Law Focus

Law Focus is an award-winning legal show with the aim of educating listeners of their rights. The show provides an educational platform to dissect complex law aspects. It also promotes awareness on social justice and access to socio-economic rights in per-urban and rural communities.

The show is hosted by Tshepo Mohapi, an attorney by profession and Millicent Ndiweni, a Wits Law Student, and produced by Refilwe Mekoa and Obakeng Uhuru Ramare. Kutlwano ”Gwinch” Serame provides Technical Assistance.

Law Focus is proudly produced under The Wits Radio Academy, for VOW FM and also syndicated to 7 other community and campus radio stations across the country.

It is also podcast on www.wits.journalism.co.za/law, iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Weekly English South Africa News

83 Episodes

52 – 72

Law Focus - Xenophobic Violence in South Africa

Xenophobia continues to be a contentious issue in the South African society. Foreign nationals are often blamed for the country’s high crime rate, unemployment, and overcrowding of health facilities. However, it is hard to imagine that people will just up and leave the comfort of their countries to be a…

11 Jun 2019 59 min

Law Focus - Should Sex Work be legalized?

Sex work in South is still illegal. A study conducted in 2013 revealed that there were between 132 000 - 182 000 sex workers, female, male, intersex and transgender. The majority are either internal or cross-border migrants with multiple dependants. There have been growing calls over the years to decriminalize…

11 Jun 2019 47 min

Law Focus - Human Rights

Human Rights are essentially a set of agreed principles, which affirm and uphold the dignity of the person. There are concerned with fairness, respect and independence and recognize our freedom to make certain life choices and realize our potential as human beings but also understanding that there come with responsibility…

20 Mar 2019 41 min

Law Focus - Criminal Charges Involving Minors

In light of the recent public outcry for #JusticeForThoriso which involves the violent murder of 28 year old Thoriso Themane who died at the alleged hands of seven teenagers aged between 13 and 16 from Capricorn High School in Polokwane, Law Focus decided to examine what the South African criminal…

19 Mar 2019 51 min

Law Focus - The Violation of Human Rights In Sports

Sports has a unique ability to unite people of different backgrounds, races, genders and nationalities, in more ways than one sports has directly affected and influenced society by breaking down preconceptions and challenging the status quo. One athlete who has exhibited this is 'Golden Girl' Mokgadi Caster Semenya a South…

11 Mar 2019 53 min

Law Focus - The Criminalization of HIV

In 2013 the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria sentenced Lovers Phiri, a former Department of Health HIV counselor to six years in jail after he had unprotected sex with his then girlfriend and never disclosed his status to her, he was subsequently convicted of attempted murder. A similar case…

5 Mar 2019 43 min

Law Focus - The Right To Assemble

As the 2019 academic year begins Universities across the country have been in disarray and turmoil as students have rallied together to protest various issues at their institutions. These protests have obtained nationwide attention for various reasons but more prominently the death of a Durban University of Technology student, Mlungisi…

25 Feb 2019 40 min

Law Focus - Termination of Pregnancy

There is an increasing number of illegal backstreet abortion, despite the termination of pregnancy being legal in South Africa. Dr. Malusi Dlamini and Zwanaka Netshifulani (Wits Gender Equity Office) discuss the concerns surrounding reproduction and women having the right to freedom to have control over their bodies. Brenda Bamuza and…

8 Feb 2019 56 min

Law Focus - Commission of Inquiry

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed four commissions of inquiry in the first nine months of his presidency, its no wonder why commissions of inquiry seems to be all we are talking about these days but do we really understand the fundamentals, structures and purpose of a commission of inquiry. Law…

8 Feb 2019 47 min

Law Focus - Legal Concerns of Banking

On backdrop of the VBS scandal where over 2 billion rand was unlawfully extorted from the bank, we interrogate what happens to the poor people that trust banks with their last penny? Joining the discussion is National Secretary of the South African Society of Bank Officials (SASBO) Lebogang Selepe as…

5 Dec 2018 52 min

Law Focus - Mental Health

The stigma around mental health is still rife. In attempting to understand the reasons behind the widespread stigma, we speak to psychiatrist, Dr Steve Molefe who explains the importance of mental health awareness and the role played by medical-care. Nicole Breen from the South African Federation for Mental Health and…

5 Dec 2018 1 hr 02 min

Law Focus - Rental Rights

Wits University students are increasingly frustrated with rent increase and tenant rights being exploited. This stirred the ‘Accommodation is land” march that led to City of Johannesburg buildings to hand over a memorandum of demands to mayor Herman Mashaba for affordable student accommodation. To discuss rental rights, we are joined…

5 Dec 2018 39 min

Law Focus - Rape Culture

South Africa is notorious for its rape statistics. We speak with a Senior Legal Practitioner Mr. Justice Magayi from Legal Aid SA explains the legal concerns of rape culture. We close off with Gender equity Office representatives’ and relationship counsellor, Angie Diale who capture the struggle of violent women face,…

5 Dec 2018 56 min

Law Focus - Human Trafficking

The socio-economic ills that South Africa battles with contribute to the increase in human trafficking. This week, Law Focus explores the troubling facts about trafficking in persons. Dept. of Justice and Constitutional Development Legal Administration Officer, Matome Modibe and Ottilia Anna Maunganidze from Institute for Security Studies Head of Special…

5 Dec 2018 55 min

Law Focus - Tom Moyane Corruption Allegations

The president of the Republic has issued in the Gazzette a notice that constitutes a Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of SARS while SARS commissioner Tom Moyane is undergoing a disciplinary hearing; the two proceedings occur simultaneously which has consequently raised the issues of fairness. Law Focus this week…

22 Aug 2018 1 hr 02 min

Law Focus - Cash-In-Transit Heists

South Africa in 2018 experienced an increase in cash-in-transit heists in the country. This opened up conversation regarding issues surrounding the heists like the safety of the security guards commuting with the money in the vans. Law Focus this week explores those issues with a particular focus around the safety…

13 Aug 2018 50 min

Law Focus - Debt Regulation

The majority of the country lives under the poverty line and at most to survive most of South Africa acquire debt, loans and hire purchase agreements. Law Focus this week looks at Debt regulation as facilitated by the National Credit Regulator mandated by the National Credit Act 34 of 2005…

25 Jul 2018 58 min

Law Focus - Expropriation without Compensation

We are a conquered nation” retorts EFF CIC Julius Malema. This was said in a call to have Land expropriated without compensation. Law Focus this week focusses on the call to amend section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation. We explore views by DA…

13 Jul 2018 51 min

Law Focus - Right to Basic Education

While the most solid manner of overcoming poverty is education, the training at the early stages and age is important. The right to Basic Education is an unqualified right promised by the Constitution along with attendant legislation and policy. The application thereof has had difficulties resulting in lack of textbooks,…