Update@Noon

The Democratic Alliance says it expects nothing new from the president's SONA on Thursday evening. The party's chief whip Siviwe Gwarube says they will attend the session and be respectful towards the processes. Sakina Kamwendo spoke DA MP, Solly Malatsi

A contingent of medical staff from the North West has been deployed to assist the humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, with search and rescue efforts in Türkiye. The team flew to Türkiye on Tuesday and has since arrived. Their journey follows a devastating earthquake on Monday morning, affecting both Türkiye and Syria. More than eight-thousand have been confirmed dead while thousands mor...

South Africa has experienced a growing number of kidnappings over the past year, with over 1100 reported cases during the first half of last year. According to Specialist insurer, iTOO, kidnapping for ransom and extortion have shown are also on the rise with criminals now targeting mid to lower-income individuals. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to iTOO Managing Director of Special Risks, Justine Naylor abo...

The Competition Commission is hearing two applications regarding SASOL GAS.. This is due to a planned controversial 96% increase in the price of pipeline gas implemented by the company. The increase has been delayed due to industry players having voiced their concerns on the price increase saying that it is untenable and would impact consumers even further in an already weakened economy.  The Inte...

The ANC in the Free State insists that it has not resolved to recall Premier Sisi Ntombela. However, high-ranking officials in various party structures have confirmed through their social media accounts the decision to remove Ntombela. Ntombela's son, Bandile Ntombela, has also confirmed the news on his Facebook page. SABC News understands that Ntombela's impending removal is yet to be endorsed by...

Four new ANC members have been sworn in as Members of Parliament. They are  ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Second Deputy Secretary General Maropene Ramokgopa, NEC members Parks Tau and Sihle Zikala. They take the place of Tshilidzi Munyai, Mervyn Dirks, Masefako Dikgale and Matshidiso Mfikoe who resigned as MPs recently. The four are expected to be appointed to the executive amid a much anti...

The fourth quarter 2022 Debt Index released by DebtBusters indicates that consumers are buckling under the pressure of the rising cost of living, which is compounded by flat salary increases, resulting in increased borrowing. The index indicates that consumers are taking on more unsecured loans to supplement their salaries. DebtBuster says unsecured debt for the average consumer was up by twenty-o...

The trial of Julius Malema and his body guard, Adrian Snyman has resumed in the East London regional court in the Eastern Cape. The trial was adjourned on Thursday afternoon shortly after magistrate Antoinette Olivier, ruled against an application by Malema's legal team for her to recuse herself. The accused's legal representatives brought the application saying their clients will not receive a fa...

Eskom board member, Mteto Nyati, says they have urged the parastatal management to continue to address, with a sense of urgency, the current load-shedding crisis facing the country. He says the board has also identified key priorities to get a long-term solution to the energy crisis.  Amina Accram filed this report

SA Tourism says it is still in the process of formulating a formal media statement in response to reports by the Daily Maverick that the agency is allegedly on the verge of announcing close a sponsorship to English Club, Tottenham Hotspur to the tune of nearly R1Billion. The Daily Maverick quotes presentations it claims to be in their possession for this allegation, adding that the acting CEO for...

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in parliament is expected to be briefed by the Content Advisor on the submissions received on the Electoral Amendment Bill. This is after it was opened for public comment again. The main points of contention include the number of signatures independents require and the allocation of seats. The bill is  aimed at expanding the Electoral Act to include independ...

The Gauteng Department of Health says it has prioritised the fast-tracking of critical and advanced medical procedures. The department says there are currently over 30 thousand people on the waiting lists. The department says it hopes to reduce the surgical backlogs through the utilisation of cluster hospital theatres and collaborations, as well as filling critical vacant posts. Sakina Kamwendo sp...

Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu has rubbished the Daily Maverick article on an alleged imminent R1-Billion sponsorship deal between SA Tourism and English Club, Tottenham Hotspur, as being riddled with inaccuracies and untruths aimed at tarnishing her image. The publication writes that the acting CEO for the tourism agency, Themba Khumalo presented this proposal to the Tourism SA Board. Sakina Ka...

The  Economic Freedom Fighters in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that all the party's deputy mayors who were serving in coalition with the Inkatha Freedom Party, have indeed resigned. Last week, EFF leader, Julius Malema announced that the coalition agreement between the red berets and the IFP had collapsed. EFF chair in the province, Mongezi Twala has told SABC News that the party's councillors have...

The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that most countries are failing to stop corruption. The CPI  paints a discouraging story for South Africa as the country slips one point in the rankings of the leading global index measuring perceptions of public sector corruption around the world. Now ranked at 43, the country is back where it started in 2012, with very little upward movement over...

Gauteng authorities say they are still searching for the tiger that was reportedly sighted roaming around Edenvale, east of Johannesburg.  CCTV footage of the wild animal surfaced on Monday morning, prompting authorities to warn residents to be on the lookout and keep all animals indoors. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy director-general of natural resources management in the Gauteng Department of...

The presiding judge in the corruption trial of former President Jacob Zuma has recused himself from the matter, as the case continues in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal. In adjourning the trial last October, Judge Piet Koen asked the State and the Defense to make written submissions on whether he should recuse himself as the trial judge. This came as Zuma, objected against Advocat...

 The civic organisation SANCO has accused the former president Jacob Zuma of exploiting it to gain sympathy for his political battles. This after Zuma was elected as the KwaZulu-Natal SANCO chairperson on Friday. The organisation's general-secretary Mike Soko says this is disheartening and shows the extent of the former president's desperation. Soko told the media in Midrand, Johannesburg, that th...

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has granted an order to halt a special council sitting scheduled for today in Ekurhuleni. The urgent application was made by speaker Raymond Dhlamini who argued that the meeting was illegally called by Ekurhuleni city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi. Mashazi wrote to councillors on Friday citing that reasons were provided motivating for the special sitting. Sakina...

 Police Minister, Bheki Cele has arrived in Gqeberha to visit the house and families of those that were gunned down and killed yesterday in KwaZakhele Township  in the Eastern Cape. The mass murder of eight people during a birthday celebration has left the community in shock with the police launching a manhunt for the suspects. Amongst those that were killed includes the owner of the house which h...

 The IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa says the EFF's decision to get out of the two parties' coalition will not intimidate the IFP. At the weekend, the EFF leader Julius Malema said the party had resolved to support all motions of no confidence in mayors in municipalities in which the IFP  governs. The EFF has cut ties with its former ally in over ten municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal. Hlabisa...

The Section 194 inquiry into suspended Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office has resumed with the testimony from Zambia's Public Protector, Caroline Zulu-Sokonibis. The probe adjourned last December following the testimony of two witnesses. The inquiry is expected to be briefed on correspondence received from Mkhwebane's legal team ahead of this week's planned sitti...

Voting for the position of mayor for the City of Johannesburg is expected to get underway this afternoon.  Three candidates have been nominated for the position. They include Al Jamah's Thapelo Amad, former mayor Mpho Phalatse and Action SA's Funzi Ngobeni. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Tshepo Phagane

The Democratic Alliance leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga has accused ActionSA of a wanting to initiate a reverse take over of the Johannesburg Metro council. This follows what appears to be a breakdown in relations between the two parties as Mpho Phalatse was ousted as mayor yesterday. Al Jama Ah's Thapelo Amad, ActionSA's Fundzi Ngobeni and Phalatse have since been nominated for the position of...

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has confirmed that it will oppose bail for the female police constable that was arrested in Limpopo for allegedly forcing her minor boy child to have sexual intercourse with her. The incident, allegedly captured on video caused a stir on social media yesterday with many accusing the mother of being a pedophile while others cautioned against passing...