The Weekend View

Close to 19 million voters in Ghana are TODAY heading to the polls to elect a new president. The current vice-president, Mahamudu Bawumia, and a former head of state, John Mahama, are the two leading candidates in contention to win the poll. Economic issues have topped people's concerns in the build-up to the election, especially the rising cost of living. At the end of 2022, the annual inflation rate hit 54% pushing many into poverty. The west African country is also grappling with illegal gold mining, has high youth unemployment and is experiencing an exodus of Ghanaians looking for better opportunities elsewhere. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs 

Police say they will collect evidence from an abandoned mine in Sabie, Mpumalanga, before its closure. All the illegal miners who were underground have been brought to the surface, with the last one brought out last night. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Motsebi Monareng

Its is still not yet known how many illegal miners remain underground in Stilfontein. But calls are being made to accelerate the retrieval operations. On Friday morning six illegal miners from Mozambique resurfaced from Shaft 10 of the old, abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein and seven bodies have been recovered from the mine this week. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh 

Chris Hani's convicted murderer Janusz Walus is expected to arrive in his country of origin, Poland, this morning. He left South Africa on a flight from the O.R. Tambo International Airport last night following government's announcement of his deportation. Hani's 1993 murder shook the country, with fears that his death would plunge South Africa into civil war.  At the time of his assassination Hani was chief of staff of Mkhonto we Sizwe and the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. For reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Convenor of the Umkhonto Wesizwe Liberation War Veterans, Dan Hato.....  

The National Consumer Commission - NCC - has withdrawn it's precautionary product safety recall for Top Score instant porridge  after laboratory test results revealed no observable contamination of the batches tested. In October, the Commission advised South African consumers who purchased Top Score instant porridge to stop consuming the product and immediately return it to their retailer for a full refund. This after two toddlers and a baby died in Mdantsane, East London after allegedly eating the instant porridge. Following an investigation of the Namibia based Namib Mills, producers of the porridge and their local supplier,  the NCC has concluded that the company has not contravened the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, particularly section 55, which relates to the provision of safe and quality goods. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the National Consumer Commission Acting Commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu 

Despite high levels of poverty, 10 million tonnes of food is wasted in South Africa each year. As a way of taking a stand against this waste, students at the University of Pretoria have demonstrated their ability to shape the future and promote a more sustainable food system. Final-year students from the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences recently transformed rescued food ingredients into high-quality retail and restaurant products and gave visitors an immersive retail and fine dining experience. To walk us through waste food and how saving it can also assist communities Bongiwe Zwane spoke  Dr. Marx-Pienaar,  a lecturer in the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences at the University of Pretoria

South Africa TODAY assumes the presidency of the G20. This is seen as a historic opportunity for South Africa to reshape global governance in a way that reflects the aspirations and challenges of the Global South. The Group of Twenty or G20 is an intergovernmental economic forum comprising Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, UK and US, as well as the European Union (EU), and recently the African Union (AU). This is the first time an African economy leads the G20 for a rotational, one-year term. Brazil held the G20 Presidency during 2024 and South Africa will at the end of its term hand over the G20 Presidency to the United States of America. The Presidency says during its G20 stewardship, South Africa will seek to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in-line with the main multilateral processes under the United Nations. To look at what South Africa and Africa can benefit from President Cyril Ramaphosa's stewardship of the G20 for coming year.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership SA and Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix. 

Leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, former President Jacob Zuma says they have evidence as to who stole their votes during the May general elections. Post the elections, the party reported its vote rigging claims to the Electoral Commission. The party has since resuscitated its legal challenge of the outcomes of the May 29 polls. Last month, it served notice of the application to the IEC's CEO, Sy Mamabolo, The President, Speaker of Parliament and all nine provincial legislatures. Zuma made these comments at the party's Gauteng celebrations ahead of the party's one year anniversary. It will take place next month at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Kwa Zulu-Natal.  SABC reporter Zara Groenewald has more

Several Swazi pro democracy organisations are, THIS coming WEEK, planning to take to the streets of Pretoria to press for their demands for more political freedom and reform in their country. Under the banner Justice 4 Swaziland March, over 10 pressure groups will on Thursday march from the Union Building Grounds to the High Commission of the Kingdom of Eswatini, demanding among others, the release of all political prisoners, independent investigation of political killings, repatriation of political exiles and the unbanning of all political parties.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Qhawekazi Khumalo is the convener of the group Swazi Lives Matter and she joins us on the line.....

Freedom Park recently hosted a  cultural event aimed at reviving African knowledge systems and celebrating African heritage. Participants deliberated on the understanding and practicing of the African Calendar – Inzalo y'Langa. Led by historian Mkhulu Nsingiza and other esteemed speakers, the program sought to highlight the historical and spiritual importance of the African calendar, creating a platform for educators, historians, and students to reflect on African identity and cultural practices. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mkhulu Nsingiza , historian and CEO of the Zindzi Mandela Foundation as well as  Dr Jane Mufamadi,Freedom Park CEO