Update@Noon

The gunshot detection technology seems to be working well for the city of Cape Town since the system went live 5 months ago. The system is helping law enforcement to arrest criminals discharging guns in a public space. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to JP Smith , the City of Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security 

The Bloemfontein Magistrates Court has postponed to May 11 and 12, the bail application of the celebrity doctor, Dr Nandipha Magudumana and 5 others accused of assisting convicted murderer, Thabo Bester when he escaped from prison last May. Earlier, the court adjourned to allow for consultations  

Delivery of food to some KwaZulu-Natal schools as part of the National School Nutrition Programme, has commenced. This after a failure to deliver food to some of the schools in the programme since the start of the second term .  About 5-thousand schools have been affected, leaving many learners starving at schools. Pacina Retail, a company contracted to supply food in schools in the whole province...

Voting for the new City of Johannesburg mayor may not materialise today as parties continue to struggle to reach agreement. Councillors are expected to elect a mayor  after former executive mayor of the City, Thapelo Ahmad resigned last week. Ahmad  was facing a no confidence motion. The coalition partners that voted Amad in power, have vowed to protect the speaker of council and the chief whip. T...

The Department of Correctional Services says it has decided to terminate its contract with the Bloemfontein Correctional Center. The centre is contracted to operate the controversial Mangaung Correctional Centre, from which convicted rapist and murderer, rapist Thabo Bester escape last May. Bester was serving a life sentence when he staged his own suicide and walked out of the facility, allegedly...

 ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has emphasized a number of issues being faced by society - including poverty, unemployment and inequality. COSATU's national May Day celebration is underway at the Bethlehem Showgrounds in the Free State. Ramaphosa has called for unity among members of the tripartite alliance...

 It has been four years since the families of three miners trapped underground  Lily Mine, near Barberton in Mpumalanga, set up a camping site on the periphery of the mine. The three workers Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyerenda were working in a container used as lamp room, when it fell down a sinkhole at the mine in 2016. The three are yet to be retrieved and as the country will be...

Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says government will soon implement legislations that deal employers who keep breaking the law by hiring foreigners. Nxesi was speaking to our colleagues Aldrin Sampear and Naledi Moleo amid threats of protests by truck driver protest who are calling for government to address unfavourable recruitment processes in the sector. 

Accused number 2 in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case has been denied bail by the high Court in Pretoria. Bongani Ntanzi is one of five men accused of killing the soccer star and Bafana Bafana captain in 2014. Ntanzi applied for bail last year. While handing down judgement, Deputy Judge President, Aubrey Ledwaba said that Ntanzi has failed to convince the court that it was in the interest of justice th...

The families of the two boys who were found murdered and mutilated in Soweto has called on the deceased to fight for justice from the grave.  This emerged during he boys funeral service underway at the Jabavu stadium in Soweto. Six-year-old Tshiamo Rabanyane and 5-year-old Nqobizitha Zulu went missing last Wednesday and their mutilated bodies were discovered the next day. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to...

 President Cyril Ramaphosa has honored South Africans and eminent foreign nationals who have done exceptionally well in supporting democracy, nation-building and inspiring the country. Ramaphosa says those honoured have contributed to the freedoms we enjoy today. He bestowed the order of Mendi for bravery, the order of Ikamanga, order of the Baobab, the order of Luthuli , the order of Mapungubwe a...

As South Africa marks the 29th anniversary of the first democratic elections, shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has vowed to continue with its "Unfreedom Day" marches in parts of the country. The movement's leadership has accused the ruling African National Congress of lying to and insulting the intelligence and humanity impoverished communities by claiming that everyone who lives in t...

 Harry Belafonte's passing on the eve of Freedom Day serves as a poignant reminder of his contribution to the international cultural boycott of South Africa during the apartheid years. That was among the key reflections from President Cyril Ramaphosa at the news of the nonagenarian passing from congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home in New York. And as Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports, beyond h...

The lawyers representating shareholders at platinum group metals and chrome producer, Eastern Platinum Limited have written to the company's CEO, board of directors and its parent company, Barplats Mines, demanding the immediate halting of transactions for chrome ore to be sold at a reduced price to buyers. The lawyers say the transanctions are being carried out without the authorisation of the Bo...

 Parliament's Standing Committee of Public Accounts has resolved to summons former Eskom Group Chief Executive Andre De Ruyter  to appear before it to give further information. This follows De Ruyter's refusal to disclose the name of the minister who allegedly told him to let some people eat a little. De Ruyter stated unwillingness to jeopardise ongoing investigations and fear for his own security...

Former Eskom Chief Executive Officer, André de Ruyter has continue to face pressure from members of Parliament's Standing Committee of Public Accounts, as he refused to reveal the name of the senior politician he has accused of engaging in criminality at the power utility. A number of MPs have asked de Ruyter over and over again why is did not make statements to authorities after he claimed to hav...

 President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently hosting his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Väinämö Niinistö at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Trade and investment, renewable energy and information technology are expected to dominate their talks between the two countries. The visit was initially planned for 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries enjoy strong bilateral relatio...

The South African Social Security Agency is assuring social grant beneficiaries to not to panic as they will be paid. Most of their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)/Postbank gold cards are expiring at the end of April and delays at post offices appear to be causing anxiety among recipients. Last month SASSA advised beneficiaries whose cards have expired or are expiring soon, to visit t...

Nelson Mandela Bay has been hit by lockouts and blackouts since Friday after workers vowed to shut down the city to protest against the suspension of their colleagues. Seven officials in Nelson Mandela Bay's electricity department were suspended in the metro's electricity department for what has been described as the biggest corruption scheme in the history of the administration. The Hawks and Spe...

The International Relations Department says its plans are in place to evacuate South Africans who are stuck in Sudan.  South Africa is among the many countries that are racing against time to evacuate their citizens from Sudan. It has put the number of verified South Africans stuck in the country at 77. The sudden eruption of violence between the military and the well-armed Rapid Support Forces pa...

The family of a 32-year-old man whose body was burned in the prison cell of rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester is expected to identify his remains today. Katlego Bereng was used as a decoy when Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, in a staged suicide in May last year:  Police confirmed his identity after DNA tests revealed a direct match with his mother Monica Matsi...

A group of asylum seekers, mainly comprising women and school-going children, who sought refuge at the United Nations Head Offices in Brooklyn almost five years ago, are now pleading with the South African authorities to facilitate their deportation to their respective countries of origin. The City of Tshwane and Home Affairs are expected to relocate the asylum seekers camped in the City in makesh...

It still remains unclear how German Authorities will proceed in getting former Steinhoff CEO, Markus Jooste to trial following his no-show at a German court yesterday. Jooste was scheduled to appear before a German court for contravening foreign exchange regulations that saw investors losing more than 200-Billion rands. A warrant of arrest was issued against him after his lawyers indicated Jooste...

The Department of Basic Education has been briefing the oversight committee on Basic Education in parliament on Learner Drop-Outs in the System. Earlier this year , while addressing the 8th annual Basic Education Sector Lekgotla, President Cyril Ramaphosa raised concerns over the high number of pupils who drop out of school and urged the sector to redouble efforts to address the crisis. Sakina Kam...

Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi has shed more light on the costs involved in deporting back to the country convicted rapist and murder Thabo Bester together with her alleged accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana. Motsoaledi says a total of 14 people were involved in ensuring the safe return of the pair totalling a cost of one-point-four million rand in hiring a charter flight. Motsoaledi has...