The Weekend View

Despite the economic woes brought by the Covid 19 pandemic, South Africa now has half a million more new taxpayers, and the country has also created 60 000 new millionaires in the past year. This is according to Brandon de Kock, Director of Storytelling for BrandMapp, South Africa's largest independent annual study of the taxpayer base. BrandMapp says the latest Treasury data shows that around 60 000 new South African millionaires - as in people who earn R1 million or more per year - were made last year. De Kock says the focus is usually on the vulnerabilities of the South African middle-class, but it not all doom and gloom. I spoke to him earlier and started by asking him to expand on what their research reveals about the middle class in South Africa...

Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya has reacted to the criminal charges opened by former director-general of the State Security Agency, Arthur Fraser, against President Cyril Ramaphosa, in connection with the theft of millions of United States dollars concealed within the premises of the President's Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo. Fraser also alleged that the robbery suspects had been kidnapped, interrogated and then paid for their silence. The Presidency confirmed Fraser's charges but denied criminal complicity. Magwenya said  the reason the crime was not made public was because it happened on private property and not at a national key point. To look at the legal arguments in this case and whether the president should be held accountable, we spoke to Advocate Paul Hoffman, Director at Accountability Now.

Cyber criminals are always on the prowl and this week they hit rapper Cassper Nyovest who now says he no longer feels his money is safe at banks. The star was in disbelief after someone cloned his bank card and has been having the time of their life with the rapper's money. Taking to Twitter, Cassper revealed he doesn't know how much the card cloners got away with. But if you think hacking only affects well heeled people, think again!!!  While hackers definitely want to catch such big fish, they will however attack anyone, and they can cast a wide net. Nobody is too small for their opportunistic crimes. If you use online services and connected devices, you are at risk of being hacked.  But how do you know if you've been hacked?.To help us understand wespoke to Gerhard Swart, Chief Technology Officer at cyber security company, Performanta 

Five former executives linked to TRANSNET including former CEO Siyabonga Gama were arrested on Friday. The executives were charged with the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and money laundering. They appeared in the Palm ridge Magistrate's Court and were granted bail.  They will be back in court in July. The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture recommended, in the second volume of its report, the prosecution of the five former executives after various adverse findings. To discuss the significance of these high profile arrests and what they mean for the broader fight against corruption and state capture Udo Carelse spoke to Dr Dale Mckinley, an Independent Researcher and Writer and the leader of the United Democratic Movement - UDM, General Bantu Holomisa.

Zwelinzima Vavi was this week re-elected as General Secretary of SAFTU at its second national congress that ended in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg, on Thursday. Ahead of the election chaos erupted at the congress as Numsa's Irvin Jim threatened court action against the Vavi faction over the election of leaders. Vavi has led both COSATU and SAFTU for a combined 23 years and Jim has been at the helm of NUMSA for 14 years. Questions are being raised whether having leaders who serve in such positions for so long does any good for those organisations in the long run. Udo Carelse spoke to mining and labour analyst, Mamokgethi Molopyane...

As the country braces for yet another hefty fuel price increase next week, Russia's Minister of Industry, Denis Manturov, has called on BRICS member countries (namely-  Brazil, India, China and South Africa) to establish joint oil refineries with Russia. This as the United States is also pushing  for the 'Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act' meant to curtail Russian economic activity in Africa. The Institute of Security Studies' consultant, Peter Fabricius says the Act is a new way to punish countries that back certain Russian actions and this could have major implications for African countries. Udo Carelse spoke to Institute for Security Studies's Consultant, Peter Fabricius

Earlier in the week residents of Umdloti took to the streets to hand over a memorandum, complaining about the alleged failure of developers in the area to follow protocol during construction. The area was among the hardest hit by the recent floods. Houses, roads and critical infrastructure like water, sanitation and electricity have also been heavily impacted. To find out what recourse is available to you should you find yourself in a situation where you find out that your property is built on uninhabitable land. Udo Carelse spoke to National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) KwaZulu Natal Provincial Officer, Gary Olckers...

Environmental group,The Green Connection launched its public awareness and information sharing campaign - which is part of a bigger initiative, called Who Stole Our Oceans - in a bid to stop further government investment in fossil fuels, particularly offshore oil, and gas. Joined by people involved in small-scale fishing and various other civil society organisations,  the Eco-justice organisation is pushing government to instead focus on the just transition to renewable energy. This comes as environmental groups head back to court on MONDAY to prevent oil company, Shell, from proceeding with it's offshore seismic survey in the Eastern Cape without proper consultations. Udo Carelse spoke to Liz McDaid, Strategic Lead at The Green Connection ....

The Sport, Arts and Culture Department this week made a sudden and dramatic U-TURN when it announced that it will review its proposed flag project worth R22-million.  This comes after South Africans voiced their frustration regarding the amount proposed to be spent and the cause. The 100 metre flag pole was meant to be erected at Freedom Park in Pretoria in a move that was supposed to promote social cohesion and tourism. Minister Nathi Mthethwa's critics have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire him. The president has since instructed the minister to cancel the project. 

We spoke to Sibongile Mngoma, Opera singer and activist, and Dr Unathi Henama, tourism academic at the Tshwane University of Technology

The Robben Island Museum says although the tourism industry is opening due the lifting of some Covid 19 restrictions, they are still not getting that much visitors.  Tourism was one of the sectors  that was hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.  The anticipated boom of tourists after lock-down has not materialized for Robben Island as people are not flocking to see Nelson Mandela's old prison cell anymore. We spoke to Melany Kuhn, Spokesperson for Robben Island Museum...