Update@Noon

The National Council of Province's committee on Health is today being briefed by officials from the Department of Health on the National Health Insurance Bill. The bill was been passed by the National Assembly last week with the aim to provide universal healthcare to all South Africans, at both public or private health facilities. The NCOP will finish off its second term with oral question and ans...

The much-anticipated start to the 11th South Africa AIDS conference that is set to take place at the Durban ICC has been marred with protests from various organisations which have gathered under the campaign, Love Picketing. Hundred from these health-based organisations are making their way through the streets of the Durban CBD with the intention to raise concerns over the quality of the country's...

The case against a North West man who is charged with murdering his 70-year-old mother has been postponed to the 27th of June 2023 this comes as he made his second appearance at the Brits Magistrates Court earlier on Tuesday morning, The alleged drug dealer murdered his mother by slitting her throat while sleeping last week. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Phanuel Shuma.

The plane carrying journalists and security personnel that was supposed to accompany President Cyril Ramaphosa to Ukraine and Russia but was grounded in Warsaw, Poland has flown back home. Polish authorities refused over 120 South African presidential security guards and journalists permission to disembark from an aircraft for 26 hours. Reasons that Polish authorities gave for the decision include...

Tensions are brewing in the City of Tshwane as local residents clash with alleged illegal immigrants living in the area of Marabastad. Residents have threatened to embark on a week-long mass protest saying they have had enough of illegal immigrants operating businesses in their communities and dominating the local economy. Business owners in Marabastad have however vowed to fight back calling on i...

The City of Cape Town has expressed concern over the delays in some of its multi-million-rand infrastructure projects due to threats from extortionists demanding to have a piece of the construction pie. Projects in areas such as Khayelitsha, Delft and Brooklyn have seen contractors threatened and equipment stolen by the so-called construction mafia. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to City of Cape Town's May...

The Northern Cape department of education has revealed that an average of 900 learners aged between 10 and 19 years old,  fall pregnant each quarter. Majority of the pregnancies happen in the rural district of John Taolo Gaetsewe in Kuruman. The department says this is a concern as it affects learning and teaching. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisations says South Africa has one of the highest...

A housing project in Inanda, eThekwini, which started in 2019, to the tune of R83 million has to date produced only one RDP house. According online publication Groundup the municipality blames bureaucratic delays, the Covid-19 pandemic, the July 2021 unrest, and the KZN floods for the delays in the unfinished housing project called The Namibia Stop 8 Housing Project.  eThekwini Municipality spokes...

Power Utility, Eskom is clamping down on illegal connections in and around the city of Johannesburg. The utility is descending on on areas in the north of the city to conduct network audits and to remove illegal connections where communities have built shelters under the Eskom 88kV power lines. Sakina Spoke to SABC reporter, Horisane Sithole.

 The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation,Godfrey Lebeya, is outlining and taking stock of the milestones achieved by the unit during the 4th quarter. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is responsible for the combating, investigation and prevention of national priority crimes such as serious organized crime, serious commercial crime and serious corruption...

A housing project in Inanda, eThekwini, which started in 2019, to the tune of R83 million has to date produced only one RDP house. According online publication Groundup the municipality blames bureaucratic delays, the Covid-19 pandemic, the July 2021 unrest, and the KZN floods for the delays in the unfinished housing project called The Namibia Stop 8 Housing Project.  eThekwini Municipality spokes...

State-owned arms manufacturer, Denel is appearing before parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts today on a number of issues including the entity's liquidity status as well as investigations that have been conducted by the Special Investigating Unit. The board failed to appear before SCOPA last week forcing the meeting rescheduled to be postponed to today. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC...

There have been mixed reactions to the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill by the National Assembly. The Department of Health says it welcomes this while other stakeholders say there has to be  drastic improvements in the health system first for the the NHI to work. Meanwhile, Solidarity says it is ready to challenge governemnt in court  if it goes ahead with its NHI plans. Sakina Kamwen...

Good Party Chief Whip, Brett Herron, says if the failed extradition of Rajesh and Atul Gupta is the result of sloppy legal preparations, action must be taken against those responsible. Herron was opening the debate in the National Assembly on government's failure to successfully extradite Rajesh and Atul Gupta from the United Arab Emirates.  The brothers were to face corruption charges for their a...

Suspended public protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is currently briefing the media on the allegations of bribery by some members of the section 194 inquiry looking into her fitness to hold office.it has been alleged that the late former minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson acted as an intermediary in a plot to extort money from Mkhwebane's husband, David Skosana, in order to have her parliamentar...

The Department of Employment and Labour will be embarking on an Employment Equity (EE) Workshop with all trade union federations following a call for all workplaces to review their Employment Equity Plans. The Department says the purpose of the workshop is to familiarise all trade union federations on their roles and responsibilities as members of the Employment Equity consultative forums; and to...

 A 31-year old Zimbabwean national is currently appearing before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's court in connection with the dramatic prison escape of murderer, Thabo Bester. He is the ninth suspect in the matter and is facing a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody. It is alleged that he and 8 others helped Bester escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre  last May. Sakina Kam...

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts will receive an update from the Presidency on the investigation reports submitted by the Special Investigating Unit. In attendance is the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni a delegation from the Presidency and a delegation from the Special Investigation Unit in the form of Advocate Andy Mothibi. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Parliament reporter, Lu...

 Retired Judge Siraj Desai, the legal ombudsman of South Africa says the ombuds office has to protect and promote the public interest in the rendering of legal services as contemplated in the legal practice act . He was addressing the media on the status of his office and the very recent promulgation of the sections of the Legal Practice Act which deals with the appeals processes. The media briefi...

The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has been postponed to the 17th of July in the High Court in Pretoria.  This is due to presiding Judge Tshifiwa Maumela not being well. The trial was set to resume today until Thursday, with state witness Zandile Khumalo expected back on the stand. Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba made the announcement and also indicated that  arrangements will be made to ensure t...

The entrance to the Helen Joseph hospital in Johannesburg has been blocked by protesters. Motorists have been urged to avoid Perth road as it is also affecting traffic in Westdene and Wesbury. Residents are protesting over service delivery in the area. They have also raised concerns that coloured people are neglected by business and governemnt when it comes to employment opportunities. SABC's Aldr...

Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has told SABC News that neighbouring Mozambique will immediately avail 100 megawatts of power to help address South Africa's electricity crisis. Speaking to SABC reporter, Liabo Setho on the sidelines of an official visit by Mozambique's Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, Ramokgopa says more will be done to ensure cooperation between the two...

 Over 100 million Rand of pension money and outstanding salaries due to workers have allegedly vanished at Zebediela Bricks company, outside Lebowakgomo in Limpopo. This is according to workers, who have not received salaries for months.  Five hundred current and former workers allege that the company owner disappeared with the money, after the company was liquidated in January this year. The comp...

The Active African Christians United Movement is taking legal action against government for all the people affected by cholera in Hammanskraal, this includes bereaved families. Over twenty people have died since the outbreak. Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila from Active Christians United Movement, earlier spoke to our repoter Molemo Waone Motheo about their class action law suit againt the government.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting Hamanskraal following the cholera oubreak. He is accompanied by government officials including Minister of water and sanitation Senzo Mchunu, minister of Health Joe Phaahla and Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi. The outbreak of Cholera in the community of Hammanskraal has caused devastation and government  is instituting mitigating measures to contain the spre...