On the 20th of December, the Democratic Republic of (DRC) will be heading to the polls for presidential elections. More than 43 million registered voters are eligible to take part in the general election. President Felix Tshisekedi has since launched his re-election bid with his Union for Democracy and Social Progress - UDPS. Tshisekedi will face 25 other candidates in the presidential race, including old rival Martin Fayulu, who came second in the 2018 election. Other candidates include Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynecologist Denis Mukwege, Moise Katumbi, a millionaire businessman and former governor of the copper-rich Katanga region, and former prime minister Augustin Matata Ponyo. We spoke to  the President of the governing coalition partners, the UDPS in South Africa, Dr Celestin Muleba….

 Small businesses have felt the brunt of multiple crises plaguing the country. From rolling blackouts, the Covid-19 pandemic, to an economy that's not growing and difficulties in accessing markets, small businesses have struggled. It's often said SMMEs are the backbone of the economy, but do they have adequate support? Wongakazi Majola from Impactful Initiatives is trying to change this through a market that is meant to assist small businesses. 

TODAY is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Despite legislation on inclusivity, in South Africa, like many other parts around the world, persons with disabilities still face many inequities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, and exclusion from education and employment. We spoke to  Dylan Mashele, Public Relations and Communications officer at the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities - NCPD 

Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly killed yesterday after Israel resumed attacks on Gaza after the expiration of a week long truce. International mediators, including Qatar, Egypt and the United States, had been pushing for another extension of the pause, which expired on Friday. In a separate incident Israeli soldiers also killed one of their citizens execution style after mistaking him for a Palestinian gunman, a situation that has caused uproar. We spoke to Israeli journalist Jonathan Schwartz 

Several Palestinian resistance organisations are this weekend attending the 5th Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine taking place in Johannesburg. The event commemorates the tenth anniversary of the passing of Nelson Mandela and is titled: "Nelson Mandela and Palestine. To tell us more about this convention we spoke to  Muhamed Desai, Executive Director at Africa4Palestine....

The United Nations Peace Keeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, is scheduled to start leaving the country THIS MONTH of December, the same time the DRC is set to hold national elections. While efforts have been made to transfer responsibility to Congolese security institutions, MONUSCO has so far been tied to the capability of the DRC's army and police to provide stability, especially in the eastern part of the country. This comes as South Africa is reportedly set to play a key role in the new SADC force to be deployed to replace MONUSCO but military experts are warning that the SANDF is underfunded and overburdened. We spoke to Thomas Mandrup, an Associate Professor with the Royal Danish Defence College and Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the special permits for Zimbabweans and Basotho living in South Africa for another two years until November 2025. The exemption will cater to more than 50,000 Basotho and 178,000 Zimbabweans who have migrated to South Africa. The ZSP which is held by just over 178 000 Zimbabweans was due to expire in June 2023 following a number of extensions, but its termination was scrapped in the courts, which ruled that ending the permit would be unconstitutional. The Department is currently appealing the High Court decision in the Supreme Court of Appeals. We spoke to Sharon Ekambaran, Spokesperson for Migrant Rights Advocacy group, Kopanong Africa

There has been a recent spate of kidnappings in South Africa, prompting the question whether these incidents are on the rise. Most cases of kidnapping in the country are a side-effect of carjacking, robberies and rapes but crime experts say an increasing number of victims are now being singled out directly.  Police are also warning parents to be vigilant during the festive season around beaches and shopping malls – potential hotspots for child abduction. We spoke to Herman Bosman, the Kidnapping and Extortion expert from security consultant firm, TSU International...

Last week Gauteng engaged in Public hearings on the proposed tobacco bill which among other things proposes a ban on the sale of single cigarettes (loose draws) and the public display of nicotine products. The Tshwane leg of the public hearing was marred by allegations that some people were not able to enter the venue to  air their views.  Last week we heard the views of  the National Informal Traders Alliance  - NITASA - who say their members will be negatively impacted by the proposed tobacco bill in it's current form. We also spoke to Bongani Mshibe who is the Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Japan Tobacco International. 

The violation of Women and Children is one of the biggest challenges in our societies. As South Africa observes the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based violence- we want to look at men's role in the fight against GBV. Are men left behind in the conversation? *Tomorrow the African Union (AU) Men's Conference on Positive Masculinity begins. The aim is to consolidate bold continental efforts that Heads of State and other sectors have taken towards ending violence against women and girls. Meanwhile, we continue to assess the efforts to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) with the 16 days of activism having begun yesterday. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Greyson Thela, Strategic Information Manager at Chapter 2 AND Deputy Chairperson of the Men's Sector, Dr Matome Kganakga