The Weekend View

The decision by the US government to temporarily freeze funding to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) alongside all other foreign aid for at least 90 days has had immediate effects on people living with HIV  according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).   The independent medical humanitarian organisation says although the US has since clarified that certain treatment programs can continue at least until April, it is still concerned that critical elements of the PEPFAR program remain frozen. President Donald Trump's administration announced the huge cuts while it undertakes a "review" to ensure they align with President Trump's priorities or agenda.  Experts in global health have been expressing their dismay and concern over the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which distributes tens of billions of dollars' worth of overseas aid every year. On THURSDAY , A federal judge  ordered Donald Trump's administration to temporarily lift the funding freeze and has set a five-day deadline for the administration to prove it is complying. 

To look at the impact and how Africa can move forward Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council and Tom Ellman, Head of the Southern Africa Medical Unit at Doctors Without Borders

Hamas is TODAY expected to release three captives from Gaza as scheduled following talks with ceasefire mediators, Egypt and Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier THIS WEEK threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire deal with Hamas if the hostages were not released by midday TODAY, raising fears of a return to full scale war. Hamas was accusing Israel of violating terms of their three-week-old ceasefire. This comes as hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians are living among the rubble of their destroyed homes, waiting for Israel to allow entry of prefabricated temporary homes stuck at the border with Egypt, as promised under the terms of the ceasefire. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Naeem Jeenah from the Mapungubwe Institute For Strategic Reflection - MISTRA - 

Divisions in Umkhonto we-Sizwe Party - MKP - in Mpumalanga continue to deepen with two rallies from opposite camps set to take place TODAY. MKP convener in the province, Busisiwe Mkhwebane is expected to hold a meeting in Nkomazi Municipality later today while the expelled MKP provincial leader, Mary Phadi, is also slotted to address a rally in Volksrust where she is expected to welcome new members into the party. Phadi was expelled last November in the wake of allegations of financial mismanagement but a court later ordered her reinstatement by which time the MKP had already appointed former public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, as Phadi's replacement. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC reporter Motsebi waMonareng, who is following the events in Mpumalanga 

Are you still feeling the butterflies from YESTERDAY's Valentine's Day date? Beware of romance scammers who pretend to love you, but what they really love is only your money, and they want lots of it. No matter how great you spent your Valentine's Day, it's important to recognise the warning signs of romance scams — and find out quickly if you should be walking away from potential love interests or friendships.
 To tell us how you can protect your money, your feelings and how to how to stay safe from romance scammers Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Elmi Kemp, Lead of Communications and Business Development at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service - SAFPS 

INTRO: Members of the five-fold ministries affiliated to the Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship will THIS WEEKEND celebrate the 24th anniversary of the interdenominational association of church leaders. Among those in attendance will be the President of South African Community of Faith Based Fraternals - SACOFF - which recently hosted a conference of faith leaders, government and political parties to explore new paradigms of cross-faith and cross-sectoral collaboration to address critical governance and societal issues. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, spokesperson for the Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship 

A summit of African leaders to address the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has directed army chiefs to meet within five days and "provide technical direction on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". The meeting, which came to a close in Tanzania YESTERDAY, brought together the leaders of the eight-nation East African Community (EAC) and 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).  The first-ever summit of both Eastern and Southern African blocs called for the withdrawal of "uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the DRC" and emphasized their commitment to safeguarding Congolese sovereignty. It also called for an opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate the dead and injured and urged the M23 rebels to stop their offensive to help address the dire humanitarian crisis. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  our correspondent, Isaac Lukando in Tanzania's capital Dar es Salaam 

Namibia's founding president Sam Nujoma has died. Nujoma who passed away on Saturday night aged 95, was revered for leading his country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. A towering figure, Nujoma headed the South West Peoples' Organisation (SWAPO) that led the liberation struggle since its inception in 1960.

A summit of African leaders to address the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has directed army chiefs to meet within five days and "provide technical direction on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". The meeting, which came to a close in Tanzania YESTERDAY, brought together the leaders of the eight-nation East African Community (EAC) and 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).  The first-ever summit of both Eastern and Southern African blocs called for the withdrawal of "uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the DRC" and emphasized their commitment to safeguarding Congolese sovereignty. It also called for an opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate the dead and injured and urged the M23 rebels to stop their offensive to help address the dire humanitarian crisis. 

To take a deeper look at the outcomes of the SADC/EAC summit, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to David Monyae, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at UJ and Thomas Mandrup, an Associate Professor with the Royal Danish Defence College and Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University and Dr. Kingsley Makhubela, Risk Analyst and Former South African  Diplomat 

The International Criminal Court - ICC - has condemned US sanctions on it's staff and has vowed to continue its judicial work. This after US President Donald Trump signed an order to impose sanctions on ICC staff accusing the international court of what he termed  "illegitimate and baseless actions", following the ICC's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Trump signed the measure as Netanyahu was visiting Washington. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies. Several countries have warned that the sanctions could increase the risk of impunity for serious crimes and threaten to erode international rule of law. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ottilia Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects at the Institute for Security Studies. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be among SADC leaders who are due to meet in Tanzania TODAY in a special joint summit with East African heads of state to address the Democtratic Republic of Congo crisis. Bitter rivals DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame are both expected to attend. The summit comes as Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered his military to begin preparing to withdraw from their mission in the volatile eastern DRC. Malawian and Tanzanian troops were among the 20 who died alongside 14 from South Africa when they were attacked by M23 rebels 2 weeks ago in eastern DRC.  Since their capture of Goma in North Kivu province, M23 rebels have been seeking to seize territories in South Kivu, especially the capital Bukavu. Bongiwe Zwane SABC correspondent, Isaac Lukando in Tanzania's capital Dar es Salaam