The Weekend View

The Western Cape government says in the coming months it will be identifying 4 or 5 towns in the province to be taken off the National grid. Also,100 schools will be identified, to be fitted with solar power systems that are linked to battery and inverter systems. This is part of its energy resilience plan amid rolling Eskom blackouts. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde...

SECTION27, in partnership with the Centre for Child Law, launched an online accountability tool, The Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor, to track progress made by the Limpopo Department of Education to eliminate unsafe and undignified sanitation at public schools throughout the Limpopo province. Section 27 is also calling for the safe installation of decent sanitation facilities. The Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor is named after a five-year-old learner, Michael Komape, who drowned in a pit toilet at his school in Limpopo in 2014. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Pearl Nicodemus, Senior Communications Officer at SECTION 27 

The National Consumer Commission is concerned about the increasing trend where smaller retail and spaza shops across the country are re-packaging edible goods into smaller packets to enable their customers to buy at a cheaper price. While this might look enticing and affordable for most in poorer communities, there are various health and accountability concerns around this practice. This was among other discussions that came out of the World Consumer Rights conference which took place recently. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Prudence Moilwa, Head of Enforcement and Investigations at the National Consumer Commission... 

The International Criminal Court in the Hague on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. It accuses him of being responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, including the unlawful deportation of children. Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also subject to an arrest warrant. This after the United Nations released a report earlier this week that found Moscow's forced removal of Ukrainian children to areas under its control amounted to a war crime. According to Ukraine, tens of thousands of other possible war crimes have been carried out by Russian forces since they invaded Ukraine in February last year. The Russian government has dismissed the ICC decision as "null and void" and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev compared the warrant to toilet paper.We spoke to  Ras Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.

The police have reassured South Africans that they will maintain high visibility during tomorrow's planned national shut down led by the EFF. Other formations that will take to the streets in support of the shutdown include  the South African Federation of Trade Unions - SAFTU - and the Pan Africanist Congress - PAC. The protesters are demanding the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa citing the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country. There have been fears that the protest could lead to intimidation and incitement of violence, a charge the EFF have denied. We spoke to SAPS' National Spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to embark on a national shutdown tomorrow . The EFF is calling for President Ramaphosa's resignation and to highlight South Africa's socio-economic pressures, including load shedding. The march is expected to be supported by many other organisations and other South African citizens who share the same sentiments. Many other South Africans including business owners are anxious and are wondering how the national shut down will affect them. We spoke to Alan Mukoki, CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to embark on a national shutdown tomorrow .The EFF is calling for President Ramaphosa's resignation and to highlight South Africa's socio-economic pressures, including load shedding. The march is expected to be supported by many other organisations and other South African citizens who share the same sentiments. Many other South Africans including business owners are anxious and are wondering how the national shut down will affect them. We spoke to the  EFF's Treasurer General, Omphile Maotwe.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  and other organisations are on Monday expected to embark on a national shutdown. This has led to fears that companies and their employees will be severely affected in some way or another by the protest action. But how do employers and workers navigate their rights in such a situation. To help us understand we have on the line Tamsanqa Mila, Senior Associate at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's employment law practice...

Rescue workers in Malawi are still recovering more bodies following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Freddy in Malawi which has killed 326 people. Soldiers have joined rescue operations and have been rummaging through debris in search of victims swept by mudslides and floods. The Zambian government has provided two aircraft to help in rescue and distribution of relief aid to victims in areas where many people are still trapped. More than 200 people have been declared missing by the authorities. Aid agencies, who are still battling to access some of the worst affected areas due to damaged roads and infrastructure, are warning that the devastation will exacerbate a cholera outbreak. We spoke to Malawi Gift of the Givers country representative Sherifa Mia.

The capital city is still without a mayor. This after the election of a new Tshwane executive mayor will now be held next week after a special council meeting during which the election was to be held collapsed last night. The DA multi-party coalition members stormed out of the chambers citing their disgruntlement with the speaker's refusal to concede to their demands. For more,We spoke to  the DA's Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga.