Drivetime

Libyan beheadings

A few days ago, fighters pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) released a video purporting to show the killing of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians kidnapped in Libya. On Monday, in revenge for the beheadings, Egypt carried out dawn airstrikes against ISIS targets in Libya…

18 Feb 2015 7AM 19 min

Ebrahim Rasool at Iraqi symposium Part 2

Yesterday Zahrah played the first part of Ebrahim Rasool's speech given at the Countering Extremism and Terrorism in the Digital Age symposium hosted by the Iraqi Embassy. His topic was Root Causes of Violent Extremism and Terrorism. This is part two, have a listen…

17 Feb 2015 7AM 13 min

SONA debate and Mbete: which one is bigger

Opposition parties response to President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (Sona) and the ensuing chaos will take centre stage in Parliament today. The legislature's presiding officers are expected to face questions from the media about both the use of police to eject Members of Parliament (MPs) and the jamming of cellphone…

17 Feb 2015 7AM 22 min

Ebrahim Rasool at Iraqi Symposium

As I mentioned earlier, Shafiq is at a symposium hosted by the Iraqi Embassy. The topic of the symposium is Countering Extremism and Terrorism in the Digital Age. Speakers at the event taking place at the Table Bay Hotel today, included Sh Fakkruddin Owaisi, Muslim News Editor, Farid Sayed and…

17 Feb 2015 5AM 15 min

SANEF heads to court

Sanef is seeking an urgent court order to stop security agencies from blocking cell phone signals. The action comes after a jamming device was used in parliament at the State of the Nation address. Yesterday Sanef General Secretary, Katy Katopodis chat to us about the application and to give us…

17 Feb 2015 5AM 6 min

Leila Khaled

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…

16 Feb 2015 5AM 5 min

Post SONA analysis

No matter what happens, no matter what those in authority say or do, South Africa will never be the same again. It was meant to be a solemn annual event in the life of our nation: the Opening of our Parliament, the presentation of the State of the Nation Address…

16 Feb 2015 5AM 20 min

Sanef heads to court over media freedom violations at SONA

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has expressed its outrage at the illegal clampdown on freedom of expression during the State of the Nation address in Parliament on Thursday night, and plans to approach the courts and seek a meeting with President Jacob Zuma and Speaker Baleka Mbete as…

16 Feb 2015 5AM 7 min

Dr Kemal Aydin

Welcome back to the show. Last week Gerontologist, Dr Kemal Aydin visited SA a guest of Awqaf SA to celebrate their 15th anniversary and the launch DaruShifa. Amidst his busy schedule, he was able to squeeze in an interview with us to educate on what exactly DaruShifa is and how…

16 Feb 2015 5AM 14 min

EFF press brief post SONA

Yes, SONA 2015 has come and gone and it will be talked about for the week ahead as members of Parliament and citizens alike express their sadness and disappointment in the events that unfolded last night. Earlier today, the EFF had a press conference post SONA. VOC reporter Raeesah Isaacs…

13 Feb 2015 5AM 6 min

SONA 2015: Eskom bailed out: economic perspective

In last nights SONA address, President Jacob Zuma announced that cash-strapped Eskom will be given R23-billion bailout by the government to stabilise the power utility’s finances. The government will also continue to utilise independent power producers in a bid to reduce the strain on Eskom. The utility has also been…

13 Feb 2015 5AM 7 min

SONA 2015: Eskom bailed out, SA Russia nuke de

al Shocking details have emerged about the South African/Russian nuclear deal, which seems to bind South Africa financially and holds the country liable for accidents at power plants. Last night, President Jacob Zuma reaffirmed the nation's commitment to nuclear power during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) but he…

13 Feb 2015 5AM 8 min

Chris Yelland

The energy crises plaguing South Africa is undoubtedly one of the biggest problems President Jacob Zuma will have to confront. As load-shedding continues and is predicted to last for the next few years, our economy and labour sectors are also affected. This ultimately is a negative for South Africa as…

12 Feb 2015 9AM 17 min

Labor sector

As we anticipate SONA and all things President Zuma should discuss, one key area that he should focus on is undoubtedly the labour sector. With the split between Numsa and Cosatu having taken place, the landscape of the labour industry definitely seems to be a big question mark. Online to…

12 Feb 2015 9AM 7 min

Tony Blair in CT

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in South Africa as the keynote speaker for the 2015 Annual African Mining Indaba. Ironically, his visit to SA coincides with the visit of Palestinian liberation icon Leila Khaled. It is curious though that Blair’s visit has been met with warm and welcoming…

12 Feb 2015 5AM 8 min

Malaysian court upholds Anwar Ibrahim sodomy conviction

Malaysia's top court has upheld opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's conviction for sodomy after rejecting his appeal. He will now go to prison immediately to serve the five-year term that he was given in March 2014. It will be Mr Anwar's second spell in jail on charges which he has always…

11 Feb 2015 7AM 20 min

25 years since Mandela's release

25 years ago today, Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in the Western Cape and made his way to City Hall in Cape Town to deliver his iconic speech from the balcony of the building. He was imprisoned for 27 years. Looking back at this momentous occasion in…

11 Feb 2015 5AM 15 min

Chapel Hill Shooting

After three American Muslims were gunned down "execution style" by an anti-Islam gunman in Chapel Hill, outraged people took to social media to express their opinions. The incident took place at a condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, at 5 p.m. EST. However, the lack of…

11 Feb 2015 5AM 18 min

Ukrain Crisis

The Ukraine crisis is almost a year old and Russia is winning. The separatists in eastern Ukraine are gaining ground and Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, shows no signs of backing down in the face of Western economic sanctions. Unsurprisingly, a growing chorus of voices in the United States is…

10 Feb 2015 9AM 19 min

ConCourt hears party funding case

The organisation called My Vote Counts this morning told the Constitutional Court that South Africans have a right to know who is funding their political parties. It has requested the court to ask judges to force Parliament to bring in laws that would compel parties to explain where they get…

10 Feb 2015 7AM 7 min