Update@Noon

The father  who is  a suspect in the brutal rape of his two-year old daughter has appeared in court on Monday.  He is facing a charge of rape and additional one of murder after the toddler succumbed to her injuries in hospital. The incident has left Eastern Cape villagers from Ntsimbini village in rural Port St Johns in shock. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Nomzwanele Mngoma..

South Africa’s Hydrogen Roadmap just released bodes well for economic growth and social well-being. South Africa’s coal exports last year plummeted to their lowest level in 26 years. Green iron can help South Africa offset its fall in coal export revenue. Sakina Kamwendo presents another Update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and...

The sale of scrap metal remains a huge challenge not only in South Africa but in other parts of the African continent. Last week Kenya's president UHURU Kenyatta,banned the sale of scrap metal due to vandalism of key infrastructure. This includes theft of power cables which led to three days of national blackouts at the beginning of the year. Back home the sale of metal scrap continues to threaten...

Strong winds and heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Ana have disrupted the lives of thousands of children in four countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says the situation in some locations remains dire for children and families on the ground. Latest reports indicate that parts of Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have been hit by the...

 The kidnapping and murder case of suspected serial killer, 36-year-old Themba Dube, has been postponed for further investigations in the Seshego Magistrate's Court near Polokwane in Limpopo. Dube is accused of the gruesome murders of seven women in and around Polokwane last year. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter in Plokwane Katlego Nyoni...

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has confirmed that it has lodged a criminal case against National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole. It says this is because he has  failed to co-operate with the investigation into the murder of Charl Kinnear an Anti-Gang Unit detective who was gunned down in Cape Town in 2020. A court has already found Sitole guilty of breaching his duties. I...

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group says consumers need to brace for a flurry of price hikes in 2022 - including food items that have already climbed far above headline inflation. The group's monthly Household Affordability Index shows that food prices are up 9% over the last 12 months, with a significant jump between December 2021 and January 2022. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to pro...

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment have officially signed off on an emergency permit, which allows a Chinese ship to dump its reactive cargo at St. Helena Bay in the Western Cape. The dump is being supervised by The South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA). Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Captain Vernon Keller who is the Deputy COO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority......

The Pentagon is putting 8500 U.S troops on heightened alert for possible deployment to support NATO forces in Eastern Europe amid tensions over a possible invasion of Russian forces into neighbouring Ukraine. However Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby clarified that no final decision had been made about a deployment yet. He referred to the action as ensuring U.S. troops were ready as part of Washing...

The CCMA has ruled in favour of a business that fired its worker for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The employee refused the vaccine on the basis that it was against her human rights. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Johan Botes, Baker McKenzie Partner and Head of the Employment and Compensation Practice in Johannesburg...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a proclamation directing the Special Investing Unit (SIU) to probe various dealings that took place at Telkom; going as far back as June 2006. The SIU has been ordered to investigate the unlawful appropriation of expenditure of public money, among other things. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Editor at TechCentral.co.za Duncan Mcleod 

Transparency International's 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has revealed that South Africa, has reached a virtual standstill in its efforts to curb corruption, as human rights abuses and the erosion of democracy flourish. The CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. Sakina Kamwendo spoke with executive director of Corruption Watch, Karam Singh

Labour and Employment Minister Thulas Nxesi together with a team of departmental inspectors are in Cape Town today in a week-long mega blitz inspections targeting the hospitality sector including hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, and restaurants. The department says this is to ensure the enforcement of the labour legislation within the hospitality sector. The officials are testing compliance w...

Eleven schools in KwaNyavu in the uMkhambathini Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands have now opened for teaching and learning. Last week, the schools were prevented from opening due to a dispute over traditional leadership in the area. The issue first arose during the municipal election last November. Alpheus Mzolo is a traditional leader in KwaNyavu. He says they have held a meeting with t...

Dairy giant Clover says it is shocked and appalled after a Fidelity security guard died while protecting a Clover delivery vehicle from striking workers in Olifantsfontein on Saturday. Clover says the guard was in an escort vehicle assigned to protect a Clover delivery vehicle from attack by striking workers. SAFTU affiliated unions - General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) and F...

Parents of pupils at John Marubini Primary School at Phiphidi village outside Thohoyandou, in Limpopo, have expelled a Grade 7 pupil accused of bullying. Learning and teaching was disrupted at  the school learner allegedly threatened to stab his teachers and fellow learners, demanding to be progressed to Grade 8. Mulalo Rasila allegedly held teachers hostage several times since the re-opening...

The standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) says it has concluded due process, with regards to the urgings of ANC MP Mervyn Dirks, to call President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before it, after his comments to the party's top structure on the misuse of public funds in campaigns. The committee is expected to meet, as early as next week, to chart a way forward on the matter. Dirks, has since bee...

Sakina kamwendo speaks to SABC senior politics reporter Ntebo Mokobo about illegal activities in landfill sites in some areas in Gauteng; Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu's statement, clarifying the outcome of her meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and an update on African National Congress (ANC) employees who have not been paid for three months.    

South Africa can achieve “superpower” energy status by focusing on our world-beating solar, wind and storage opportunity. Australians are the main investors in projects that are bringing dormant gold and copper assets back to life. Soweto-born Sam Molefi has clinched promising business for his impressive contract mining business. Sakina Kamwendo presents another update from the Coal-Fa...

KwaZulu Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has commended disaster management teams and non-governmental organisations for swiftly leading the evacuation of more than 100 residents from flooded areas in Ladysmith. Hlomuka  says the estimated cost of the damages stands at R3.3-billion. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter in Durban Fanele Mhlon...

Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela has visited Freedom Park on Thursday following the murders of five men who were gunned down and their bodies discovered along the Golden Highway near Eldorado Park in Johannesburg. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Commissioner Elias Mawela 

Coastal schools have reopened on Wednesday for the 2022 academic year. Some schools have been affected by severe thunderstorms resulting in flooding, while others were looted and stripped of school infrastructure and technological gadgets, adding to already existing challenges of learner materials, school transport and infrastructure, in provinces like the Eastern Cape. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Ba...

SASSA says it is  experiencing delays processing reconsiderations for the COVID-19 SRD Grant. An applicant is required to request reconsideration of the decision to decline his/her application, if  the applicant is sure that the decision made was incorrect, and that he/she does meet the qualifying criteria for the grant. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to  SASSA's spokesperson, Paseka Letsats...

The Department and Water and Sanitation has warned downstream communities of imminent overflow due to the on-going rains across the country but mainly in the Vaal-Orange River System. The department says there are huge increases expected into System over the next few days. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to department's spokesperson Sputnik Ratau 

The battle between party loyalty and the oath of office of a Member of Parliament has reignited a constitutional debate. This as ANC MP and member of SCOPA Mervyn Dirks wrote a letter to SCOPA for President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the committee. This led to ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina instructing Dirks to withdraw the letter following an ANC Strategy meeting with Dirks on Monday night....