Tariffs today, gone tomorrow. No, wait, it's a pause. What does the pause mean? 25%, 31%, 10%..which is it? What happens after 90 days? In this edition, we break down this Tariff tiff in some cases…in other cases, a tariff war, as some have described it. The world's two biggest economies, in a tariff standoff. In the context of US-China tariff escalation, how might SA position itself to mitigate risks or leverage new trade opportunities? How will these proposed tariffs affect your wallet? To unpack this, we are joined by the CEO of Naamsa at the Automotive Business Council Mikel Mabasa, as well as the CEO of the Citrus Growers' Association Boitshoko Ntshabele and Chief Economist at the Efficient Group, Dawie Roodt. The Digital Audience also weigh in.

The "not guilty" verdict of Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused has drawn a raft of reactions. Over 30 serious charges - not one of these charges could stick! Many of Omotoso's supporters would see this judgment as confirmation of his innocence. Juxtapose that with the pain seen in the eyes and heard in the voice of complainant Cheryl Zondi. Judge Irma Schoeman was scathing in her judgment, criticising the poor quality of the state's cross-examination. So this week we ask: What do you make of how the National Prosecuting Authority handled the case? To help us unpack this, we have senior legal practitioner Thabo Masombuka and attorney Matome Chidi. The public also weighs in.

A verbal spat between two popular figures in this country has given rise to a debate around, on one hand, academic intelligence and knowledge gained through formal education. Book smarts versus street smarts. Perhaps a blend of both could be the ideal, bearing in mind that 'the ideal' might be subjective. But how close to the ideal does one need to be... to be effective? Think about your public representatives, politicians, leaders stretching from community to commerce and everywhere in between. To help me unpack this issue, we are still joined by political analyst Sandile Swana and Dr Ongama Mtimka who is the acting director at the Raymond Mhlaba Centre for Governance and Leadership. The digital audience also weighs in.

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.