The Weekend View

TODAY is International Literacy Day and the day is of particular importance to South Africa, a country plagued by a literacy crisis. A recent study has shown that most children in SA are not developmentally ready when they start school. To address this non-profit organisation, Santa Shoebox Project, is installing reading corners in early childhood development centres countrywide. Equipped with a revolving bookshelf, age-appropriate books, a comfortable bench, and an interactive rug, these corners have positively impacted the lives of  thousands of children to date. This initiative is making headway thanks to the generosity of South Africans and to tell us more Udo Carelse spoke to  Deb Zelezniak, CEO at the Santa Shoebox Project....

The Springboks came from behind to win 18-12  the All Blacks at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town YESTERDAY. Victory ensured a fourth straight win for the Springboks over the All Blacks for the first time since 1949, secured the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 and gave the Boks a firm grasp on their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. and they did this while allowing the HAKA to take place without disruption.... thank you cape town... To look at this historic match Udo Carelse spoke to Braam Van Straaten, a former Bok who played for the Springboks between 1999 and 2001....

President Cyril Ramaphosa was THIS WEEK on a State Visit to China, before he attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit which drew around 50 African heads of State to Beijing. Several trade deals were clinched between South Africa and China during the tour. During the summit Chinese President Xi Jinping, pledged $50 billion (over R900 billion) in investment and assistance packages to the African continent over the next three years.  Some economists however believe instead of waiting for Chinese handouts, African countries should showcase and position their own industrialization roadmap to China and seek support to address the China- Africa trade imbalances. Udo Carelse spoke to Chifipa Mhango, Chief Economist at the Don Consultancy Group....

Parliament's Justice and Constitutional Development committee says it will among other things, seek legal opinion while processing the information given by Minister Thembi Simelane to the committee. Simelane YESTERDAY denied allegations that she had an improper relationship the service provider that was appointed by the Polokwane Municipality, Gundo Wealth Solutions, when she was still Mayo in 2016. She received a loan of 575 thousand rand from Gundo to buy a coffee shop in Sandton as Mercedes Besent reports........

The reintroduction of the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill in Parliament THIS WEEK has unleashed a chorus of warnings by those against the Bill. The Bill is proposing new legislation that will regulate the sale, advertising and use of tobacco products. Critics argue that the Bill is likely to push consumers towards harmful illicit markets. They also say the Bill lacks practical, people-centric solutions to reduce smoking and curb the harm associated with tobacco. Additionally, some say that it would severely impact around 2.2 million informal traders who rely on cigarette sales and could lead to potential job losses in the tobacco industry. Udo Carelse spoke to Samuel Madikoto,  General Secretary of the National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa - NITASA 

South Africans are being urged to be cautious and withdraw from their retirement savings only for emergencies. Financial experts and political parties say citizens will do well to keep in mind that a withdrawal from the savings pot will reduce the final total amount available at retirement and may result in a reduced standard of living. 

The Springboks defended/ their home turf with a 31 - 27 win over All Blacks in an epic Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at the iconic Ellis Park Stadium yesterday. New Zealand played a great game of rugby, but could never quite bury the Springboks who kept plugging away and remain undefeated in the championship.

The Two-pot retirement system kicks in today. The system has however been criticised by labour federations including SAFTU who are not happy with some aspects of the scheme and say the second pot should not only be accessible at retirement age. 

The national, provincial and local government, the SAPS, the City of Cape Town, community organisations and private security companies will collaborate and share resources, technology and intelligence as part of efforts to improve policing and community safety for all the residents of Cape Town. By drawing on each other's expertise, it is hoped that crime fighting agencies will be able to do much more than if they were each working alone. 

The greatest rivalry in world rugby gets underway in Johannesburg TODAY when the Springboks face the All Blacks at Ellis Park stadium. The Rugby Championship Test match will be the 11th time the old rivals meet at the iconic venue since South Africa's reintroduction to the Test fold in 1992. Springboks coach, Rassie Erasmus, THIS WEEK made nine changes from the team that won against the Wallabies in Perth two weeks ago. Lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face the All Blacks in a revised Springboks squad. The 124-cap Springbok had originally been excluded from the squad that was announced on Tuesday due to a knee injury. The highly anticipated clash kicks off at 5pm and you'll be able to catch all the action live on SABC platforms