The Weekend View

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is pleased that at this early stage -- the country is beginning to see the implementation of measures to reduce load-shedding in the country. He says SA will see a great deal of progress in ensuring that load-shedding is reduced. It's currently on Stage One and has been suspended for Sunday between 5am and 4 pm. Ramaphosa was addressing the media in Pretoria, at the Government Dialogue with the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders.  Energy Expert Chris Yelland says it's too early to celebrate the current electricity supply improvements 

The Defence department has plans to set up a permanent SANDF rapid response unit, which will support the SA Police Service when needed, with a brigade of between 2 000 and 5 000 soldiers. The unit is in response to the public unrest in July 2021 which highlighted the need to strengthen law enforcement agencies, including the SANDF to ensure they are equipped to respond quickly to such incidents. While the idea of a military response unit may appear plausible, concerns have been raised over such a deployment given the brutality unleashed on some communities during the 2020 countrywide army deployment to enforce COVID 19 lockdown regulations. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brigadier Andries Mahapa, Director of Corporate Communications at the Department of Defence... 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  have dismissed acting Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka's findings that cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing, saying that he appropriately declared interests in his farming businesses. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa says he cannot comment yet on the preliminary report by the Public Protector which cleared him of any wrongdoing in connection with the Phala Phala robbery. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to EFF Spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo and Advocate Paul Hoffman a Director at Accountability Now

Former Tshwane Mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela resigned on Friday and was disowned by his party COPE after the Gauteng High Court dispelled information that it issued him with an insolvency rehabilitation certificate in 2018.  Makwarela had submitted the fake certificate, a day before, to city manager Johann Mettler to prove he was not an unrehabilitated insolvent and was eligible to occupy a public office. The city has been forced to concede that it does not have measures in place to verify the authenticity of such documents. This saga has brought into sharp focus the lack of capacity and urgent need to validate and authenticate all personal information of people who are vying for public office at local, provincial, and national levels. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Yunus Chamda, project manager at Action for Accountability and Terry Tselane, Executive Director at the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa

The National Assembly has passed a resolution and approved the National Freedom Party's motion calling for the "downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel until such time Israel respects the rights of Palestinians".  The motion sailed through with 208 voting in favour and 94 against. There were no abstentions. NFP Parliamentary leader Ahmed Shaik-Emam thanked the AIC, ANC, Al Jama ah, EFF, UDM, PAC, and NFP who all voted in favour of the motion. The DA, FF-Plus, IFP, and ACDP voted against the motion. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Alie Komape, Campaigns Officer at Africa4Palestine ... 

Seventeen Lonmin Marikana mine workers accused of murder have managed to put their trial on ice for now. This follows a ruling by the North West High Court sitting in the Mogwase Reginal Court to remove their murder trial from the roll -- pending a review application in the Pretoria High Court to have charges against them dropped. They are charged with seven counts of murder, four of malicious damage to property, four of robbery, three for unlawful possession of firearms, and three for unlawful possession of ammunition. The murders were committed at the time AMCU was leading a strike for higher wages at the Lonmin platinum mine. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to AMCU leader Joseph Matunjwa... 

The City of Tshwane says it has received and accepted the resignation letter from embattled mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela. The former mayor's sudden departure came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilitation certificate. He also resigned as a COPE councilor and a member of the party. Makwarela's resignation came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilitation certificate. A criminal case has been opened against him. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem and the DA leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimang... 

There were intense arguments in the National Assembly Programme Committee THIS WEEK over the delay by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a new SABC Board. This as National Assembly Speaker and Programme Committee Chairperson Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula revealed that, based on legal asdvise, the 12 names recommended by Parliament to serve on the SABC board were enough for consideration for appointment by the president.  Ramaphosa had earlier sought clarity on 3 additional names that were approved by the Assembly in December last year to serve on the board. ANC Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina explained that it was common for the legislature to nominate additional candidates to allow immediate replacement if someone on the shortlist was no longer available for appointment.

We spoke to William Bird, Director at Media Monitoring Africa. The media watchdog has hauled the President to the Constitutional Court over the failure to appoint a SABC Board

South Africans are growing more and more anxious in anticipation of the eminent cabinet reshuffle. Some have even accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of unnecessary delays. After having several meetings with different stakeholders including the ANC and its alliance partners Cosatu and the SACP, Ramaphosa is expected to change his executive any time now, with speculation that it could even be later today. 
He is also expected to announce the appointment of the new deputy president following David Mabuza's resignation as well as naming the much-awaited Minister of Electricity to push the country out of the power crisis. Ramaphosa announced his plan during the State of the Nation Address and 3 weeks later he has not acted on the urgent appointments. But ofcourse for now it all remains a waiting game. For this Sunday discussion we spoke to Political Analyst Sandile Swana and  ANC Veteran, Dr Mavuso Msimang

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, this week lashed out at western countries for criticizing Uganda's parliament after it approved a bill that is likely to have a negative impact on the rights of the LGBTQI community. Speaking during his State visit to South Africa on Wednesday, Museveni also defended his country's decision to close the United Nations human rights office saying  they had developed their own capacity to monitor rights compliance. He was adamant that the West cannot dictate to Uganda on how it should handle issues related to culture and religion.

That was Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni speaking in Pretoria earlier this week.To get the perspective of the affected community we spoke to Richard Lusimbo, Director General at Uganda Key Populations Consortium and LGBTQI and Human Rights activist.