Drivetime

Gaza under attack

According to news reports the Israeli army has fired missiles into the northern Gaza Strip after a rocket was fired from the Palestinian territory into southern Israel, causing no injuries or damage. Israel ended its permanent military presence in the Gaza Strip in 2005 in what it called the "Gaza…

22 Aug 2016 10AM 7 min

Image of Omran Daqneesh alone won't save Syria

The video of Omran Daqneesh went viral, just like the video of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, whose lifeless body was found washed ashore in near Bodrum, Turkey, as he and his family fled Syria to find refuge in Canada. H was saved by Syrian Civil Defence volunteers - also known as…

22 Aug 2016 10AM 11 min

Dozens of academics held in latest wave of Turkish mass arrests

Turkey on Friday detained dozens of academics suspected of backing Fethullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind of last month's failed coup, while pressing ahead with raids on businesses linked to the US-based Muslim preacher. Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 84 academics nationwide, the private Dogan news agency reported, while…

22 Aug 2016 10AM 14 min

Free Book Friday with Lidudumalingani

Lidudumalingani was announced as the winner of the 2016 Caine Prize for African Writing, described as Africa’s leading literary award, for his short story entitled “Memories We Lost” published in The Daily Assortment of Astonishing Things. At the announcement, Chair of Judges Delia Jarrett-Macauley said, “The winning story explores a…

19 Aug 2016 10AM 14 min

We discuss Swaziland's Monarchical governance

Swaziland assumes the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the first time ever on Wednesday, despite protests from within Swaziland and abroad that the small absolute monarchy is not fit to chair the organisation.The charter of the SADC is clear that member states should observe basic human…

18 Aug 2016 11AM 12 min

Violence and rage explored at the Ruth First Lecture

The 15th annual Ruth First Memorial Lecture was held at the University of the Witwatersrand under the theme “Violence and Rage”. Held every year in commemoration of assassinated anti-apartheid activist Ruth First, the 2015 lecture, which had delivered a heated debate about race in South Africa, would be a tough…

18 Aug 2016 10AM 13 min

Are South African cities becoming ungovernable?

South Africa’s big cities have become more turbulent places in recent years, despite the creation of relatively strong metropolitan municipalities. The cumulative effects of growing unrest and disorder are far-reaching, given the importance of cities to national stability and prosperity. So has South African cities become ungovernable? The Human Research…

18 Aug 2016 10AM 10 min

A shifting political era in South Africa

The 4-6 pm current affairs Drivetime Show is hosted by veteran journalist Shafiq Morton, winner of two Vodacom Awards, and an AfriCAN author’s award. Analytical and thought-provoking, Morton brings his decades of experience as a photo-journalist, historian and broadcaster to the show, added with his unique brand of humour and…

18 Aug 2016 10AM 19 min

The on-going crisis in Yemen

Week after week, year after year, the endless stream of cruelties and occasional barbarism across the Middle East seems only to widen and deepen.Routine criminal deeds using barrel bombs, chemical weapons, starvation sieges, shooting of children, torture and rape, mass imprisonment, destruction of hospitals and schools, and death by drones…

17 Aug 2016 11AM 14 min

A downturn for the Nigerian economy – how bad is it?

The 4-6 pm current affairs Drivetime Show is hosted by veteran journalist Shafiq Morton, winner of two Vodacom Awards, and an AfriCAN author’s award. Analytical and thought-provoking, Morton brings his decades of experience as a photo-journalist, historian and broadcaster to the show, added with his unique brand of humour and…

17 Aug 2016 10AM 8 min

No coalitions for the EFF

Following today's media briefing EFF leader Julius Malema announced they will vote with the DA in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni, but it has rejected a formal coalition with the party, EFF leader Julius Malema said on Wednesday. This means the DA mayoral candidates can be sworn in…

17 Aug 2016 10AM 9 min

Delegation of Indonesian scholars on discovering the Indonesian ties in Cape T

South Africa and Indonesia have only enjoyed formal diplomatic ties since August 1994, but the link between the two countries stretches back over 322 years. Our Cape Malay history is well documented and speaks about the Indonesian political exiles or prisoners who had opposed the colonisation of their countries and…

16 Aug 2016 11AM 26 min

Lonmin’s failure to address housing conditions at Marikana

While the deaths at Marikana were the main focus of the Farlam Commission, it also considered the contexting which the events of August 2012 occurred, and specifically the horrendous housing situation and living conditions for mine workers at Marikana. Thousands of Lonmin employees were living in squalid conditions in informal…

16 Aug 2016 10AM 13 min

The Marikana Massacre – 4 years on and still no justice

Today marks exactly four years since 34 miners were gunned down by police in Marikana and the families involved say not much has changed for them or the community as a whole. In August 2012 a total of 44 people were killed during a violent unprotected strike over wages at…

16 Aug 2016 10AM 13 min

The Zambian Elections - President Edgar Lungu elected in disputed vote

Zambia's incumbent President Edgar Lungu has been declared the winner of a closely fought presidential election, but the result was immediately challenged by his main opponent Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu, leader of the Patriotic Front (PF), won 50.35 percent of Thursday's vote, against 47.67 percent for Hichilema, of the United Party…

16 Aug 2016 10AM 9 min

Three years since the Rabaá massacre, Egyptian government should compensate Vict

On August 14, 2013, Egyptian security forces killed at least 817 people, and probably more than 1,000, who were in Cairo’s Rab’a al-Adawiya Square protesting the military’s removal of former President Mohamed Morsy – one of the worst mass killings in modern history. The dispersal at Rab’a and several other…

15 Aug 2016 11AM 17 min

How could Wealth taxes help cut poverty and unemployment

A “wealth tax” in South Africa could significantly address two of South Africa’s triple challenges of joblessness, poverty and inequality – provided it is managed by competent individuals and institutions, according to Guy Harris. He says that only quality education can address inequality in our society in a sustainable way,…

15 Aug 2016 10AM 15 min

Corruption Watch on the importance of the Public Protector

Described by our Supreme Court of Appeal as a “watchdog”, the Public Protector is also often compared to an ombudsman, an institution that originated in Sweden, created to ensure that public officials acted in terms of the law and discharged their duties properly. There are now a large number of…

15 Aug 2016 10AM 9 min

Fees Must fall Reloaded - Possible fee Increase for 2017

Last week, organisations including universities and the treasury made their submissions to the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training into the possibility of Free Education. Since then, The Higher Education Department says there’s been no pronouncement on university fees for 2017 and it’s still engaging with stakeholders before…

15 Aug 2016 10AM 14 min

The story of Alison Botha reaches Cinemas

You may have heard the story of Alison Botha before. Alison survived being raped, having her throat slit 17 times, stabbed in excess 37 times and disemboweled, left for dead but through a miracle she survived. She was the first South African woman to speak out publically about being raped…

12 Aug 2016 11AM 16 min