The Weekend View

The ANC continues to meet with political parties in and outside the Government of National Unity.  In an effort to resolve the impasse around a VAT increase and explore proposals for alternative revenue streams. The ruling party met the DA YESTERDAY and is expected to meet with the Freedom Front plus to also discuss the way forward for the GNU. Meanwhile, ActionSA concluded its meeting on WEDNESDAY and says it was a productive meeting addressing a number of realities pertaining to the challenging fiscal environment in which this national budget is being considered. 
Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Herman Mashaba , President of Action SA and Political analyst Angelo Fick....

With only about half of matric learners passing mathematics over the years, coupled with a concern about not enough learners taking mathematics as a subject, many education experts agree that the teaching of mathematics is in crisis in South Africa. This state of affairs has also been linked to the lack of Math's teachers and inadequate training for teachers. These are some of the issues that the new Executive Director of the South African Mathematics Foundation - SAMF - Prof Seithuti Moshokoa will have to grapple with as he takes office. He says at the heart of his leadership is a commitment to reshaping how mathematical sciences are taught and valued—both within classrooms and beyond. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Professor Seithuti Moshokoa 

The Matlosana Local Municipality, which incorporates the town of Klerksdorp in the North West, has issued a warning for people residing close to the banks of the flooded Vaal river to prepare to evacuate should the need arise. Mayor Fikile Mahlope has confirmed that notices of possible evacuation were sent to residents facing the greatest threat of flooding in the town's Orkneyvaal suburb. Disaster management authorities say the opening of 2 sluice gates at the Bloemhof Dam has alleviated the threat of flooding but high water levels continue to pose a threat. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Matlosana Local Municipality mayor, Fikile Mahlope 

The ANC is set to meet with a DA delegation TODAY, in the continiuing effort to break the deadlock over the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase that some parties, including the DA, which is the second biggest party in the government of national unity (GNU), are opposed to. The ANC says it is pushing for a formal, rules-based agreement to legally bind parties to support future parliamentary motions with the ultimate aim of stabilising the coalition government and avoid future fallouts. The ANC has already met with several parties including the PAC, ActionSA, BOSA, UDM , IFP and the EFF. Talks with the Freedom Front Plus are slated for TOMORROW.  It is not clear at this stage whether and when there will be meetings with the MKP. These meetings will mark the end of the week's engagements, with the overall process expected to conclude next week. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to political analyst, Dr Levy Ndou 

Improving technology , strengthening crime intelligence , upskilling detective and forensic services are some of the key takeaways from the three day National policing summit THIS WEEK. The country's first policing summit  was aimed at adapting policing strategies to a changing criminal landscape and enhancing crime-fighting methods and also provided an opportunity for police to engage and strengthen their ties with the private sector. For some reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to South African Policing Union |(SAPU) spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale 

US-China tensions further escalated YESTERDAY after China upped its retaliatory tariffs on US imports to 125%, ramping up the trade war between the world's two biggest economic powers. Chinese leader Xi Jinping struck a defiant tone in his first public comments on the trade war, saying his nation was "not afraid" and called on the EU to join the opposition to US tariffs.  The latest tariff hike, a reaction against Donald Trump's decision to increase duties on Chinese goods to 145%, will come into effect TODAY. Despite this, Donald Trump says he is still hoping to secure a deal with Beijing. To help us understand this trade war Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Waldo Krugell,  professor in the School of Economic Sciences at the North-West University 

A growing number  of people are developing life-changing allergies to some gel nail products. Some have reported nails loosening or falling off, skin rashes, swelling and in some rare cases , breathing difficulties. Safety concerns on the use of nail products have emerged . To look into this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Charmaine Kay , Technical Product Advisor and Product Specialist at Maskscara

Legal action has been set in motion to evict former Members of Parliament who are refusing to move out of their subsidised accommodation, despite them no longer being in Parliament. 3 former MKP MP's and one former ANC MP are reportedly resisting eviction from the parliamentary villages. The villages house MPs, party political and parliamentary staff, and department officials performing standby duties who are not Cape Town residents. The rental varies depending on the size of the residence, ranging from just R182 to R207 a month. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to this we are joined on the line by Lennox Mabaso, spokesperson for the department of public works and infrastructure which is responsible for the parliamentary villages....

The DA's future in the government of national unity - GNU - appears to be hanging in the balance after it voted against finance minister Enoch Godongwana's budget on Wednesday. While analysts agree that the DA and ANC have been on the brink many times before, they say this time is the worst and most perilous for stability. Pressure also appears to be mounting from the ANC NEC for President Cyril Ramaphosa to deal with the DA especially after the party took the 0.5 percentage point VAT hike and the process of passing the fiscal framework document to court for review. The DA's federal executive has reportedly held meetings to decide on it's future in the GNU but the outcomes of the deliberations are yet to be made public. DA leader John Steenhuisen however told the SABC yesterday that his party remains committed to the GNU. On the other hand the ANC is expected to convene a special NEC meeting TOMORROW (Monday) to discuss it's next course of action following these recent developments 

For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Professor Daniel Meyer from the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy at UJ and Professor William Gumede from the School of Governance at Wits University 

An increase in VAT has a disproportionate and regressive impact on low income consumers, many of whom rely on microfinance to manage irregular or limited income. According to MicroFinance South Africa, the  consequences of an increased in VAT are far-reaching and puts consumers in a greater vulnerable financial situation.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Leonie van Pletzen, CEO of MicroFinance South Africa