The Weekend View

A ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is set to come into effect THIS MORNING with a hostage release to follow hours later, opening the way to a possible end to a 15-month war that has upended the Middle East. While the ceasefire deal has been welcomed around the globe,  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu LAST NIGHT threatened to resume the war against Hamas should talks for a second phase of the ceasefire fail. Talks about the terms of the second phase of the ceasefire are set to start on Day 16 of the first phase and will focus on achieving "a permanent end to the war". For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Palestine Solidarity Campaign Chief Coordinator,  Usuf Chitke.

TOMORROW (January 20),  Donald Trump will assume the presidency of the United States of America for the second time. The world will be keenly watching the changing of the guard between the returning president and Joe Biden as he has already promised to "make heads spin" with the speed of his decision-making immediately after his inauguration. Many of Trump's initial orders are expected to focus on tightening immigration control and fulfilling his promise of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants from the US. Another of Trump's potential early moves as president is expected to be making good of his threats to raise tariffs on imports from America's major trading partners, aiming to accelerate domestic economic growth. Trump also intends to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation.

Speaking to reporters from his Florida estate LAST WEEK, Trump said he sympathised with the Russian position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO. In the Middle East Trump promised "hell will break out" if a captive release agreement is not reached between Hamas and Israel by the time he enters office. While ruling out using military force against Canada, he threatened to use "economic force" to ensure Canada becomes the 51st US state. He refused to rule out the use of US military might to achieve his ambitions of acquiring Greenland and retaking control of the Panama Canal. Many analysts here in SA and  Africa will scour Trump's inaugural speech TOMORROW for any hints and clues of his vision for U.S.- Africa relations. 

To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Dr Kabaso Kabwe, Researcher from the African Centre for the Study of the US at Wits University and Chris Hattingh, Executive Director of the Centre for Risk Analysis 

With the resurgence of online shopping in South Africa, online shoppers  are being urged to remain vigilant as online scams are on the rise. Industry experts say fraudulent activity has increased across the country. With platforms like Temu and Shein, criminals have found new opportunities to exploit unsuspecting consumers. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Garry Marshall, CEO of the South African Express Parcel Association 

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party THIS WEEK announced a plan to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term in office by two years until 2030. A Zanu PF parliamentarian on WEDNESDAY confirmed that efforts are being made by the ruling party and a faction of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to amend the Zimbabwe Constitution in order to extend the term of office of the president. The proponents of the draft motion also claim that Mnangagwa deserves an extension of his term beyond 2028, when his two terms expire, as he has worked hard for Zimbabwe's social and economic development. Other opposition forces are vehemently opposed to the plan. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Douglas James Coltart ,  a Zimbabwe Human Rights expert in Harare..

Police ended their rescue operation at the abandoned Stilfontein mine in the North West THIS WEEK, bringing out all the survivors and retrieving all the bodies after hundreds of miners were trapped for months in the mine while working illegally. Police announced on Thursday that 246 survivors had been rescued and 78 miners were confirmed dead. The announcement brought a sudden end to a disaster that has had some pointing fingers at government's decision last year to try and force out the miners by cutting off their food and other supplies. Civic groups say the government's refusal to stage a rescue sooner effectively left the miners to die of starvation or dehydration. The Stilfontein stand-off began in November last year when the government ordered police to arrest any miner who surfaced, reiterating it's determination to end illegal mining. But what lessons should SA draw from this saga?  To help us answer that question and discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to David van Wyk, mining analyst and lead researcher at Bench Marks Foundation..

The announced closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), long steel production from the Newcastle blast furnace could significantly affect the South African automotive sector, a cornerstone of the country's economy. That is according to the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers. NAACAM says AMSA's short-notice announcement that the plant will close at the end of January, risks supply chain disruptions and delocalisation in the short-term and overall sector competitiveness in the medium to long-term. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Renai Moothilal, Executive Director of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM). 

Spanish football giants, Real Madrid Foundation, in partnership with Generation Schools, is launching their world-renowned football academy in Imhoff, Cape Town. Enrolments for the 2025 academic year will open soon. The partnership marks a significant milestone in South African sports education, as the academy will be offering young athletes the opportunity to experience elite-level training guided by one of the most celebrated football institutions in the world. Bongiwe Zwane Jac Vos, Financial Director of Generation Schools 

The Netball Proteas will play a three match series against Jamaica kicking off TODAY in the capital, Kingston. This is a start of two important overseas tours which will see the Proteas going to England after facing the third ranked side in the world, Jamaica. To talk about this we have roped in Netball Analyst Sandisiwe Guzana 

The Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa says it  has received an alarming number of reports of under and unqualified educators, including students, hired to teaching posts at some independent or private schools across the country.  As the new academic year approaches, the foundation is calling on schools across the country to prioritize transparency by disclosing the qualifications of their teaching staff to parents. To find out more we are now joined on the line by Hendrick Makaneta, education activist from the Foundation for Education and Social Justice

Matric results are expected TOMORROW, and while there's much excitement, there will be those who will not succeed on their first attempt. For some,  failing matric is unbearable and they resort to taking their own lives. But with  proper support systems in place , learners can overcome such setbacks and achieve their goals. For example, the Department of Basic Education Second Chance Matric Programme aimed at providing support to pupils who have not been able to meet the requirements of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or the extended Senior Certificate (SC), is available and learners can take advantage of this lifeline.  To unpack this Elvis Preslin spoke to Dr Sanele Gamede ,Youth Life & Career Consultant and #matricungazibulali campaign ambassador