Drivetime

SABC to go ahead with retrenchments

The South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) says it will go ahead with retrenchments as planned despite a go slow on Tuesday. The institution is planning to lay off around 400 workers, prompting staffers to embark on a go slow over looming retrenchments. The SABC management is blaming the Unions for…

18 Nov 2020 9AM 11 min

Earthquakes, secrecy and emergency readness

The South Africa Council for Geoscience (CGS) has confirmed that an earthquake measuring 3.5 magnitude was recorded off the coast of Cape Town. Information published on EMSC website suggest that the earthquake penetrated a depth of 5 km. On September 26, Cape Town experienced a 2.5 magnitude followed by a…

18 Nov 2020 5AM 9 min

Weekly Economic Report

In this week's world economic report, we look at the following: -Ramaphosa says investment conference will shift from pledges to implementation. -Asian Pacific countries sign the largest free trade deal in history On line for comment is Senior Researcher, Department of Political science at University of Pretoria, Dr Jason Musyoka.

18 Nov 2020 5AM 14 min

Pakistan accuses India of sponsoring terrorism

Pakistan says it has evidence of India sponsoring "terrorism" aimed at destabilising the country and targeting its economic partnership with China. Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of targeting the other, but this was a rare time that Pakistan officials said they had prepared a mountain of evidence to…

18 Nov 2020 5AM 14 min

160 years of indentured Indian labourers in SA

Today marks 160 years since the arrival of Indians indentured labourers in South Africa. More than 200,000 Indians arrived in South Africa between 1860 and 1911, creating the biggest concentration of Indians outside mainland India. We now chat to Omar Badsha, historian and political activist.

16 Nov 2020 10AM 18 min

Is the Horn of Africa facing a wider conflict

Thousand of Ethiopian refugees have continued pouring into Sudan, escaping a worsening conflict that has spilled over Ethiopia's borders and threatens to distabilise the wider Horn of Africa region. More than 20,000 people have crossed into Sudan from Ethiopia's Tigray region, where federal government troops are battling forces layal to…

16 Nov 2020 9AM 10 min

Zuma appears at Zondo commission

Former president Jacob Zuma has appeared at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry. Zuma was summoned to appear before the commission despite his application to have have the chairperson recuse himself. On line is lecturer in the School of Security and Afrixan Studies at Nelson Mandela University, Dr Benjamin Breakfast.

16 Nov 2020 9AM 12 min

Book Review: ''Women In Solitary: Inside the female resistance to apartheid'' by Shanthini Naidoo

In today's book review, we unpack a book called Women in Solitary: Inside the female resistance to apartheid by Shanthini Naidoo. The book tells the story of journalist Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin who was held in solitary confinement with seven other women, including Winne Madikizela Mandela, for more than a year. The…

13 Nov 2020 10AM 18 min

Palestinian ambassador Hanan Jarar visits Cape Town

Palestinian ambassador to South Africa Ms Hanan Jarar is on a tour of Cape Town where she has visited Bo-Kaap to learn more about the Muslim community. The ambassador now joins us here in studio.

13 Nov 2020 9AM 20 min

Ace Magashule appears in court

ANC Secreatary General Ace Magashule has appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate court after handing himself to the Hawks authorities. Magashule is facing corruption charges related to the Free State asbestos scandal. So does the Hawks have a water tight case against Magashule? On line is State Counsel and Head of…

13 Nov 2020 9AM 9 min

Covid-19 cases surge in Eastern Cape

South Africa has seen a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases especially in the Eastern Cape, raising fears of a second wave of the pandemic. Scientists are attributing the surge to super spreader events. As the world focuses on the second wave of infections sweeping across Europe, there are concerns that…

13 Nov 2020 8AM 8 min

Unemployment rate increase by 30.8%

According to Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey( QLFS) release today, a large number of persons moved from the other not economically active category to employ status between quarter two and quarter three of 2020. On line is Statistician General Mr Risenga Maluleke.

13 Nov 2020 7AM 9 min

What are the legal and ethical aspects of Covid-19 tracing app?

During Covid-19 pandemic, emerging technologies are being repurposed to help trace whoever has been in contact with an infected person. The South African government recently introduced a mobile application, Covid-19 Alert SA, to help people notify their close contact if they are infected. But what are the legal and ethical…

13 Nov 2020 7AM 9 min

Weekly Middle East Report

In this week's Middle East Report in partnership with the London based Middle East Monitor, we look at the following. -Turkey congratulates US president elect Joe Biden -US imposes Iran-related sanctions on individuals and companies -Palestinian Authority says it is ready to resume peace talks with Israel. Follow stories at…

13 Nov 2020 7AM 18 min

Ethiopia's troubled history: Is civil war imminent?

Ethiopia's government, under prime minister Abiy Ahmed, is carrying out a military offensive in Tigray in the northern state. A six month state of emergency has been declared in the region as mounting political tensions continue. There is a possibility that an all out civil war could could begin and…

11 Nov 2020 10AM 15 min

Pfizer rolls out new Covid-19 vaccine

The Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer prevented more than 90% of infections in study of tens of thousands of volunteers. The findings are based on an interim analysis conducted after 94 participants contracted Covid-19. So how effective is this vaccine? On line is Nathan Scott Kieswetter, Infectious Disease researcher…

11 Nov 2020 9AM 12 min

ANC SG Ace Magashule faces arrest

ANC top six met last night following news that the Hawks have issued arrest warrant for ANC secretary General Ace Magashule. Magashule is facing allegations of fraud relating to the controversial multi-million rand asbestors contract in the Free State during his time as premeir of the province. But could Magashule's…

11 Nov 2020 9AM 8 min

Mynamar's ruling party claims victory in election

Mynamar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party has claimed a resounding victory in Sunday's general election, the second since the military began to withdraw from civilian politics in 2011. Sunday's victory was viewed as a referendum on Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD's fledging democratic government, which remains…

10 Nov 2020 10AM 16 min

Weekly Economic Report

In this week's world economic report, we look at the following: -Government sets R1.2 trillion as investment target. -Africa Free Trade Agreement to be rolled out in January -Asian shares extend rally on Covid-19 vaccine hopes On line for comment is Senior Researcher, Department of Political Sciences at the University…

10 Nov 2020 9AM 11 min

UCT Research team win prestigious Newton Prize award

A UCT novel research into using renewable eneragy in off-grid informal settlements in South Africa has won the chair's Prize at the prestigious Newton Prize awards. The team has developed a new approach to providing power to communities in informal settlements that rely on burning paraffin or wood to cook…

10 Nov 2020 9AM 7 min