Update@Noon

 Police say Gauteng and Mpumalanga are under siege by blue light robbers who are responsible for a spate of vehicle hijackings in these areas. They are armed gangs who impersonate police and travel in vehicles fitted with blue lights and sirens. Pretending to be police officers, they force motorists to pull over, before hijacking them. Since April 2020, there have been about 300 such cases re...

The Kannaland Municipality in Ladismith in the Little Karoo hangs in the balance after the ANC broke ties with its coalition partner, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ICOSA), over the current mayor's rape conviction. The ANC was put under pressure to review its coalition agreement following gender-based violence activists' calls, upon hearing that they supported a partnership wi...

 A victim of a group of criminals, known as the blue light robbers has spoken to the SABC about his horrific ordeal. The experience which lasted more than 10-hours involved other victims, gang rape, and stabbings. The man whose identity has been concealed for his protection has been given the pseudonym - Motsamai. Blue Light robbers impersonate police officers and travel in vehicles fitted wi...

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says 85 percent of women now have access to ARV treatment compared to 25 years ago. However, UNICEF says children living with HIV are facing difficulties in accessing HIV-related health services. They have released their annual global HIV and AIDS Statistical Update in Johannesburg. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to UNICEF Representative Anurita Bains

Today is World AIDS Day and scientists have sounded the alarm over thousands of young African girls who continue to bear the brunt of the AIDS and HIV scourge.  New research shows that over 4-thousand people are infected daily with 25% of them being young African women. This comes as NGOs say more and more HIV patients have defaulted on their medication during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sakina Ka...

Namibia’s entry into the export of green hydrogen is expected to create 200 000 jobs. South Africa is currently benefiting from the very strong export of platinum into China. The 4 000 MW electricity that the mining industry is planning to generate will be a great boost for Eskom. Sakina Kamwendo brings you another Update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engi...

First council meeting in the Vhembe District in Limpopo collapsed on Thursday. This after the ANC requested for a break but did not resume the proceedings. SABC specialist researcher Maswele Ralebona talks to Sakina Kamwendo   

Activist organisation Ritshidze, has launched a detailed report into the state of public healthcare systems in Gauteng. The report has found that clinics are plagued by unfriendly service and disorganised filling systems. The report is based  on the results of data collected through Ritshidze's community-led monitoring of the 118 clinics in Gauteng will be presented to the Gauteng Department...

Businessman, Sipho Pityana, has been removed as an ABSA Board Director with immediate effect. According to a statement from the Absa Group, their decision to remove him is due to his alleged recent conduct, which amounts to dereliction of duty. It says Pityana had pursued his own personal interests to the detriment of the bank - causing sustained and irresoluble conflict. Last month, Pityana serve...

The High Court in Pretoria has heard a case of the Democratic Alliance, lobby group Afriform and that of the  Helen Suzman Foundation to challenge the granting of former president Zuma 's medical parole. They want the parole reviewed and set aside. Zuma was granted medical parole in September for his 15-month contempt sentence.  Jon Gericke spoke to reporter Prabashini Moodley

Metros across the country held their inaugural council meetings to elect their new mayors. This, as most municipalities will be serving through coalitions following the 2021 local government elections. The DA's Doctor Mpho Phalatse was elected the new Mayor of the City of Johannesburg yesterday. Phalatse's appointment marked the second major blow to the ANC, which also lost the City of Ekurhuleni,...

The Department of Health is continuing its investigations into possible food poisoning in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. This follows the deaths of children who allegedly died after consuming noodles. The department earlier says the remainder of the food products have been collected from affected households and sent to laboratories for testing. Jon Gericke spoke to department of health'...

The first council meetings after the election have been the major focus on Monday, specifically at key metros across the country. The deadline to form municipal governments is on Tuesday. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporters: Vusi Makhosini in Ethekwini, Abogile Dumako in the City of Johannesburg, Mcebisi  Ngqina in Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshepo Phagane in Ekurhuleni about the developments in...

Police have launched a manhunt after a group of armed men robbed the Malamulele Police Station, in Limpopo, of firearms and ammunition. The criminals also reportedly robbed businesses near the police station. It's reported that police were bundled into a van while the robbery took place. This is a second police station to be robbed in the area in a week. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporter in Limpo...

It’s that time again on a Friday when Update At Noon presents another Update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly . Zambia is showing huge enthusiasm to go green and attract investment in its huge copper endowment. Glencore is ‘justly transitioning’ from coal by growing wheat in the coalfields of Mpumalanga. South Africa...

Massmart workers affiliated to the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers (SACCAWU) will embark on a strike. The strike will affect Massmart owed stores including Makro, Game, Builders Warehouse, Cambridge and Jumbo. Unions are demanding a ten percent salary increase for workers at Builders. Massmart owns more than 400 stores in thirteen sub- Saharan countries. Jon Gericke spoke to S...

The Department of Basic Education is developing new legislation to address the high number of dropouts at South Africa's schools. South Africa's Basic Education Act currently compels parents to ensure that their kids attend schools. Those parents who fail to do so would be found guilty of an offence and can be fined or be imprisoned to a sentence not exceeding six months. However, Basic Education...

Police are investigating the deaths of two more children who died allegedly after eating noodles in Mpumalanga. This as police in the Eastern Cape await a toxicology report following the deaths of three children who allegedly died after eating packet noodles they had bought from a local shop. Jon Gericke spoke to Embalenhle police spokesperson Constable Busisiwe Mthethwa

Eskom says it will implement stage two rolling blackouts with effect from two o'clock this afternoon to five o'clock on Saturday morning. The move is aimed at preserving emergency reserves after five generating units failed at the power utility's different power stations. Eskom chief executive officer  André de Ruyter says the rolling blackouts are inevitable. Jon Gericke spoke to Inde...

This week on the The Coal-Face with publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly, Martin Creamer looks at the Bafokeng taking the lead in going green by doing a spectacular deal with Northam Platinum; Green hydrogen presents a huge opportunity for the African continent, says Minister Gwede Mantashe and Global cooperation is essential in moving the needle against climate change, COP26 ha...

Several officials have been arrested at Lebombo Border Post. Law enforcement agency, the Hawks arrested eight officials for alleged corruption at the Border Post. This follow an almost two year investigation following a tip off from a whistleblower. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi

Former President FW De Klerk has died in Cape Town at the age of 85-years-old. His foundation says De Klerk died peacefully this morning at home in Frennaye. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Chairperson of the FW De Klerk Foundation, Dave Steward 

The Ethiopian community in South Africa remains cautiously optimistic that a solution will be found that will end the conflict in the Tigray region. More than 900-thousand people face famine in the north of the country as the de facto humanitarian blockade remains in place. The year long conflict between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray people Liberation Front and its affiliate groups has...

The Hawks are investigating the theft of drugs worth 200 million rand from their offices in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal, over the weekend. At least 540 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about R200m, were stolen from the building  were stolen. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo

Coalition are the buzz word after the recent local government elections after no party managed to get an outright majority in eight municipalities including the three metro's in Gauteng. To pave the way for coalition governance most of the political parties have set out strict non-negotiable coalition conditions as well as teams to negotiate the coalitions to ensure the future working environments...