Sunday’s Cycle Tour approaches
The decision by the Lance Armstrong to ride in Sunday's Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour has thrilled race organisers - but is not without challenges. It is still uncertain whether the Texan, who has won the Tour de France seven times, will ride in the first group to start. The co-director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, David Bellairs, met Armstrong's management last night to discuss the matter. Another meeting was scheduled for today after a conclusion was not reached. He added that security factors had to be taken into account for Armstrong's position, because organisers wanted to ensure the safety of all 35 000 cyclists on race day. Dave gives us an update on the general preparation for Sunday’s cycle tour.
Guest: Dave Bellairs
Organisation: Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour
Position: Organiser
|
|
Jub Jub faces murder charges
Hip hop artist Molemo Maarohanye, popularly known as Jub Jub, and a friend will stay behind bars until their next court appearance next week. He appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Jub Jub and Themba Tshabalala are facing murder and attempted murder charges following a serious accident in Soweto on Monday, in which four teenagers were killed and two critically injured. The state applied for the matter to be postponed to next Wednesday but Jub Jub’s lawyer opposed the move and despite arguing the matter should not be postponed without bail, it was. The state said it needed more time to speak to key witnesses and conduct technical investigations on the two vehicles involved in the accident. Jub Jub’s father was in court to support him.
Guest: Rahima Essop
Organisation: Eyewitness News
Position: Reporter
|
|
New legislation on food labelling
The department of health’s new guidelines on food labelling will be implemented in stages, to allow manufacturers time to comply. They are trying to crack down on the advertising of junk foods to kids, and vague product descriptions such as ‘low fat’ or ‘high fibre’. Regulations for food labels were gazetted last week, but advertising guidelines will only be decided on after a meeting with the WHO in May.
Guest: Andries Pretorius
Organisation: National Dept of Health
Position: Director Food Control
|
|
City Cycling Club
Following the huge response from cyclists, motorists and the general public about cyclist safety yesterday we speak to Graham Ward from the city cycling club, who e-mailed John about the topic. He says cycling as a sport needs to educate its participants from within: “Most of the groups of cyclist riding around the peninsula over the weekend belong to clubs. We at City CC (the oldest active club in the country) –see www.citycyclingclub.org – seem to have hit on a winning formula where we inform members before every club ride (Saturday and Sunday) that traffic lights are to be obeyed at all times, ride single file where the road does not have a hard shoulder and under no circumstances must riders in the group respond to hooting with a middle finger gesture. We have been successful because we have sufficient members in the club who all want to have a pleasant ride without any unnecessary aggression from fellow road users. Newcomers who don’t obey our rules seem to fall in line voluntarily, just imagine skipping a red light only to find that the rest of the bunch has stopped, no-one wants to be different. It works for us and I don’t see why other groups and clubs can’t do the same. On our training rides around the peninsula we come across other clubs who have no regards for the rules of the road. It does seem that the more serious cyclist either belongs to a club or is sponsored and it is these cyclists who are the main culprits of riding 2 abreast and skipping traffic lights. I say name and shame the clubs / sponsors and we will quickly see a shift in attitude by their cyclists.”
Guest: graham ward
Organisation: sun city
Position: operations director
|
|
Ride with Lance Armstrong
‘Ride with Lance’ is an exciting, rare opportunity to spend a day in the company of cancer survivor, and seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. On March 10, 2010, Lance Armstrong will take to the road with an exclusive group of riders (maximum 50), raising funds for the JAG Sports and Education Foundation. This unique event is taking place in support of JAG Sports and Education Foundation. The ride will not only provide an incredible chance to spend time with a true icon, but will raise much-needed funds and awareness to create real change in disadvantaged communities.
Guest: Dan Nicholl
|
|
Caviar fleecing their customers?
Sam is very impassioned about defending the chain of restaurants’ reputation about pricing. She says that in fact, most of her restaurants will be sitting empty because they have decided to cater for locals, and have been overlooked by tourism booking groups. She says these prices quoted in the email are for match days only, and locals will still be able to take advantage of the usual specials, such as half-price sushi.
Guest: Sam Obery
Organisation: Caviar group of restaurants
Position: Marketing Director
|
|
Gender Reconciliation
Out Taxi route, discussed gender reconciliation with author, Will Keepin also adding to the conversation, they were joined by workshop facilitator Cynthia Brix and former Deputy Minister of defence, then Deputy Minister of Health and Deputy Speaker, Nozizwe Madlala Routledge, who initiated a gender reconciliation process with some people from parliament a couple of years ago.
