The Best of John Robbie

South Africa's under the spotlight as two ratings agencies prepare to announce their revised assessment of the country's debt. While the outcome is uncertain, any downgrade could spell disaster for the ailing economy. What will the decision be? Dr. Azar Jammine, Chief Economist at Econometrix gives his forecast.    

President Zuma has said that no one, no matter what position they hold, can instruct him to establish a commission or dictate what process should be followed. This is response to an anti-corruption watchdog calling for a judicial inquiry into alleged influence-peddling in his government. Political analyst Ralph Mathekga shares his views on what the President said.

The Department of Energy has indicated that nuclear energy in the country will only be needed by 2037. But Eskom says that it will make public its nuclear plant request for proposals within the next six weeks. Matshela Koko Group Executive for Generation explains Eskom’s intent to continue its nuclear plans despite government’s revelation.  

The much anticipated meeting between the ANC struggle stalwarts and the ANC top six took place yesterday. What came out of that meeting? Stephen speaks to Mavuso Msimang, ANC Veteran and former  CEO of SANParks.  

Jonathan ‘Zapiro’ Shapiro is currently in Johannesburg on a tour to promote his latest book of cartoons, ‘Dead President Walking’. He spoke to John about this book and was different about it.  

EFF leader Julius Malema is in hot water for telling people to grab land. And now Afriforum and Afribusiness are planning to take Malema to court to interdict him from inciting people to grab land. Professor Cousins  from the University of the Western Cape talks about the state of play with the  land redistribution programme.

The Auditor-General released his report on national and provincial audit outcomes for the 2015-2016 year yesterday which found that national and provincial government departments have lost R46-billion in irregular expenditure. What happens now? Auditor General Kimi Makwetu explains to John  

Home Affairs Minister has slammed Minister of Tourism for the losses in tourism and said the tourism industry must stop blaming the impact of visa regulations and the biometric system and start marketing SA more effectively. Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism responds    

The Minister is in Marrakech, Morocco attending the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said to be a historic meeting as this meeting marks the first meeting of the Paris Agreement. Dr. Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs speaks to John about this meeting and comments on the story of State Security Minister being implicated in illegal Rhino horn trade.

Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit has uncovered evidence of high-level political connections to rhino poaching in Africa, raising serious questions about the involvement of a South African government minister and members of a Chinese presidential delegation in the illegal rhino horn trade. Deborah Davies, Reporter at the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit talks about the details of her investigation while Julian Rademeyer author of ‘Killing for Profit’, talks about how syndicates operate and how far reaching the global network is.    

Head of Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre Dr Elias Sithole updates John about disaster relief being offered to victims affected by the flash floods

Trump pulled off a surprise victory in the 2016 United States presidential election, and is set to become the new US president. Chelsea Markowitz, a visiting researcher with the Institute of Economic Diplomacy Programme at the SA Institute of International Affairs speaks about the implications for US-South Africa trade.  

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba gives a bird’s-eye view of some of the rot, corruption and plunder that they have found in the City of Johannesburg, since their time in office, ahead of the big announcement he will make this morning.

The most powerful nation on earth is about to elect a new leader, with the impact felt across the globe. So how will the election work and how did we end up with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? Brooks Spector, US Foreign Policy expert and Associate Editor at the Daily Maverick explains it all.  

The SACP held its Red October rally yesterday at which the Secretary-General called for the end of “Guptarisation” of the state. The Secretary-General of the SACP Dr Blade Nzimande speaks about that and also about reports of the party wanting to leave the alliance.

After months of pressure from Right2Know, Parliament has finally agreed to make public the CVs of all those vying for the Inspector General of Intelligence position. The country has been without an Intelligence Inspector General since last year leaving the public unprotected against abuses of power by the security structures. Murray Hunter, National Coordinator of the Right 2 Know, explains the importance of this move.

The state capture report was finally released with the former public protector Thuli Madonsela recommending that President Jacob Zuma to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry. Political Analyst Judith February makes sense of the report.

City Press columnist Joonji Mdyogolo is collecting abortion stories from women in efforts to destigmatize the practice. She says there is more  to abortion than just the illegal posters and the stereotypical images of young black girls in uniform seeking them.    

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams announced the withdrawal of fraud charges against Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan. ANC Gauteng Chairperson Paul Mashatile  chats about how the Gauteng ANC feels about the current shenanigans.

South Africans are reeling from the continuous revelations that form part of the State Capture story, the latest being that Des Van Rooyen had visited the Gupta household seven times before his short lived appointment as Finance Minister. EWN’s Stephen Grootes speaks about what weight this discovery adds to an already long list of transgressions, including rumours that charges against Finance Minister might now be dropped.