Update@Noon

Cape Town ranks as the country's most violent city in the country, recording over 3-thousand murders in 2022. This is followed by eThekwini (2,815) and Johannesburg (2,121). That's according to the South African Cities Network (SACN). SACN has recently published its latest report on the state of crime and safety in cities in the country, The report outlines the crime and violence trends within Sou...

The government is expected to officially relaunch South African Airways (SAA) in Cape Town today. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says the relaunch is a milestone for the airline, which had run into turbulence after it was grounded for 16 months and underwent business rescue and averted liquidation. The event will also be used to announce the restart of the state-owned airline's direct...

 Civil rights organisation Section 27 is calling for those who were involved in the Life Esidimeni tragedy in 2016 to be charged with culpable homicide. The inquest into the Life Esidimeni tragedy resumed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today. The inquest is looking into the deaths of 144 mental health patients after the Gauteng Department of Health terminated its contract with Life Es...

Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has been briefing the media on the preparedness of South Africa to host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum from the 2nd to the 4th of November 2023 in Johannesburg.  Patel highlighted the importance for South Africa to host the forum as well as insights into the forthcoming program. AGOA was signed into law on 18 May 2000 to encourage Afri...

The South African Weather Services has issued a warning for a cut-off low weather system due to hit South Africa next Monday. Weather are expected to be very wet, accompanied by cold temperatures in the country. Condition are expected to continue through Tuesday, easing only on Wednesday. A maximum temperature of only 10°C is predicted for Johannesburg, along with an expected cold front. Sakina Ka...

Acting Chief Director of Emergency Management Services at the city of Johannesburg, Rapulana Monageng, has painted a dire picture of the state of Usindiso Building following a fire that claimed at least 77 lives.  Monageng is giving evidence before, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Sisi Khampepe, as it commenced its work today. He says that the ground floor was littered with i...

Murder of children happens in residences known by the victims or perpetrators. This is according to SAPS Major General Norman Sekhukhune who briefed  the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on stats on violence and murder of children in South Africa. He says in some cases these killings takes place in public spaces such as parks and abondoned buildings. To discuss this matter futher on preve...

Over 100 of the 500 miners that were held hostage at Gold One mine in Springs have now come out underground. A dispute between AMCU and NUM over union membership for miners led to more than 500 mineworkers being trapped underground at Gold One's Modder East shaft, in Springs, East of Johannesburg.  The dispute escalated into a hostage crisis on Sunday.  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Mpum...

Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts has taken a decision to subpoena retired Brigadier Jap Burger to appear before it on Eskom-related investigations. This comes after  Brigadier Burger refused to appear before the committee, telling Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula that Scopa does not have the authority and mandate to call him. Brigadier Burger has snubbed Scopa twice...

Electoral Commission of South Africa chairperson, Mosuthu Moepya says the first registration weekend for next year's much anticipated national general elections will take place on the weekend of November 18th and 19th 2023. Mamabolo has been speaking at the official launch of the IEC's unveiling of the Electoral Commission's Communication Campaign at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, north of Johannesb...

Economic Freedom Fighters national chairperson, Veronica Mente has accused the South African government of  cowardice in the face of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Last week cabinet called on the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel's alleged human rights violations in Gaza. Israel has carried out numerous air strikes in Gaza after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel earlier thi...

The number of people killed in a freak storm in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, has risen to five. The storm hit the area following a level six weather alert by the South African Weather Service. The storm is understood to have also damaged local infrastructure including power cables, roads, bridges and vehicles. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Fanele Mhlongo.

The counsels of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial have resumed the cross-examination of magistrate Vivian Cronje, after she took down a statement from accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi in 2020. Last week, the High Court in Pretoria heard that Ntanzi was allegedly assaulted four times in detention, a claim refuted by Cronje. The court also heard that the absence of visible injuries on a...

The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly. 1. Sun and wind energy is being laid on for seven Anglo-American mines across four provinces. 2. Green hydrogen is being used instead of petrol for two cars that are being driven around South Africa emission-free. 3. An R1-billion solar project is being built in North West province for the Tharisa chrome an...

The Gauteng Education Department says it is looking at implementing new security measures in order to ensure safety at some of the schools in the province. These measures include installing security cameras, including deploying armed guards in order to tackle rampant violence, gangsterism, bullying and substance abuse by learners. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Education department spokesperson in the p...

 The Law Society of South Africa has told the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services that serious interventions are needed at the offices of the master of high court across the country, as they render dismal service to clients. Poor customer service, long queues, and poor ways of filing are cited among the challenges facing the master's office. The law society has proposed that t...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed strong relations between South Africa and Netherlands. He says strategic partnership between the two countries has evolved, matured and is increasingly of mutual benefit. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Kingdom of Netherlands are on a State Visit to South Africa. This is the second visit of a Dutch monarch since Queen Beatrix visited South Afr...

 Arguments about the authenticity of an audio recording in a trial-within-a-trial in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case, are currently being heard in the High Court in Pretoria. Yesterday, the state prosecutor George Baloyi requested that magistrate Vivian Cronje's recording form part of the evidence before the court. Cronje took down a confession statement that one of the accused Bongani Ntanzi had mad...

The Mbombela Magistrate's court in Mpumalanga says illegal mining was the primary cause of the collapse of Lily Mine near Barberton in 2016. The court has been delivering the outcome of an inquest into the collapse of the mine. The court says, mining illegally hollowed and weakened a crown pillar in the mine's shaft. When the mine caved in,  three mine workers were trapped underground after a lamp...

The Road Accident Fund's new draft bill proposes to exclude foreign nationals from claiming compensation from the fund. The RAF has so paid out over 3,3-billion-rand in claims to over eight-thousand foreign nationals over the past two years. The RAF has come under fire from lawyers, lobby groups and medical aids over the amendments in the newly proposed bill.  They have argued that the amendment t...

African National Congress Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula has concluded a media briefing giving an update on the party's National Executive Congress' outcomes. The party has emphasised its commitment to renewal after former President, Thabo Mbeki last week  lamented the ANC for its failure to renew itself despite resolving to do so at its 2017 conference. The diagnostic report delivered by the t...

A section of the AmaZulu Royal Family's application to have President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to issue a certificate of recognition to King Misizulu Kwazwelithini overturned will resume today in the High Court in Pretoria. There will be final arguments in the matter. Prince Simakade Ka Zwelithini Zulu and Prince Mbonisi ka Bhekuzulu filed the application on behalf of certain members of the roya...

The state prosecutor in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, George Baloyi, says the recording of an alleged confession by one of the accused should form part of the evidence before court. The recording was allegedly made by magistrate Vivian Cronje , who is currently testifying in the high court in Pretoria. SABC reporter, Pearl Magubane has more.

Southern Africa Litigation Centre has expressed concerned by the ongoing reports of violations of international humanitarian law and grave human rights violations in Gaza. The Centre's International Justice Cluster lead, Dr Atilla Kisla says all 33 African Member States to the International Criminal Court should call for justice for the people of Palestine and that proceedings to hold perpetrators...

The master's offices of South African high courts has been described as being in a state of dysfunctionality by various lawyers who have dealt with the office, as the legal fraternity decries that the office is causing difficulties for their clients who want to tie up deceased estates, set up and liquidate trusts, and appoint overseers. Lawyers complain about unpredictable delays and a lack of con...