Will and Cynthia, also reflected on chapters from their book, Divine Duality, The Power of Reconciliation between Women and Men, which introduces a new area of work between men and women called the “Power of Reconciliation.” This revolutionary approach works on the ancient wounds that underlie current social norms to bring a possibility of lasting and positive change to the sometimes explosive and powerful issue of gender relations. By setting a context of forgiveness, compassion and mutual appreciation of the sacredness of life, the women and men of a group or institution who participate in this process are empowered to jointly confront the realities of gender oppression and conditioning.
for more information on the subject and the book, visit the websites below.
|
|
Health Department on state of readiness for 2010
A briefing was due to take place in Parliament his morning to the Portfolio Committee on Health – concerning an audit to be conducted into Health Infrastructure. The briefing has not yet taken place, but the Department of Health did report on its readiness for 2010. It said it is 85% ready for the World Cup.
Guest: Chantall Presence
Organisation: Cape Talk/Talk Radio 702
Position: Eyewitness News Reporter
|
|
Anti-GM right of reply to ISAAA report
Yesterday on the MR we heard a glowing report on bio-tech crops – and the amount of them being grown in South Africa. We spoke to a gentleman called Wally Green – described to us as an independent consultant – and we discussed figures and what-not from a report from the ISAAA – which we did describe as industry aligned. The MR then got a couple of emails suggesting that this really was a very one-sided view indeed – from the heart of the bio-tech camp – and that in his former incarnation Wally Green was a very senior employer of bio-tech giant Monsanto. Today the MR spoke to the director of the African Centre for Bio-Safety and a lawyer specialising in environmental issues.
Guest: Mariam Mayet
Organisation: African Centre for Biosafety
Position: Head
|
|
MRN on Solomon's lecture
The Media Review Network – which describes itself as an advocacy group that looks at Arab issues – and which its critics say is militantly anti-Israel and pro-Palestine commented on what Professor Solomon said on the MR. They said he was short on substantive evidence.
Guest: Iqbal Jassat
Organisation: Media Review Network
Position: Chair
|
|
Lecture on "Global Jihad: The South African Front"
The Media Review Network has objected to a forthcoming lecture by a local academic – Professor Hussein Solomon. Professor Solomon is a professor in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria – and the MRN is objecting to him because – in its words – of his anti-Muslim stance and the fact that his alarmist theories bordering on Islamophobia have been previously discredited. The MRN says it is extremely concerned that Professor Solomon is using the University of Pretoria as a platform to propagate his anti-Muslim views. The professor told the MR that he is a practicing muslim, so he can’t be anti-muslim. On the issue that he played a key role in fuelling alarm and suspicion against Muslims in South Africa, he said he said he doesn’t believe so, he said what is interesting is that they make it personal. He said other academics have come out with statements that are similar to his own. In terms of all of his research, it is all out in the public domain sources. He said that as an academic, he can’t make unsubstantiated statements. All that he is saying is nothing new, he said, it is in the public domain, the media and others.
Guest: Hussein Solomon
Organisation: CIPS at the University of Pret
Position: Professor
|
|
Jub Jub and other driver appear in court
The man who calls himself Jub Jub – and another driver appeared this morning in the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto. Both of them face charges of murder and attempted murder. The charge of culpable homicide has been changed. All stem from the fatal accident that left four Soweto families without their teenage sons – and two others praying anxiously beside hospital beds. Both men tested positive after the crash for drugs and alcohol. Our reporter in court this morning told the MR that the two appeared, with Jub Jub wearing a neck brace. Outside the court, Soweto resident were showing their support for the families. Considering that four people died in the incident, the two men looked in good health. The two men were not granted bail and have returned to jail.
Guest: Rahima Essop
Organisation: Talk Radio 702
Position: Eyewintess News Reporter
|
|
Afriforum Youth want to take Malema to Equality Court
AfriForum Youth says it is going submit a complaint against Julius Malema to the Equality Court in Johannesburg. The complaint comes after Malema sang the song "dubulu iBhunu" ("Shoot the farmers") on at least two occasions this past week. AfriForum Youth want the song to be categorised as hate speech. Malema, AfriForum said, promotes himself as a activist against racism but he does not understand how he can do this and them sing a song a song that encourages people to murder a particular people in the country. This is why they want to go thorough this legal procedure. In Limpopo, the province in which he sang the song last week, at least 6 farmers have been killed in the past month. You would thought, he said, that Malema would encourage people to act according to the law and not commit crimes as horrific as these.
Guest: Ernst Roets
Organisation: AfriForum Youth
Position: National spokesperson
|
|
ID asks World Bank to make Eskom loan conditional
The Independent Democrats have added their voice to the debate over the World Bank loan for Eskom. Eskom and government have approached the World Bank with a view to raising around R29 billion to help fund the new power stations. The ID has asked the World Bank to approve the loan – but with a condition. The ID’s Chief Whip told the MR that the ID is saying that the World Bank should not give loan to South Africa if it is going to further conflict of interest in the country. The ANC, through Chancellor House, owns a large chunk of Hitachi Power Africa, and therefore stand to earn billions. So the ID is asked the World Bank to make the loan conditional on Chancellor House divesting its shares in Hitachi Power Afria. This issue of the greatest of important to our democracy, he said, because if the ANC does earn these billions, no party will ever have the resources to compete against them in elections for the next 15 to 20 years.
