The Weekend View

Today - 24th February - is exactly two years since Russia launched it's invasion of Ukraine, and the war is no closer to ending than it was in the weeks after Russian troops and equipment began pouring into Ukraine. The last two years have bore witness to fighting at a scale the world has not seen in Europe since the World Wars, as well as thousands of dead soldiers, civilians, and destroyed lives. How the war will end is still unknown.  European Union countries THIS WEEK agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia to target individuals and businesses suspected of assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, including Chinese companies. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Denys Reva, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies 

Parents of children that died at Enyobeni Tavern in East London have expressed disappointment at the sentence handed down to the Enyobeni tavern owners by the East London Regional* Court in the Eastern Cape. The couple, Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu were YESTERDAY fined five thousand rand or a hundred days in prison after they were found guilty of selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to persons under the age of 18 years. Enyobeni tavern made headlines in 2022 after 21 young people died inside the bar. A toxicology report found that the young people died of suffocation due to overcrowding. Parents say the sentence is not a deterrent to selling alcohol to minors. Meanwhile the Eastern Cape Liquor Board says while the sentence handed down may seem lenient, it's in line with the province's liquor act.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Maurice Smithers,  Alcohol harm reduction activist

R7.4 Billion will be allocated to continue to support the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. During the State of the Nation Address , President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) has created over 1.7 million work opportunities, providing vital employment avenues for young individuals. Meanwhile, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) this week, reported that the unemployment rate has increased to 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023, up from a one-year low of 31.9% in the third quarter of 2023, meaning that 46,000 more people are unemployed. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Tsholo Mogotsi, Chief Partnerships Officer at Youth Employment Services - YES 

The African National Congress is possibly facing the most challenging election to date. Rising unemployment, load-shedding and the emergence of new political parties are expected to give the ruling party a tough time in the 2024 general elections. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has also not been without any controversy, will unveil the party's 2024 election manifesto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban TODAY. KwaZulu Natal province has been termed one of the country's electoral battle grounds. Sibahle Motha file this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University.

The media is crucial in ensuring a healthy democracy and citizen participation. It is an important link between the government and its people.   Experts suggest that a democratic election is impossible without media. The media has a role in creating spaces where voters participate in debates and discussions . In addition , create platforms where policies, information about parties , candidates and election processes are outlined. It acts as a watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process. TODAY WE ASK: What are your perceptions about how the media - both traditional and social media - cover elections in South Africa? Bongiwe Zwane spoke to William Bird, Director at Media Monitoring Africa and began by asking on the fairness of the media at this time

The U.N. Security Council says its concerned by the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It strongly condemned the recent offensive by M23 rebels near Goma. Thousands of people are fleeing their homes and many more are displaced as fighting intensifies. This comes as South Africa has deployed at least 2,900 soldiers to assist the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in tackling the internal conflict. On Thursday, the SANDF announced that two of its soldiers had been killed and three wounded by a mortar bomb that landed inside a military base. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to our correspondent in the DRC, Chris Ocamringa 

Health non-governmental organisation, Right to Care, is calling on men to circumcise, use condoms and seek treatment to help reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which are on the rise. This comes at the back of warnings by health officials of increases the transmission of STIs and HIV infection. In Gauteng alone, over 165 000 males presented at public health facilities across the province last year with STI's. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr. Nelson Igaba, Senior Technical Specialist for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision at Right 

The International Court of Justice - ICJ - has agreed with South Africa's position that Israel's planned incursions in Rafah would render what is already a humanitarian disaster even more perilous. On Tuesday, South Africa lodged an urgent request with the ICJ to consider whether Israel's military operations targeting Rafah breach provisional orders the court handed down last month in a case alleging genocide. In its statement YESTERDAY, the ICJ said that Israel remains bound to fully comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and must ensure the safety and security of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Adv. Sipho Mantula from the Thabo Mbeki School of International and Public Affairs

Thousands of Democratic Alliance supporters are TODAY expected to gather in Pretoria to launch the official opposition's election manifesto.  The launch is expected to start with a march from Church Square before gathering on the lawns of the Union Buildings. In the manifesto, the party is expected to outline a plan which it says will rescue South Africa.. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to DA Federal chairperson, Dr. Ivan Meyer 

Senegal's president has announced that the delayed election to choose his successor will be held "as soon as possible", after the country's top court ruled that his attempt to delay it was unconstitutional. The Constitutional Council on THURSDAY annulled both President Macky Sall's decree and a contentious bill passed by parliament moving the vote from this month - February 25th - to December. Widespread protests have gripped Senegal since Sall announced he was pushing the election back because of concerns over the eligibility of opposition candidates. Opposition figures described the move as a "constitutional coup". Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr Emmanuel Matambo, Research Director at UJ's Centre for China Africa Studies .