Update@Noon

President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is about time that South Africa reflects on the Constitution,  its efficacy and the extent it has served the aspirations of the people of South Africa. He was speaking at the launch of the three day National Conference on the Constitution at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg. The conference currently taking place is hosted by the Justice and Correctional Services D...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is working to ensure functional municipalities to help realise the achievements of the many promises made in the Bill of Rights. He was speaking during the Human Rights Day commemoration in the town of De Aar in the Northern Cape easrlier this afternoon. Ramaphosa said most municipalities are failing to provide the basic amenities including water and sanit...

Electricity Minister, Kgosientso Ramokgopa says the recent low level of loadshedding are due to low demand in the country. Ramokgopa is on a site visit of the Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga. His visit come at the back of relatively low to no loadshedding over the last couple of days. Minister Ramokgopa elaborates...

Former president of Azapo, Dr Mosibudi Mangena has called for a change of the mindset of the majority of black South Africans. This comes as the country marks what he terms as Sharpeville Day which government has adopted as the official Human Rights Day today. Dr Mangena has lambasted government's response to the National Protest led by the EFF yesterday, including the recent tensions and behaviou...

 EFF members are gathering at Church Square in Pretoria as part of the National Shutdown, calling for the resignation of president Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load shedding.  Police presence has been heightened at Church Square where the EFF and various organisations are converging. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Abongile Dumako 

EFF leader, Julius Malema, says the party will launch legal action against KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi after he allegedly said police would use combat against protesters in today's national shutdown. Malema says the Constitution does not make provision for the use of force against demonstrators. This as the presence of police and SANDF soldiers remains high amid protest action acro...

 Soweto Parliament leader, Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini's home was attacked in the early hours of this morning. Dlamini claims at least two bombs were thrown at his home. Meanwhile, Police Minister, Bheki Cele, says the matter has been handed over to the Hawks to investigate and has also made it clear that at this time he cannot link the bombings to the current protest.

Police have used rubber bullets to disperse protesters barricading several roads from Seshego to Polokwane in Limpopo. Protesters used stones, and burning tires to close the roads.  Malls and other local businesses at Seshego Circle centre remain shut. Some business owners in the area say they are running at a loss due to the shut-down. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Mahlatse Phaladi.

Online publication GroundUp says it seen photographs of a man who closely resembles 'Facebook rapist' Thabo Bester shopping in Sandton City nearly two months after his reported death in prison. On Wednesday GroundUp reported that it has uncovered new evidence that reveals suspicious circumstances in the prison fire thought to have killed "Facebook rapist" Thabo Bester. Last year in May, the Depart...

Labour Federation, SAFTU together with other working class formations are currently giving an update on preparations for the National Protest set for next week on Monday. This comes as sentiments over the protest continue to be divided. Dubbed a National Shutdown, the protest, led by the EFF is aimed at raising concern over the crippling rolling blackouts, high unemployment and the high cost of li...

The Film and Publication Board (FPB)  has requested Twitter to take down a video that reportedly incites violence against those who will not participate in protest marches planned for 20 March. In a statement, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) says the video warns that any pupil wearing school uniform during the protests will be beaten up, as well as teachers and police officers. Film and Publi...

The EFF in the Tshwane region has just lay criminal charges against the DA mayoral candidate for Mayor in the City of Tshwane Cilliers Brink and party councillors Jacqui Uys and Katlego Makgaleng for electoral fraud in the election of the Speaker earlier this week.  This comes after the DA had instructed its members to number their ballot papers, to prove that they voted for the multi-party coalit...

Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has assured all South Africans and the business sector, that Monday next week will be a normal business day. This in the wake of a planned national shutdown by the EFF and other interested organizations, calling for the resignation of president Cyril Ramaphosa, end in load shedding and the high rate of unemployment. Yesterday, EFF leader, Julius Malema, confirmed that...

The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) has refused to participate in the EFF's planned shutdown. The EFF vowed to shut down the entire country on Monday to protest against load shedding and to demand President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Santaco national spokesperson Bafana Magagula  

A KwaZulu-Natal is reeling following the abduction of their 2-month-old baby by armed suspects his at baby's home in Welbedacht West in Chatsworth, south of Durban. Police in the province have confirmed that a kidnapping case is being investigated after the baby was snapped on Friday. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter Nonjabulo Mtungwa Makamo.

The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster says it is well prepared for any violent eventualities during the much-talked about National Protest led by the EFF together with various civic formations. The protest, dubbed a 'national shutdown' is aimed at calling for an end to the rolling blackouts, the increasing cost of living and joblessness including for president Cyril Ramaphosa to resig...

A report was launched by Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla and the Health Ombud, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba. A report on the findings of an investigation into allegations against the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital has found that the hospital is unsafe, dirty and filthy. The investigation took just over a year to conclude and some of the complaints that led to the investigation suggested...

The Electoral Commission says the 69 votes of the DA that were cast for the Speaker of the City of Tshwane council were not counted as they violated the law and compromises the identity of the voter in so far as secret balloting is concerned. This comes as the DA is considering taking legal action against the Electoral Commission over this decision. The elections saw Tshwane councillor and African...

The DA within the City of Tshwane is seeking legal advice over the IEC's decision to declare 69 of its votes as invalid, spoilt votes during the election of the new Speaker of Tshwane, Mncedi Ndzwanana. Ndzwanana, from the African Transformation Movement beat the DA led multi-party candidate Kholofelo Morodi from ActionSA by 105 to 37 votes. The DA's 69 votes which were declared invalid would have...

Police in Makhado have launched a massive manhunt for a group of heavily armed suspects who attacked and shot at police transport six awaiting trial prisoners and helped them to escape. Udo Carelse spoke to spokesperson for the police in Limpopo, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo

Security has been beefed up at Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal as some members of NEHAWU are still picketing outside.  Reporters on the ground say there are also concerns about mortuaries not being in service.  Udo Carelse spoke to SABC reporter, Nonjabulo Makamu.

The labour appeals court has issued an order interdicting with immediate effect essential service workers affiliated to Nehawu from continuing with the strike or any other form of industrial action. The court order comes as Nehawu had vowed to intensify its strike this week. NEHAWU says it will comment on matter as soon as it receives legal advise. Udo Carelse spoke to NEHAWU president, Mike Shing...

The National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya held a media briefing earlier today to give an update on high profile cases the HAWKS are investigating as well as to outline and take stock of milestones achieved since the previous quarter.   Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya says the killing of police poses a threat to the people of South A...

There is a severe microbial contamination in South African rivers and dams . Tha's according to a report from the Department for Water and Sanitation which found that  more than half of the sampled sites presented a high health risk if water from the source was used for irrigating crops that were eaten raw, and only 42% indicated a low risk.  The results also revealed that water in 64% of the samp...

Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade has visited the school where a learner's body was found in a pit latrine. Police have opened an inquest docket after the four-year-old girl's body was found in the toilet at a school in Vaalbank village in Glen Gray on Tuesday morning. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporter Sidima Mfeku.