Guest: Lance Greyling
Organisation: Independent Democrats
Position: MP + Chief Whip
|
|
Eskom preferential tariffs and PBMR
The headline on the front page of the Cape Times today – “Eskom’s Secret Deals give 138 companies cut-price power”. It’s a story by the paper’s environment writer, Melanie Gosling – which says that in some instances, Eskom is charging tariffs as low as 9c/kwh….and that the average is 17c/kwh. The general public, by contrast, will soon be paying around 80 c/kwh. And what’s more – says the paper – these deals are considered so secret that they were not even revealed to NERSA during the recent tariff increase application. To put it another way, it would appear that the South African consumer is subsidising the likes of BHP Billiton, Anglo American and others that consume large amounts of electricity and enjoy high profits. An Energy and Power Systems Group Programme Manager for Frost & Sullivan told the MR that he knows nothing about these deals, they are private between Eskom and the customers concerned. There is a big problem at Eskom with transparency, he said, and the public have a right to know what they are paying for. Although Eskom has no competitors as a supplier, there are competitors on the other side of the deal, ie. the companies concerned and so they would not want the deals to be publically known. He added though that these contracts were signed when Eskom had an excess of energy. But he said there needs to be much more transparency and involvement by government. The MR requested an interview with Eskom on the subject but, despite promises, they had not provided a spokesperson by the time the programme went to air. Staying on the subject of electricity, we spoke to him about the government pulling the plug on funding on the much-vaunted Pebble Bed Modular Reactor – the PBMR. The CEO has quit. The expert said he didn’t think this was the death knell for the PBMR. He said a lot of good work had been done on the project.
Guest: Cornelis Van der Waal
Organisation: Frost and Sullivan
Position: Programme Manager, Energy and Power Systems Group
|
|
Deciding not to have children
The decision not to have children is a private matter. It's really no one else's business. Think of it in terms of asking people about other intimate aspects of their marriage. There are many reasons people don't choose to have kids, and they don't owe anyone an explanation. State of the world, health and emotional issues have been seen as one of the reasons people have chosen not to have kids
Guest: Fatima Mbatha
Position: Clinical Psychologist
|
|
The making of a million colours: E‘lollipop 2
E‘Lollipop is a life-changing story that reminds us of the true value of friendship, family, community and sacrifice - despite colour or creed. The film is inspired by the true story of what happened to the young stars of the original eLollipop, Muntu Ndebele and Norman Knox. The film will be shot on location in Johannesburg and KwaZulu Natal for the next 7 weeks and will be launched at the Cannes Film festival. Listeners reminisced about the original movie and what it meant to them.
Guest: Peter Bashai
Position: Film Director
|
|
Service Protest: Are the effective options for South African to air their grievances?The protest actions most widely publicised often include violence, as that would be a newsworthy angle. Does the perception exist that the only way to successfully draw attention to your cause is through the use of violence? What credible and peaceful options exist to the conscientious citizen? How do you make your voice to be heard without protesting or being violent?
Guest: Prof Adam Habib Organisation: University of Johannesburg Position: Political Analyst Website: www.uj.ac.za
|
|
Green Tip
Spoke Dieter who created and won an ecofriendly storage solution that had a fresh, appealing African look that was functional. The design titled ‘Play’ is described as a versatile and practical design. It is a portable storage bag that can be transformed into a play mat.
Guest: Dieter Zermatten
Organisation: University of Johannesburg
Position: Student
|
|
Green Tip
Spoke Dieter who created and won an ecofriendly storage solution that had a fresh, appealing African look that was functional. The design titled ‘Play’ is described as a versatile and practical design. It is a portable storage bag that can be transformed into a play mat.
Guest: Dieter Zermatten
Organisation: University of Johannesburg
Position: Student
|
|
Open Line
Open line dealt with issues ranging from the safety of pedestrian especially in regard to the Molemo Maarohanye’s story. Julius Malema was also discussed with his “kill the boer” statement that enraged a lot of listeners. Taxis and their road worthiness were also touched on and what the law enforcement has not done to deal with them. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s article about Mandela was also discussed and there were questions
asked whether she really said that, she is yet to respond to the views expressed in the article.
|
|
Food Retailers Creaming it while consumers start nibbling at falling food prices
All of these guys (retailers) share prices are going up but it seems consumers are not benefitting.
