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South Africa has been placed on Adjusted Alert Level Four of the national lockdown for the next fourteen days, as the country battles the rising number of covid-19 cases. All social gatherings including political, religious and cultural events are prohibited with the exception of funerals which will only be limited to 50 people.President Cyril Ramaphosa made this announcement in his address to the nation last night. This as the country grapples with new Delta variant of the Coronavirus which has hit the country leading to South Africa recording the highest number of daily infections in the past few days. To assist us on this we are joined by: • Mugwena Maluleke Secretary General South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU)• Michael Swain Executive Director Freedom of Religion South Africa (ForSA)• Wendy Alberts CEO: Restaurants Association of South Africa

Ivory Coast's former President, Laurent Gbagbo, landed in his country, last week Thursday, after battling charges of war and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court for many years. After being acquitted in 2019 his return has been expected hence this homecoming saw crowds welcoming Gbagbo in Abidjan where he landed with a heavy security scattered across the city. As much he has not made his political ambitions clear the support of his return was a signal that he could still be enjoying a support base in his country. Today on the program, we look at whether Gbagbo’s return to Ivory Coast has any ramifications to the politics of the country. On African Dialogue, Benjamin Moshatama speaks to Koffi Kouakou, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Africa China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, Dr Mohammed Diatta, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies and Brian Kagoro, commentator and Pan-Africanist Development Practitioner…

As she made her exit as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda denied accusations, tainting the court while she was heading it, that the ICC was only interested in prosecuting Africans. In a BBC interview, she said the accusations were part of a propaganda campaign by those wanting to discredit the court. Under former United States (US) President, Donald Trump, Washington opposed decisions made by Bensouda to examine war crimes allegations in Afghanistan, including against US troops, and alleged atrocities in the Palestinian territories by Israeli troops, Palestinians and other armed groups.The incoming Chief Prosecutor, British barrister Karim Khan, took over last week Wednesday with a pledge to improve the ICC’s track record by taking only its strongest cases to trial. Khan, who is only the third person to hold the role, faces many challenges at a time of fierce political pressure on the world's permanent war crimes tribunal.To assist us on this we are joined by: • Professor William Gumede, Executive Director of the Democracy Works Foundation • Sanusha Naidu, Foreign Policy Analyst at the Institute for Global Dialogue …

Zambia’s “founding father,” Kenneth Kaunda, who died last week in Lusaka at the age of 97, was the last of the first generation of African leaders who fought for the liberation of their countries. Kaunda led Zambia to independence in 1964, governing the country for 27 years until 1991.The charismatic President who won accolades for bowing out peacefully after losing an election was also the authoritarian who introduced a one-party state. The revolutionary who gave sanctuary to liberation movements was also a friend of United States Presidents. He was also known for his endearing quirks: safari suits, waving white handkerchiefs, ballroom dancing, singing his own songs while cycling and crying in public. And yet there was also a hard edge to the politics and persona of the man, whose powerful personality helped make Zambia a major player in Africa and the world for three decades.To assist us on this we are joined by: • Mavuso Msimang African National Congress veteran • Macdonald Chipenzi, Executive Director of Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services Initiative

Ethiopians have voted in a crucial parliamentary election taking place against the backdrop of war and famine in the northern Tigray region and questions over the poll’s credibility, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expected to cement his hold on power.Abiy, a Nobel Peace laureate who freed political prisoners, welcomed back exiles and ended a long cold war with neighbouring Eritrea before sending troops to confront the dissident leadership of Tigray late last year, has promised this election will be Ethiopia’s most competitive in history, free of the repression that marred previous ballots. To assist us on this we are joined by Isabel Bosman, a Researcher in the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute for International Affairs and Andualem Sisay Gessesse, a journalist based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Former SAA CEO, Vuyani Jarana, says the SAA deal intended to sell a 51% stake to an equity partner with government will give the airline the opportunity to operate as a functional business. Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, announced last week that the Takatso consortium would acquire a 51% stake in SAA - with government due to keep a 49% shareholding.Gordhan says Takatso also intends to inject over three-billion-rand into the deal. Today we were joined by Guy Leitch, SA Flyer Magazine Editor, Dr Joachim Vermooten, independent aviation consultant and researcher and Professor Jannie Rossouw at Wits Business School.

On Wednesday 16 June 2021, South Africa and the world will commemorate the 45 anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising, the day now known as Youth Day in South Africa. On June 16 1976 between 3000 and 10 000 students marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest against the government’s directive to have Afrikaans as a compulsory medium of instruction. Meanwhile the greatest struggle faced by young people today us unemployment which is sitting at 45%.President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the government’s commitment to creating jobs. To assist us on this we are joined by: • Dr Pali Lehohla is the former statistician general • Soroya Jones is the Inyathelo Finance Director

Tensions seem stiff between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates despite them finalising a deal to assist each other with extradition and legal evidence of those accused of looting the state coffers. While the ratification of the treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance was welcomed this week, National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi said they would only accept that there was cooperation from the UAE once they received the evidence they had been requesting for over three years.To assist us on this we are joined by: •Wayne Ncube, National Director: Lawyers for Human Rights •Jo-ansie van Wyk: Lecturer, Unisa: Politics Department

The G7 nations have committed to sharing one billion vaccines doses by next year, however, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told the meeting held in the Britain in the United Kingdom ,that he believes a TRIPS waiver is still the best way to get the world vaccinated against Covid-19. The G7 nations have agreed to step up action on climate change to help poor countries cut emissions. African Dialogue’s host Benjamin Moshatama spoke to Elizabeth Sidiropoulos Chief Executive of the South Africa Institute of International Affairs, Victor Kgomoeswana, commentator and author of Africa Open for Business and David Ansara, Chief Operations Officer for the Centre of Risk Analysis within the Institute of Race Relations.

Let’s start our first segment with our one on one, and today we are joined on the line by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Ambassador to South Africa and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ben Mpoko. We are going to speak to him about the complex challenges that the DRC is currently facing, the weakening security, the DRC’s relationship with South Africa and how can the country be stabilised…What’s trending on Twitter? • The G7 leaders meet this weekend for the first time in nearly two years, after the global coronavirus pandemic forced last year's event to be cancelled. But the most interesting part perhaps is that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has bene invited.• This week we saw the move by Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, taking a leave of absence pending the outing of the investigation of the Special Investigating Unit regarding his role in awarding of a tender.Zooming into ZambiaOn our zooming into a country segment we look at Zambia where three renowned international Constitutional Lawyers have applied to join the eligibility case on the eligibility of President Edgar Lungu to contest the August 12 elections.The three are Constitutional Professor Lawyer, Chaloka Beyani, Professor Melvin Mbao, and Professor Cephas Lumina. We are joined on the line by Professor Cephas Lumina …Money mattersWe look at prevention versus treatment within a medical aid insurance. Here is an interview with Tracey Janssens from Alexandra Forbes Health…