Breaking News: 8 people have been killed in a bus crash on the N-2 near Mandeni on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. More than 20 people have died in floods, in KwaZulu-Natal alone, over the past two months.  Lerato Mafulako a Transport Engineer and Researcher, Prof Jasper Knight from the Wits Geography and Environmental Science and Gundo Maswime a UCT Civil Engineering Lecturer.

Quality education is in sharp focus this week. This, after foldable desks that turn into backpacks, or vice versa, were donated to a few schools in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape divided opinion. Cited as a first of its kind in the province. But is it the right kind of solution for infrastructure challenges facing many parts of South Africa? On the panel, we have education activist, Hendrick Makaneta. We also have Thembani Mtyhida, the deputy Director-General for Institutional Operations and Management in the Eastern Cape Department of Education. And Dr Eileen Carter Eastern Cape provincial Manager at the South African Human Rights Commission. The Digital Audience also weighs in.

The tabling of the 2025/26 annual budget, postponed to next month. VAT or Value-Added Tax. It is an indirect tax on the consumption of goods and services in the economy. Causing a stir. It's revenue raised for government by requiring certain traders or vendors, that carry on an enterprise, to register for VAT. Question. Is it absolutely necessary to hike this tax? And, what alternative revenue sources do you think the government should explore to ease the tax burden on citizens? To help us unpack this issue, we have Matthew Parks who is the Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator, we also have Thoko Madonko who is a member of the Budget Justice Coalition and Michelle Groenewald, Economics Lecturer at the North West University. The Digital Audience also weigh in.

Can South Africa use tragedy to pivot to better following the deaths of 14 soldiers in the DRC peacekeeping mission? Commander-in-Chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the repatriation ceremony and memorial service that "they lost their lives in the name of duty, in pursuit of peace and in the cause of silencing the guns across our beloved continent, Africa." To what extent will this be factored-in, in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget Speech on Wednesday?   To discuss this we have the South African National Defence Union (SANDU) National Secretary, Advocate Pikkie Greeff. Also joining us is Bongani Mahlangu who is an economics and governance analyst. John Stupart is the Director at African Defence Review. And Thabang Bogopa is an independent policing and crime researcher. The digital audience also weighs in.

'We are witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause. This is the world that we, as a developing economy, must now navigate. But we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied.' It's an excerpt from President Ramaphosa's State of the Nation address. Days later, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order stating that the U.S. shall not provide aid or assistance to South Africa And now the Head of US Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, has threatened to sanction EFF leader, Julius Malema. What's the reaction to this? To unpack this issue, we have Chrisphin Phiri, DIRCO Spokesperson and Patrick Lukusa Kadima an International Law Expert.... We also have Afriforum's CEO Kallie Kriel, and Professor Christopher Gevers from Wits University School of Law, as well as Yvette Raphael the co-founder of the Advocacy for prevention of HIV/Aids, who is joining us via Teams alongside the Digital Audience.

The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tense, volatile, hard to predict. Sadly, fourteen South African soldiers have fallen. To what extent will it dominate the upcoming State of the Nation address? How will recent developments change the tone, tenor and sentiment of President Cyril Ramaphosa's 8th SONA? To unpack this issue and others, we have Prof Kedibone Phago (Director of the School of Government Studies at the North West University) and Bophelo Seleke (Independent Economics Analyst). The Digital Audience also weigh in.

The Expropriation Act. Met with mixed reaction. It repeals the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975. It sets out how organs of the State may expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons. So basically, it outlines how expropriation can be done and on what basis. Local, provincial and national authorities will use this legislation to expropriate land in the public that seeks to, among others, promote inclusivity and access to natural resources. Some have welcomed the act. Some believe it doesn't go far enough. Others feel it goes too far! Is the Expropriation Act on solid or shaky ground? Could it LAND up in the courts? Our guests tonight are representing the DA, the EFF, the PAC and Rise Mzansi.

Children having children. That's the shocking reality South Africa had to face over the festive season when children as young as 12 and 13 years old were recorded as new mothers in hospitals across the country. This prompted some premiers in provinces like Limpopo and the North West to institute probes of statutory rape into some of the fathers. Does this new technique signal a turning point in the fight against child and teenage pregnancy? To discuss this, we are joined by the MEC for Social Development in the Eastern Cape, Bukiwe Fanta. Centre for Child Law Director at the University of Pretoria, Karabo Azoh and Javu Baloyi, Commission for Gender Equality spokesperson. The digital audience also weighs in.