The Weekend View

The cricket fraternity learnt with great sadness of the passing of one of South Africa's 6 greatest fast bowlers of all time, as identified by Cricket South Africa; Hoosain Ayob. Uncle Hoosain passed away surrounded by his family in Gqeberha on Friday. He was 81.  

There are growing concerns, confusion and some frustration among recipients of the R350 grants following the recent change in the eligibility criteria by SASSA. The Department of Social Development announced that recipients of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant must reapply as it will now be paid out under a new legislative framework. The grant's new framework has new additional qualifying and assessment criteria. Also, very worrying; is that some post office workers in various rural villages in Mpumalanga are working in cahoots with security guards and cashiers, are charging distress grant recipients R50 to jump long queues to collect their R350!

We have spoken to some of the grant recipients who have confirmed this trend, and in fact say that it is very widespread among many other villages too in Limpopo. We spoke to Johan Kruger, Spokesperson for The South African Post Office AND Fanie Sethokga; General Manager: Operations at SASSA.

According to reports, South Africa is ranked as one of the world's 10 least attractive mining destinations. The 2022 Mining Indaba begins in Cape Town tomorrow  and will run till Thursday. This year's theme is Evolution of African Mining: Investing in the Energy Transition, ESG and the Economies. Various African heads of states including President Cyril Ramaphosa and other mining professionals are gathering to exchange ideas. We speak to Dineo Peta, Founder of Peta Attorneys, She is in Cape Town to give us a preview of this year's mining indaba...

Do you have problems putting down your cell phone or feel anxious when you know you'll lose connection for a few hours? Do thoughts of being without your phone cause distress?  You could be one of millions of people who suffer from Nomophobia; an extreme fear of not having your phone or not being able to use it.

Nomophobia is short for  "No Mobile Phone Phobia" and it is so severe in some people that it affects their daily life. Dr Marlena Kruger, a digital wellness coach and  founder of the TechnolifeWise Foundation tells us more

Some District 6 families who were forcefully removed from the historic township can now finally return to their ancestral land. Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza will on Monday be giving some family members keys to their new homes. Didiza says this is a clear indication by all three spheres of government our commitment to restore the dignity of the people of District 6", she has also apologised for the delays in completing this project. The houses will be dispatched in phases; On Monday the 9th and 16th of May 2022, 42 beneficiaries will receive their keys, while the other 46 will receive their keys on the 20th of May 2022.  83 year old Mavis Alexander has been on the waiting list for her home for 24 years, she is delighted to be going back to District 6. We spoke to her son Jeff Alexander.

Mangaung Metro Municipality on the spotlight.

In conversation with Founder and Director of Step Up News Christopher Choane, Mangaung Concerned Residents Spokesperson, Themba Zweni and Cogta MEC in the Free State Mxolisi Dukwana.

Concerned residents say the Mangaung Metro leadership is greedy and accountability is non existent. 

South African Red Cross Society in KZN says those who need funding assistance to rebuild their homes or for other basic needs following the KZN floods can contact:

Siyabonga Hlatswayo:  031 563 2914 or 076 223 8425

The South African National Blood Service is calling on all South Africans that are willing and able to please come forward and donate a unit of blood. The service is sitting on 2.7 days of stock  following the Easter long weekend. We spoke to  South African National Blood Service spokesperson, Khensani Mahlangu.....

South Africa's National Defence Force has so far deployed only 500 of the 10 000 troops earmarked for emergency, relief and reconstruction operations in flood-stricken KwaZulu-Natal. Joint civilian and military search teams were this week still recovering bodies from the debris more than a week after the disaster struck. There have been claims that deep and serious SANDF budget cuts are delaying water relief for desperate KZN flood victims. We spoke to SANDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Andres Mahapa ......

Relief efforts for flood-stricken KwaZulu-Natal residents are also being stepped up with the help of ordinary citizens and humanitarian organisations. Among them is South Africa's Red Cross Society whose KZN provincial manager, Siyabonga Hlatswayo