The best of POWER Talk

  The Department of Basic Education says it will “step up” the piloting of the new General Education & Training Certificate (GETC) it plans to fully launch in 2025. The department’s annual performance plan for 2024/25 outlined the progress being made in transforming the school system into a new ‘three-stream’ model and laid out the next steps for the plan in the year ahead. The GEC is a standardised qualification being piloted in South Africa for learners completing grade 9, which will give any school leavers some type of “currency” they can use to either find a job or pursue a different stream of schooling. The pilot initially launched in a few schools in 2022 and ramped up in 2023. While the department has previously stressed that it is not an “exit” qualification – and should not be used to encourage learners to leave education and training – the performance plan specifically refers to it as one of two exit points in schooling. In this conversation, we get more clarity about the new General Education Certificate. Chief Director for Curriculum Policy Implementation at the Department of Basic Education Dr Moses Simelane joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Thembi Nkadimeng this past Tuesday held a media briefing where she said that the National Treasury had approved and budgeted R1.844 billion for the effects of disasters in various areas, for the fiscal year 2023-24. The provinces that the minister mentioned were the Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Nkadimeng said that the money has been given to support immediate infrastructure repairs, reconstruction and rehabilitation, with a focus on ensuring affected communities access to clean, reliable water and other essential facilities. She further stated that, when the allocation was approved, the National Treasury provided R372 million from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant for flood intervention efforts in 36 municipalities last month for 199 projects. Additionally, the Minister tabled a Bill that will limit motions of no confidence in the mayors to prevent instability in municipalities. Gauteng metros and other municipalities in the country have faced unstable coalitions in the last few years. Nkadimeng said the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill will prevent the speed in which motions of no confidence in the mayors are tabled in councils. This will allow for more stability in the running of municipalities and the delivery of services. The bill said motions of no confidence have been abused in municipalities. It proposes that a motion can only be tabled once a year and there must be sufficient grounds for it to be approved. In this conversation, we talk about the governance of municipalities in the country with Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thembi Nkadimeng,See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anele Mda is an independent candidate running for office in Gauteng, one of ten independents entering the polls. Initially, 16 submissions were made to the IEC after the candidate registration closed last month, with only 10 candidates making it to the final lists. According to the commission, six independents are contesting provincial legislature seats, while five are vying for seats in the National Assembly. In 2011, Anele Mda received recognition from former President Obama as one of the Emerging African Young Leaders in Public Office, highlighting her growing influence and dedication to positive change. With over 20 years of experience, including 16 in senior roles, she has established herself as a leader in promoting workplace diversity, inclusion, and transformation. Mda who previously was an ANC member and then COPE MP and joins us today as independent candidate to share her vision for the nation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s edition of diary, Lerato Mbele looks at stories that made the news over the long weekend and sets our news agenda for the week with Public Policy Specialist at the Wits School of Governance Dr TK Pooe.                     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition hosted the country’s 2nd Presidential Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference on 20 March 2024 under the theme “Black Industrialists - Catalysts for Jobs and Economic Growth” held in partnership with Industrial Development Corporation, National Empowerment Fund and Export Credit Insurance Corporation. In 2022, the government gave a report card on its black industrialist programme, which was launched in 2015 to help historically disadvantaged individuals to participate in the economy and ownership of industries. Over the last eight years, according to government figures, about 900 black industrialist businesses have been given R44-billion in funding under the programme. The money came from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, state-owned development finance institutions and other agencies. These businesses have reportedly created and supported 70,000 jobs. The value of the funding swells to R55-billion over an extended 12-year period, when including other government initiatives that are aimed at supporting black-owned and black-managed businesses. In this conversation, we speak to the Department of Trade, Competition & industry and reflect on the work and success of the DTCI’s Black Industrialists programme and the Presidential Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference which included an awards ceremony to recognise business excellence and honour enterprises that promote innovation, job creation and sound business ethics. Winner of the Black Industrialist Innovation Award Queen Ndlovu and Beneficiary Terrence Pokane Leluma along with Acting DG in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition Malebo Mabitje-Thompson join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benny Masekwameng, a MasterChef