thursday evening has highlighted the dangers of holiday driving. Provincial and Metro Police Departments have also been intensifying roadblocks across the country to ensure road safety. Despite their blitz several fatal road accidents have been reported throughout the country.  For the latest on the situation on the country's roads Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation- RTMC.