Guest: Kim Novick
Organisation: Primedia
Position: Consumer Forum Editor
|
|
The UK report with Adam Gilchrist
Prison doesn't work; at least not short term sentences
Kit Shortages; a thorny issue returns for Britain's armed forces
The Soccer spying scandal;but who would bug the England team?
Phantom 2; Andrew Lloyd Webber's theatre sequel opens
Guest: Adam Gilchrist
Organisation: 567mw CapeTalk
Position: UK Correspondent
|
|
Libraries reportedly closing
It has been reported that city libraries will be forced to close to downscale operations from July because of severe budget cuts. Mtwazi said that the decision is not final and that there is motivation within council to keep them open.
Guest: Lokiwe Mtwazi
Organisation: Ikhwezi Team (City of Cape Tow
Position: Executive Director for Communi
|
|
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela controversy
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has not responded or added any further comment following an extraordinary attack on the former president and Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, her former husband. The ANC now wants answers after her comments published in The London Evening Standard called Mandela’s name an “albatross” around her family’s neck and that he went to prison a burning young revolutionary “but look what came out”. She also said that Mandela has agreed “ to a bad deal for blacks”
Guest: Mandy Weiner
Organisation: Eyewitness News
Position: Reporter
|
|
Public Transport Maps
It is not only tourists who are finding it difficult to use public transport (not necessarily because of the lack thereof but the fact that timetables and routes are not made publicly available) but locals find themselves in the same predicament.
Graphic designers Mark Henning and Hannah Williams have begun a process of drawing up schematic maps, as opposed to literal street maps. The map, similar to the colour coded maps used in Europe, is a detailed integrated transport map which takes into account taxi, bus and railway public transport systems in the city. The vision is to draw up such a map for each area and to show how the different modes of transport interface to get to different parts of the city. At the moment, with phase one of the map, it only details the city centre. The project has meant inclusive interviews with taxi drivers and commuters for example to make the maps context specific to SA. For instance, the maps will not only show public transport routes but would also show how to get to the nearest health centre for example. Williams says the maps will be available at tourist hubs and other public spaces. At the moment, the maps are not yet available since corporate sponsorship is being sought.
Guest: Hannah Williams
Organisation: The Pixel Zoo
Position: Information designer
|
|
The US report with Harley Carnes
Concern over baby slings / harnesses that mothers often wear to carry the child
A special new kind of cheese on the menu at one new york city restaurant
Great new defense strategy for marijuana possession
Guest: Harley Carnes
Organisation: Talk Radio 702
Position: US Correspondent
|
|
Unholy row over Churches
Emotions ran high yesterday after upset Khayelitsha residents confronted the council’s Anti Land Invasion Unit about its demolition of places of worship in the area.
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato called in to the show in response to the reports.
“If we overlook by laws in this instance we will have to do it in other instances. If land is vacant, whether it is privately owned land or council owned land, it doesn’t give churches or anyone else for that matter to erect structures on it without consent and without going through the necessary processes. We are talking about brand new structures not old structures. The action is not only against churches but also private individuals or other institutions who erect structures without proper procedure being followed. It is not a case of not engaging with the Khayelitsha community,” said Plato.
Plato said that there is a process to identify land where churches can be built in Khayelitsha.
Guest: Dan Plato
Organisation: City of Cape Town
Position: Mayor
|
|
Being Blacklisted: What to do.Discussed being blacklisted and the types of listing that exist as well as how to get a clearance certificate. Guest: Graham Powell Organisation: Hahn & Hahn Law Attorneys Position: General Manager Tel: 012 431 2480 Website: www.hahnlaw.co.zaEmail: graham@hahnlaw.co.za
|
|
Open Line
Molemo Maarohanye’s accident was one of the main topics especially the fact that he is being charged with culpable homicide and not murder. Listeners discussed the technicalities involved in terms of what they are being charged with. The fact that he was intoxicated and had been using drugs infuriated a lot of listeners who felt the law should consider those aspects and change the charges. Lance Armstrong’s experience with customs was another one and some listeners felt that he should not be allowed in the country even though he is here to raise funds. Cars with accelerators that increase speed were discussed. Took calls on consumer complaints.
|
|
overnightPresented by Nick Plummer
The noise from nightclubs, taxi hooters, clothing stores, cell phones and loud ringtones, cinema volumes, car sound systems and vuvuzela’s were some responses from listeners regarding the discussion around noise pollution.
We chatted about hoaxes from bonsai kittens, rat urine in coke cans and the lottery winnings via email.
The question: things to do before you die, sparked a range of responses from being licked by a calf to a listener finding his mother before he dies. Saving the country and children and to stop smoking were added to the list.
We had a movie quiz testing the listener’s knowledge. The highest score was 5 out of 10 questions.
|
|
