The Weekend View

In commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day on 21 MARCH 2023 , Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, together with his family, have launched the Mpedi Family Neurodiversity Studies Scholarship. The initiative signifies a commitment to fostering inclusive research and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with neurodiverse conditions and to increase the number of professionals in this field. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to UJ' s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi ....

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan , this week , announced that the sale of a 51% stake in South African Airways to the Takatso Consortium has been cancelled. Addressing the media after the Parliament's Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee meeting, Gordhan said there was agreement that by mutual consent that the transaction should be terminated as there is no clear path forward.  This comes almost three years after the consortium was announced as the preferred bidder to acquire the airline. Meanwhile , Cabinet says it supports the termination of SAA's partnership with the Takatso Consortium saying it had to prioritise the fair value, and ensure that the public interest is served. To look at why and how the SAA-Takatso deal fell apart Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Independent Analyst, Khaya Sithole  and Chris Hattingh, Executive Director at the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA).

The decision by the South African National Botanical Institute - Sanbi - to increase entrance fees to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has left many people up in arms saying the new tariffs are unaffordable for most South Africans. The garden, was last year named the best botanical garden in Africa. According to the Botanical Society, who are opposed to the fee increases, South African and SADC citizens will now pay R100 per adult and R40 per child under 18 per visit. They say a family of four who would have paid approximately R1,124 per year for unlimited free garden entry, will now pay around R280 per visit. Sanbi on the other hand has called the  proposed fees reasonable and accessible and meant to expand the diversity of people who visit botanical gardens. Sanbi says from 1st April 2024 adult membership will be R800 per annum. Membership for verified students is pegged at R600 per year while children (aged six to 17) pay R400 per annum. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Sanbi's marketing and communications director, Ntsiki Mpulo...

The GOOD party will THIS MORNING launch it's 2024 Election Manifesto in Johannesburg. The online launch of the manifesto will take place at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia. Party leader Patricia De Lille is expected to spell out the party's vision for South Africa ahead of the May 29 National and Provincial election. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brett Herron, GOOD party's secretary general

Water users of the Integrated Vaal River System will be affected when the Lesotho Highland Tunnel is closed for six months. The closure is set to commence on the 1st of  October this year to 31 March 2025 to undergo planned maintenance. The maintenance work will be undertaken jointly by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority . The shut down will have implications of water supply to South Africa during that period. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Livhuwani Mabuda, Acting Deputy Director- General for Water Resource Infrastructure  Management at the Department of Water and Sanitation

The decision by the South African National Botanical Institute - Sanbi - to increase entrance fees to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has left many people up in arms saying the new tariffs are unaffordable for most South Africans. The garden, was last year named the best botanical garden in Africa. According to the Botanical Society, who are opposed to the fee increases, South African and SADC citizens will now pay R100 per adult and R40 per child under 18 per visit. They say a family of four who would have paid approximately R1,124 per year for unlimited free garden entry, will now pay around R280 per visit. Sanbi on the other hand has called the  proposed fees reasonable and accessible and meant to expand the diversity of people who visit botanical gardens. Sanbi says from 1st April 2024 adult membership will be R800 per annum. Membership for verified students is pegged at R600 per year while children (aged six to 17) pay R400 per annum. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Sanbi's marketing and communications director, Ntsiki Mpulo...

Misinformation and disinformation are not only a threat to democracy but a direct threat to the sustainability of credible news media. This is according to media watchdog group, Media Monitoring Africa.  The group says there has been increasing concern about the ability of disinformation to influence the outcomes of elections and its potential threat to democracy.  Meanwhile, in a crucial step towards safeguarding the integrity of information and preserving the fundamentals of electoral processes , the Electoral Commission (IEC) has partnered with social media giants such as Google, Meta and TikTok, and non-profit organisation Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) to curb disinformation ahead of South Africa's ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to William Bird , Director at Media Monitoring Africa

The joint Business Rescue Practitioners of the South African Post Office , Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons have received reports of an increase in scams to mislead the public from fraudsters claiming to represent the Post Office.   The emails and SMS messages appear to originate from the Post Office when in fact they are fraudulent.  SAPO is now warning the public against the scams .. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reappointed South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago for another term of five years. Kganyago's new term will begin in November this year. President Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the re-appointment of Kganyago follows consultations with the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and the directors of the reserve bank. Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says it is disappointed that government missed the opportunity to introduce new blood and persons with a diversity of economic views into the SARB. Sebenzile Nkambule poke to Matthew Parks, Cosatu's  Acting National Spokesperson...

A new wave of deadly attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado by an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) is forcing thousands of people to flee. According to UNICEF at least 60,000 children have been displaced within a period of a month. More than 100 schools in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces have had to close due to insecurity, affecting the learning of over 50,000 children. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nick Wasunna, UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Cabo Delgado.....