Drivetime

Hizmet tour 2019

VOC news Editor has just returned from a cultural tour to the US with the Turqoise Harmony Institute in SA, where she got a rare opprtunity to meet and interview the controversial Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen. Gulen founded the Hizmet movement which has about 6 million strong volunteer based movement…

18 Oct 2019 10AM 17 min

Turkey continue to press ahead in northern Syria

Heavy fighting continues as Turkey presses ahead with military operations against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. President Reccep Erdogan says the offensive aims to remove the Kurdish- led forces from the border area and create a “safe zone” to which millions of Syrian refugees can be returned. On line is…

14 Oct 2019 11AM 16 min

Have the Kurds been betrayed in Syria?

As the Turkish government continue its military operation in northern Syria against the Kurdish people, a major political shift in alliance has emerged after Kurdish forces announced deal with Syria. On line is Spokesperson for Kurdish Human Rights Group (KHRAG) in South Africa, Mahmoud Patel.

14 Oct 2019 10AM 18 min

Cyril Ramaphosa in the UK for Financial Times Africa Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa is in London attending the Financial Times Africa summit. The gathering, which brings business , investors and decision makers is critical for the UK as Brexit looms. On line is Head of the School of Economics and Business Sciences at Wits University, Professor Jannie Rossouw

14 Oct 2019 10AM 9 min

Media Hit Parade

We are back with our weekly Media Hit Parade with Acumen Media Director Tonya Khoury.

11 Oct 2019 11AM 12 min

Book Review, Voices from Underground by Shirly Gunn

In Voices from the Underground, eighteen members of the AKD give accounts of their involvement in the armed struggle. The book traces the varying journeys into MK, via student activism, trade unions, religious organisations and UDF politics. Voice from the underground gives a human face to ordinary people who took…

11 Oct 2019 11AM 19 min

SA household wealth index net improves

South African Household Wealth Index has recorded a net wealth increase over the first months of 2019.This is according to the Momentum / Unisa Household Net Wealth Index. On line is spokesperson and Research Economist , Consumer Insight Division at Momentum, Johann van Tonder.

11 Oct 2019 10AM 14 min

Turkey launches military offence against Kurds

Turkey's assault on Kurdish-held northern Syria began yesterday, as air strikes and artillery pounded areas along the Syrian – Turkish border. The bombardment left two people dead, according to local news. But why is Turkey attacking northern Syria? On line is Turkish journalist in Ankara Vakkas Dogantekin.

10 Oct 2019 11AM 13 min

World Mental Health Day

As the World marks Mental Health Day, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group ( SADAG) says that nine percent of all teenage deaths in the country are by suicide and that suicide is the second leading of death among South African teenagers. On line is founder of MysociaLife.com, Dean…

10 Oct 2019 10AM 12 min

FTPL launches campaign to reduce price of TB drugs

Fix The Patent Laws Campaign (FTPL) today launched a global campaign calling on pharmaceutical corporation Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to lower the price of its anti-tuberculosis medicine bedaquiline to more than R15 per day for people everywhere who need it. Doctors Without Borders, a member of FTPL is demanding these…

10 Oct 2019 10AM 7 min

SARS releases its annual report

South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter today presented the Annual Report to parliament portfolio committee . The report outlines changes and achievements since the departure of former Commissioner Tom Moyane. And on line is the SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter.

9 Oct 2019 11AM 18 min

Weekly Africa Report

In this week's Africa report, we look into the upcoming elections in Mozambique where an election observer was reportedly killed by elite police squad . In Malawi, protesters killed a riot police officer in the ongoing anti government protests. In Cameroon , main opposition leader Maurice Kamto has walked free…

9 Oct 2019 10AM 15 min

AMEC hosts MENA conference

MENA conference The Afro Middle East Centre (AMEC) is hosting its annual conference in Johannesburg. Some of the topics on the agenda include intervention in international political theory, colonialism to contemporary intervention in the Middle East and North Africa region. Drive time presenter Shafiq Morton is at the event and…

8 Oct 2019 11AM 14 min

IPID under the spotlight

A Viewfinder investigation have revealed how the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has been prematurely closing cases without proper investigation. In 2012, then Public Protector raised the alarm, but to date there has been no evidence to show the matter was dealt with. On line is Viewfinder founder Daneel Knoetze.

8 Oct 2019 10AM 8 min

WHO commends authorities on DRC Ebola intervention

The United Nations agencies working to stop the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have commended the strong leadership of the DRC health authorities and other health workers in leading to up to 1000 people surviving the disease. On line is World Health Organisation (WHO) Head…

7 Oct 2019 11AM 11 min

As Trump makes headlines, Africa should be alert

Events of the past week leading up to US president Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry have reverberated globally . While Trump makes headlines, Africa can't afford to be distracted. On line is Professor of International Relations at Wits University, professor John Stremlau.

7 Oct 2019 10AM 11 min

Helen Zille to run for DA federal council chair

Former Western Cape premier Helen Zille will run for the position of Chairperson in the Democratic Alliance. The position will be vacated by long serving member James Selfe. And on line is the former premier of Western Cape, Helen Zille.

7 Oct 2019 10AM 8 min

Media Hit Parade

We are back with our weekly Media Hit Parade, taking a closer look at the weeks reactions to local and international news with Acumen Media Director and co- founder Tonya Khoury.

4 Oct 2019 11AM 11 min

Nothing controversial about Grade 9 GDE certificate

Stellenbosch University lecturer says the use of Grade 9 as a formal exit is nothing controversial. Last week, Basic Eduction minister Angie Motshegka said the department will formulate grade 9 as an exit level. On line is Senior lecturer in Future Studies and Systems Thinking Stellenbosch University School of Business,…

4 Oct 2019 10AM 8 min

Sport in SA still divided

As South Africa's Springbok rugby team vies for victory in the 2019 World cup, it is worthwhile to reflect on the historical substance of sports unity since 1994. So, does the nurture, basis and purpose of unity in the pre-1990 anti-apartheid sports movement correspond with developments after 1994? On line…

4 Oct 2019 10AM 10 min