SA and Ultimate Braaimaster Judge, began his culinary journey at around 7 years old in Alexandra, helping his mother with her catering business. Cooking became not just a skill but a lifeline for his family, serving as their main source of income. During the political turbulence of the 90s, the Masekwameng family had to leave their home. Benny found refuge at the Sankopano Centre from 1991 to 1995, while his family was housed separately. After completing his studies at Northview High School, he pursued his culinary passion at Natal Technikon, now the Durban University of Technology, focusing on catering management. Following his graduation, Benny landed a trainee position at the Hilton Hotel in Durban, quickly rising to become a breakfast chef by 1999. His journey was marked by personal loss, including his father's passing in 2006. Despite these challenges, Benny's culinary adventures took him around the globe, from London to Dubai, shaping his expertise. His culinary prowess has graced the tables of world leaders like Fidel Castro and Muammar Gaddafi, as well as celebrities such as Beyoncé and Jay Z. Benny Masekwameng joins us today as our special guest, ready to share his insights and experiences in the spotlight.               See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thandiswa Mazwai stands as one of the most influential musicians in post-apartheid South Africa, with a career spanning nearly three decades dedicated to championing Kwaito, a vibrant dance music genre. On April 1st, Thandiswa captured headlines with her highly anticipated Tiny Desk performance, captivating audiences with her opening track "Nizalwa Ngobani?" and concluding with the soulful "Lahl'umlenze." Today, she once again graces the spotlight with the release of her latest single, 'Kulungile,' a precursor to her upcoming album 'Sankofa,' scheduled for release on May 10th. Collaborating with pianist Dr Nduduzo Makhathini, 'Kulungile' delivers a poignant message of resilience, urging listeners to overcome past wounds and discover inner peace. The song's title, translating to 'it is well' in isiXhosa, serves as a powerful reflection of Mazwai’s personal journey, resonating with the universal truth that pain subsides and healing is possible. Today, she joins us to delve deeper into the inspiration behind 'Kulungile' and her upcoming album, 'Sankofa.'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The HPCSA is conducting a disciplinary hearing into a doctor who falsely claimed that COVID vaccines were a deliberate mass poisoning designed to kill people. The disciplinary hearing against “anti-vax” doctor Shankara Chetty got underway in Durban this week, after changes to the charge sheet were made. This comes after Chetty asked that the charges be dismissed or revised - or he would approach the high court for relief. The charges are based on allegations by Francois Venter, a medical professor at Wits University who was at the forefront of Covid research in South Africa. He said Chetty was practicing “pseudo-science” at the height of the pandemic, with Chetty claiming that vaccines made no sense. Chetty’s argument, in the main, focusses on his right to freedom of expression and claims that expressing a view is not a violation of the ethical guidelines of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). His lawyers argued that the charges should have been dropped. Instead, the disciplinary committee ordered that they be amended. In this conversation, we speak about medical ethics, the misalignment of medical practice and personal belief and importance of medical being prepared to set aside their religious and other personal beliefs if these compromise the care of patients. President of the African Medical Association and Former President of the Health Professions Council of South Africa Dr. Kgosi Letlape joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franchising is seen as a promising avenue for growth in South Africa. The sector encompasses various segments, with fast food and restaurants, retailing, and building office and home services leading the pack. Evaluating the top franchises often comes down to metrics like outlet numbers and group sales, especially for publicly listed companies. Data from the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) in 2018 indicates a positive trajectory in the sector's performance. In 2019, Cash Converters had 85 franchisee-operated stores across Southern Africa, with plans for further expansion. These stores vary in size, averaging around 450 square meters, with some larger ones nearing 1,000 square meters. This network supports nearly 1,500 employees who handle roughly three million transactions annually. As new outlets open and existing stores grow, this figure is expected to increase. Wenzel Mashele, the franchisee of Cash Converters' Anderson Street branch, is here to share insights into the journey of franchise ownership and the ongoing efforts required to sustain it.              See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An eminent African Entrepreneur, Investor and Philanthropist, Collen Mashawana is the current Executive Chairman of Afribiz Invest and is responsible for creating continental business opportunities of advancement across the infrastructure space, with a particular reference to sectors critical to Africa’s economic development. Collen has served as a Board Member and an Executive of a number of local and international companies in the field of Information Technology, Construction and Mining.  An entrepreneur at heart, he is also Chairman and Founder of the Collen Mashawana Foundation which is a Non-Profit Organization that focuses on addressing the issue of housing, youth unemployment and education in Africa.