The Weekend View

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation along with a number of their supporters will this week launch their concept for anti-racism week. Spearheaded by the Anti-Racism Network South Africa, the week is scheduled for March aims to fight racism and related forms of discrimination on a national scale, using what they call the collective weight of multiple organisations. We spoke to the Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) has raised concerns about the role and status of a panel of experts set up to review and weed out laws passed since 1994 that are hindering transformation. Parliament's Independent Advisory Panel, chaired by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, includes former Justice minister Bridgette Mabandla, former Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni, land issues expert Dr Anika Claasens, former FirstRand Group CEO Paul Harris and former Auditor General Terrence Nombembe will review the legislation, assess the implementation, identify gaps and propose actions in this regard over the next twelve months. We spoke to CASAC's Executive Secretary, Lawson Naidoo....

The South African National Consumer Union (Sancu) says it is concerned by the recent rise in cell phone-related complaints. The Union has added that some of the nearly 500 complaints they have received have been for amounts as much as R18 000 in relation to data and aitime charges. We spoke to Sancu vice chairperson Ina Wilken...

Global investors have quizzed President Jacob Zuma about the rationale behind the sacking of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister during his meeting and captains of undustry on the final day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. On Thursday, ratings agency Standard and Poor's warned that South Africa's credit rating will be downgraded if further policy mistakes are made and if growth continues to disappoint. We spoke to the SABC's Francis Herd, Senior Research Fellow in the Economic Diplomacy programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs, Peter Draper and Senior Researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue, Sanusha Naidu on how such platforms benefit African economies...

The Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in partnership with stakeholders such as the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality and the Limpopo Tourism Agency have launched the 11th annual Marula festival in the town of Phalaborwa. Over the past eleven years, the festival has showcased local brewers of Marula beer as well as bi-products of Marula such as achar, jam and cooking oil. We caught up with Limpopo MEC of Economic Development , Environment and Tourism Seaparo Sekwati....

As the drought continues around the country, farmers are seeing their debts with banks escalating to an unprecedented 125-billion rand. The ongoing drought has seen rainfall plunge to record low levels. Crops have withered in the fields and farmers have been discouraged from planting. Farmers are now expecting to harvest their smallest corn crop since 1995. Government has allocated over 300 million rand towards drought relief programmes. We spoke to SABC Bloemfontein editor, Richard Newton, Water Shortage South Africa Volunteer, Ray de Vries and Agri SA president, Johannes Moller on efforts to address the impact on farms....

Residents of a small geographically isolated town in rural Northern Cape say they are yet to rip the fruits of the country's 21 year old democracy. Goodhouse is a small former citrus farming town on the Orange River, over 100 km north east of Springbok with a population of just over 250, less than ten precent of whom are employed. The community says government has been promising to provide services such as clinics and a high school for over 20 years. The SABC Sithakazelo Dlamini visited the community and filed this report....

A Johannesburg clergyman says he feels vindicated, after the United Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa dismissed misconduct charges against him for blessing same sex marriages. Reverend Martin Young, a minister at the St Columba's Presbyterian Church in Parkview, says he is cautiously optimistic about the church court's findings. A final decision on gay marriages will be made when the church holds its annual general assembly next year. Our producer Sithakazelo Dlamini filed this report...

This week on The Editors we engaged Cape Argus Editor, Gasant Abarder; SABC Deputy Political Editor, Mahlatse Gallens; Sowetan Political Editor, Meopone Malefane and SABC Economics Desk Editor, Thandeka Qubule on the top stories of the week that was and the week ahead....

The United Democratic Movement is looking to reenginneer itself as it celebrates 18 years of existence. The party is starting early - using the weekend's congress to launch its 2016 local government manifesto and to fine tune its game plan in what is expected to be a fierce contest. President Bantu Holomisa is again standing for reelection - arguing he is no political dinosaur and in fact he is at the top of his game. We spoke to UDM Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa and political analyst Zamikhaya Maseti...