The Weekend View

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)  is gearing up for its 14th congress which starts tomorrow. Cosatu leaders say this year's congress comes at a critical time in the country's history - with high unemployment rates and an ailing economy among other issues. Cosatu is expected to reveal its future plans and provide comprehensive reports on various functions during the congress. Two-thousand delegates are expected to attend the elective congress and the federation is hoping to emerge  stronger and united. 

Heritage Day today is being marked under the theme, "Celebrating the Legacy of Solomon Linda and South Africa's Indigenous Music". The theme pays tribute to the 60th anniversary of the passing of singer and song writer Solomon Popoli Linda. He is best known as the composer of the song "Mbube" which later became the popular music success "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and gave its name to the world famous Mbube style of isicathamiya, a capella music. The genre has immensely contributed to the South African music landscape. Among other music icons that are also being honoured are Abigail Kubeka, Letta Mbulu, and Caiphus Semenya.

We spoke to Dr Kathryn Olsen, Lecturer in Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Popular Music Studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal's School of Arts 

As the African Union - AU - turned 20  this year, the debate about its effectiveness is back on the table once again. Established here in South Africa, in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, in 2002 with 53 African nations as members, the AU became the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which had existed since 1963. While the OAU concentrated its efforts primarily on decolonization and the establishment of diplomatic relations between members, the AU was founded to advance the continent's economic development and entrench lasting peace. After 20 years has the African Union achieved these lofty goals? Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Khabele Matlosa, former Director in the Department of Political Affairs at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Professor Adekeye Adebajo,  a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pretoria's Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship in South Africa

Eskom has implemented Stage 6 load-shedding from around 04:00 this morning. This follows the tripping of generation units at Kusile and Kriel power stations. Yesterday, five generating units at Kusile, Arnot, and Camden, as well as two units at Duvha Power Station, broke down. The embattled power utility has warned that should any further breakdowns occur, higher stages of load-shedding may be implemented at short notice. Eskom is expected to brief the media later THIS MORNING at 10 on the outlook of the load-shedding stages for the week ahead. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Energy analyst, Chris Yelland... 

The annual Reed Dance is expected to take place at the Enyokeni palace at Nongoma TODAY. However, last night over ten men, some of whom are members of the AmaZulu Royal family, disrupted a SABC News interview with Prince Simakade's spokesperson, Prince Mandlakapheli. There have been disagreements since the start of the week between those supporting Prince Simakade and the official representatives of the royal household, over the use of the Enyokeni Palace at Nongoma for today's Reed Dance. Prince Simakade claims to be the rightful successor to the throne. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC reporter, Nonkululeko Hlophe

Judgment has been reserved in the urgent application brought by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to be allowed to go back to work immediately. This follows the Western Cape High Court that set aside her suspension by the president in June. Mkhwebane wants to be allowed back at work despite an appeal application at the Constitutional Court. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwebane also had the support of minority parties - the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), all of whom want to see her back in the office immediately. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to ATM leader Vuyo Zungula and Professor of Public Law at the University of Cape Town, Cathy Powell

Advocate Malesala Teffo has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to surrender all his legal documents. Teffo was YESTERDAY struck off the roll after the Legal Practice Council brought an application following numerous complaints against him. Some of these pre-date the Senzo Meyiwa trial. These include contemptuous behaviour in court, misleading the court, and mishandling the clients' monies. In delivering judgment, Justice Thembi Bokako said Teffo failed to make formal submissions -- and he lacks a sense of integrity and honesty. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the President of the Black Lawyers Association (BLA), Bayethe Maswazi...

The Gauteng Government has instituted lifestyle audits on driver's licence officials as it tries to clamp down on corruption. This is after reports of widespread bribery, collusion between examiners, fee dumping and eye-test corruption at Gauteng driver's license testing centres. The results of a 2021 investigation, commissioned by the premier's office, which was presented this week conclude that there are no controls in place to identify or deter possible fraud and corruption while examiners conduct the drivers' tests, especially once they leave the yard to conduct the road test. The report also notes that some corruption was enabled by system weaknesses. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo...

Members of the public can, from tomorrow (Monday) until Friday, visit any South African National Park of their choice for FREE! That's because this year's National Parks Week, running from 12th to 16th September, sees entry fees at just about every SANParks gate dropped. SANParks says the initiative aims to give the public an understanding of the role that SANParks plays as custodian of the country's natural heritage and hopes communities around its parks will use the opportunity to see parks. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SANParks spokesperson Ike Phaahla 

The United Nations has again warned that a full-blown disaster is looming in Somalia with famine now unfolding in two areas of the country's south-central Bay region. The Horn of Africa is in the grips of its worst drought in four decades with experts predicting that the region is on track for a fifth consecutive failed rainy reason. The situation has been exacerbated by geo-political tensions that have seen the price of grain, fuel, and fertilizer skyrocket. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people are now at immediate risk and millions more are facing extreme levels of acute hunger. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Petrok Wilton, spokesperson for the United Nations' World Food Programme in Somalia...