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ongoing conflict between Nanduwe and WATA in Soweto has disrupted transportation services since Monday. Lesiba Mpya, spokesperson for Gauteng's Transport Department, noted the feud has lasted since 2013, resulting in fatalities and route closures. To address the escalating tensions, meetings were held, and plans were made to close affected taxi ranks and routes. Police impounded nearly 50 taxis last week, leading WATA to stage a three-day stay away, leaving commuters stranded in parts of Soweto and Johannesburg Central. Spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Transport Lesiba Mpya joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political debate is widespread in society. Whether we are aware of it or not, most of us are said to be, at a very simple level, political philosophers. In democratic societies, citizens are expected to have opinions on a wide range of issues that either directly as individuals or collectively as citizens affect their lives. Even at a simple, unsophisticated level we have views on the ‘correct’ form of government, freedom, equality and equal rights, the ‘proper’ role of government in society, how ‘democratic’ one’s own political system is, the right levels of public spending, and so on. How we think about these, and many other subjects will be influenced by the kinds of ideological beliefs we carry around in our heads, the product of our social conditioning, our life experiences and our reflections on them, the nation we live in, our educational level and our social class. In this conversation, we attempt to clarify ideas about ideology – what it is, how it is transmitted, how useful it is in making sense of society. We also examine its relevance to recent modern history both in South Africa and in other parts of the world. And analyse the situation in contemporary Africa and consider whether it can be reasonably asserted that there is an ideological consensus in the continent or whether we are now ‘beyond ideology’. Political Analyst Omry Makgoale along with Anthropologist and Sociologist Dr Alex Asakitikpi join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not uncommon to hear frustrations about water utility bills across the country, as discrepancies often arise. With utility expenses continually climbing, it's crucial to monitor water consumption closely. Doing so not only prevents hefty bills but also helps in identifying leaks, averting water shortages, and efficiently managing our precious resources. SmartView Technology has introduced an innovative solution: the smart water meter. This device enables remote real-time data collection of water usage, eliminating the need for manual readings, even in large estates or office complexes. Joining us now is Charnte Marthinus, the visionary Innovator and CEO of SmartView Technology. As an alumnus of the Technology Innovation Agency and the esteemed recipient of the 2024 Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) Award, Charnte will enlighten us further on this innovation. CEO of Smart-view Technology Keenan George joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme weather conditions are expected to continue across South Africa’s south and eastern coasts until Wednesday. A cut-off low weather system has moved across South Africa, leaving in its wake heavy rain, strong winds and damaged infrastructure. On Monday, the South African Weather Service (Saws) issued several warnings of more severe weather. An Orange Level 9 warning of disruptive rain that could result in flooding was issued by Saws for much of the Western Cape, alongside a Level 6 warning for the central part of the province. A warning was also issued of strong waves exacerbated by strong winds that will result in difficulty in navigating seas, particularly between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay. An Orange Level 6 warning of severe thunderstorms was issued for the eastern parts of Northern Cape, central parts of North West, central Free State and the northwestern parts of Eastern Cape. Damage to infrastructure, closure of bridges and some traffic disruptions were expected. Climate experts are urging governments in Southern Africa to be more proactive in mitigating severe weather. The Western Cape experienced disruptive weather conditions damaging infrastructure, including weather station equipment. In this conversation, in the context of climate change in SA, we talk about the impact of remaining unprepared for disasters. And what measures does the government need to put in place? Professor of Climate Change, Food Systems and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa’s municipal government elections in 2021 produced a number of largely unstable local government coalitions. There’s now a strong possibility that the next government that’s formed at national level may be a coalition too. This would be the first since the dawn of democracy in 1994. Elections due in 2024 will test the extent of the declining dominance of the governing African National Congress. Indeed, some polls suggest the party could fail to secure the 50% of the vote required to form a government. With no other party tipped to meet the threshhold, there might have to be a coalition instead. Can South Africans expect a national coalition to be stable? The turbulence in coalitions seen in 2021-2022 suggests not. The disintegration and reconstitution of municipal coalitions in the past year indicate that many parties are using them as a political battleground between elections. The result is lack of attention to actually governing cities and providing municipal services. In this conversation, we talk about how national coalitions made & what scenarios are await SA if ANC doesn’t win a simple majority in the May 29 elections? Governance and Political Analyst Sandile Swana joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding a Gaza hostage deal amidst dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The recent IDF recovery of Elad Katzir's body from Hamas abduction in October intensified the protests. With 129 hostages still missing, tensions are high. Meanwhile, Iran vows retaliation against Israeli strikes in Syria targeting Hezbollah's supply network. The recent attack killed senior IRGC leaders. The US is on high alert for potential Iranian retaliation in the region. These events prompt our conversation on the ongoing revolt against Netanyahu's leadership. Senior Research Fellow and Director at the Africa Asia Dialogues Thembisa Fakude joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Due to budget cuts, the Department of Basic Education has slashed the number of bursaries it will be awarding to student teachers in this financial year, which ends in March 2025, by 2 300 - from 12 000 to 9 700. According to the department's annual performance plan, funding for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme will be reduced by R397.9 million over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) because of Cabinet-approved reductions. The scheme provides financial assistance to students registered for the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) who are specialising in priority subject areas, such as inclusive education, maths, coding, robotics, and science and technology. The scheme, which has been allocated R4 billion over the MTEF, is aimed at addressing critical educator shortages in scarce skills areas. According to the document, the target for the number of bursaries on offer for the following two financial years, 2025/26 and 2026/27, is 10 000 and 10 300 respectively.          Professor at the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Labby Ramrathan joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is meeting to interview prospective judges. With the interviews only lasting for three days, it is a shorter sitting than usual, but as important as ever. The positions to be filled include three lengthy vacancies: one each in the Constitutional Court and the Electoral Court, and the position of head of the Land Court. The interviews take place against the backdrop of litigation over the JSC’s handling of the last round of interviews. Of the five candidates shortlisted for the Constitutional Court post, two are judges, two are practising advocates and, for the first time in 25 years, a law professor is on the shortlist. Both Judges Tati Makgoka and Ashton Schippers are senior justices of the Supreme Court of Appeal, with a string of judgments to their name. Advocate Alan Dodson SC spent five years serving as a judge of the land claims court before going back to practice.  In October 2023, the JSC interviewed candidates for four vacancies in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). Controversially, the JSC only recommended the appointment of two candidates, leaving the remaining two vacancies open and thereby overlooking highly regarded candidates. After Freedom Under Law (FUL) brought a legal challenge to the process, the JSC agreed to fill the remaining two vacancies, and is due to hold interviews to do so in May. With only 13 candidates to be interviewed for four vacancies at various superior courts, including the Constitutional Court, this JSC sitting will be the least productive JSC since the Covid-19 pandemic. But it would be wrong to write it off as there are still many reasons why it’s vitally important to pay attention to the JSC this week. Coordinator at Judge Matters Alison Tilley joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of people unable to meet their minimum food consumption needs in South Africa is expected to marginally decline to just under one in two by 2025, according to the World Data Lab. The firm, which conducted research for Shoprite Holdings Ltd.’s 2023 food index, estimates that 49% of South Africans will be food insecure in two years’ time, down from 52% at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.The Western Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape provinces are expected to show the biggest progress in addressing hunger. Africa’s largest grocer commissioned the research to draw attention to food insecurity and get South Africans involved in rolling back hunger and poverty. Up to 20 million South Africans are severely food insecure, with millions of children going to sleep hungry. About 27% of our children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, stunting and wasting. Every year, seven to 10 million tonnes of edible food is wasted, equivalent to 30 billion meals. South African landfills emit up to 450 million kilogrammes of methane gas annually because of the wasted food and organic material going to landfill. In this conversation, we talk about South Africa’s hunger crisis and interventions geared towards fixing this.                Managing Director at Foodforward SA Andy du Plessis and CEO of SA Harvest Alan Browde join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abantu Batho Congress is a South African political party founded by entrepreneur Philani 'PG' Mavundla. It positions itself as an Afrocentric, Pan-Africanist, and womanist revolutionary movement. In January 2021, Mandisa Mashego, former Economic Freedom Fighters Gauteng leader, joined the party. The party participated in the 2021 South African municipal elections, focusing on Durban and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. During the municipal elections, the party secured 25 seats, with 23 in Kwazulu-Natal and two in Limpopo. Last August, Mavundla shared news of the newly appointed members who will be part of the party's national executive committee (NEC). Among these appointments were Bonginkosi Nxusa, the former National Freedom Party (NFP) Mayor of the eDumbe local municipality, and Jackie Shandu, who have taken up senior roles within the ABC party in anticipation of the elections. The party recently launched its manifesto and its president joins us to tell us about the party’s stance ahead of 29 May.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.