Update@Noon

A landmark sexual offence case dating back to the 1970's is to be heard at the Wynburg magistrate's Court in Cape Town. Childhood rape survivors Lisa van der Merwe (56) and her sister Claudine Shiels (60) are seeking justice from the courts. Between 1974 and 1979, both sisters were allegedly molested by relatives. The accused, who are sais to be from prominent Constantia family, will appear in the...

The African Centre for Migration and Society says foreigners are likely to make their way back into the Johannesburg CBD in hopes of earning a living. This after the Johannesburg Magistrates Court ordered the deportation of dozens of foreign nationals who were arrested during a counterfeit goods raid in the city centre last week. The court says those scheduled for deportation within 30-days will,...

The Msunduzi Municipality's Executive Mayor, Themba Njilo and his executive have been asked to step down by the ANC KwaZulu-Natal PEC.This, as we wait for a press briefing by the party where they are going to annouce the decision in regard to the future of eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and mayors of other poor performing municipalities in the province. Meanwhile, he DA in eThekwini has also welco...

There are crime syndicates targeting industrial batteries powering the country's cellphone towers. An increasing number of thefts of batteries from cellphone towers in Gauteng has left some Soweto residents battling with network problems. According to mobile network provider MTN, there were 125 incidents of battery theft last week.

Military court proceedings against a major in the SA National Defence Force has been postponed until November. Major Fatima Isaacs faces two charges of wilful defiance and disobeying lawful demand for refusing to remove her headscarf. Isaacs works as a clinical forensic pathologist at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg. She allegedly refused to take an insutruction from a senior officer not to wear th...

South African Police Services (SAPS) are back in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) to conduct raids for counterfeit goods. This is near the same spot where chaos broke out. Last week, police officers were attacked while conducting a raid on counterfeit goods in the city centre. Four police vehicles were damaged in the process to conduct raid in the Joburg CBD.

The family of the late Sam Meyiwa (father of late Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper - Senzo Meyiwa) says they will continue to call for justice and ensure that Sam's dream of having his son's killers behind bars is realised. The family says Meyiwa had not been well since the death of Senzo in 2014. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to family spokesperson, Nathi Ngwenya..

South Africa's population continues to grow significantly. Stats SA has estimated the 2019 mid-year population at 58.78 million, in comparison to 2018's 57.73 million population estimations. The Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke has today released the 2019 Mid-year population estimates. The report provides estimates on the population of South Africa and includes current indicators of fertility...

The High Court in Pretoria has suspended the Public Protector's remedial action against Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan - pending a judicial review. Judge Sulet Potterill says it defies all logic to implement the remedial action as, while the report is being taken on judicial review. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Claude Leon Foundation Chairperson in Constitutional Governance at the Universi...

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has announced a budget of R66,719 Million for the Royal Household for the 2019/2020 financial year. This is a R1 million increment from the previous allocation of R65 million. Zikalala announces his office budget of R714,004 in the KZN Legislature. Krivani Pillay spoke to KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala...

The community of Wedela near Carletonvile, west of Gauteng are living in fear as learners at the local high school are being prevented from attending classes for three weeks now. The Wedela Technical school decided to close the school down because of low resources. Residents claim that illegal miners are terrorising both parents and children The have invaded the school and stolen school infrastruc...

The family of a 54-year-old ANC councillor who was shot and killed in Mokopane in Limpopo on Tuesday have turned away a delegation from the Mogalakwena Local Municipality offering condolences. Mayor Andrina Matsemela, councillors and municipal managers wanted to pay their condolences to the family of slain councillor, Valtyn Kekana, in Moshate outside Mokopane. The family believed that Kekana had...

Former President Jacob Zuma has taken to twitter to respond to the latest utterances by EFF leader Julius Malema about ANC NEC member Derek Hanekom. Zuma says this confirms his testimony at the state capture commission of inquiry that Hanekom is a known agent. This follows EFF president Julius Malema revealing that Hanekom provided the EFF with a list of ANC members that would vote against former...

Giselle Dariele Chetty from Deccan Rooad Primary School in Pietermaritzburg was buried on Monday after contracting the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. The KwaZulu- Natal Health department said there was no confirmation yet that 9-year-old Pietermaritzburg girl died from swine flu. Since then, there have been two cases of swine flu from pupils at the school which has resulted in the suspension...

Some disgruntled ANC members in the Waterberg region have vowed to shut down the Mogalakwena municipality. They're demanding that the party's provincial chair, Stan Mathabatha, address their challenges. ANC councillor, 54-year old Valtyn Kekana and sub-regional secretary 32-year-old Ralph Kanyane were shot and killed Yesterday afternoon *(23/07) outside a supermarket in Mokopane. It's believed tha...

The Constitutional Court says the personal costs orders constitute an essential, constitutionally-infused mechanism to ensure that the conduct of public representatives does not fall egregiously short of what is required of them. This was said during a judgement by the court following an application by the public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to have the Constitutional Court to reverse the Pretoria...

The Chairperson of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, at the Stellenbosch University, Professor Lindy Heinecken says the deployment of the army to deal with the gang violence to the Cape Flats in Cape Town is not a good idea. Professor Heinecken says the SANDF intervention in the area could have long term consequences. Her comments come after government announced a joint venture...

A massive joint operation between the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) is set to get under way in the gang-infested Cape Flats, Western Cape. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a request for the deployment of the SANDF following a sharp increase in murders in the city of Cape Town. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to ur reporter, Carme...

The house of an alleged fraudster has been set alight by a mob in Ladysmith, Kwa-Zulu Natal. This comes after the alleged fraudster, who apparently ran a bitcoin scam, was taken into protective custody when a mob threatened him after they heard he was about to flee the area. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to our reporter, Hafsa Mkhize...

Eskom has appealed to communities to stop illegal connections. There is an increasing number of repeated equipment failures in some areas, particularly in Gauteng. These illegal connections have resulted in failure of transformers and mini-substations which has been increased by meter tampering, electricity theft and vandalism of infrastructure. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Dikatso Mothae, Eskom spoke...

A group supporting Ethekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede earlier blocked Doctor Pixley KaSeme Street - formerly West Street - in front of the Durban City Hall demanding that Gumede resumes her duties as mayor. Some of the protesters were arrested after the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Mzo Dube - the spokesperson for ANC members supporting Ethekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede - is among the...

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi has withdrawn racketeering charges against former Hawks General Johan Booysen and several current and former officers. Batohi took the decision after appointing a panel to review the racketeering authorisations and provide her with a legal opinion. Booysen had been charged by former NPA bosses Nomgcobo Jiba and Shaun Abrahams. Sakina Kamwendo...

A decisive plan to address the ongoing murders in Cape Town is expected to be discussed during meeting with Police Minister Bheki Cele and ministers in the justice cluster today. Western Cape murder rate has risen by 23% compared to this time last year. Over the weekend 11 people were murdered in Philippi East. Two others were also murdered in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats. Cele visited Philippi...

The KwaZulu-Natal Health department is investigating a case of gross negligence at the R K Khan Hospital in Chatsworth, south of Durban. This after a video showing a patient, who was admitted in hospital having live maggots in his mouth went viral on social networks. The patient died on Tuesday. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to R K Khan Hospital board chairperson, Cyril Pillay

A 21-year-old woman has given birth on the street with the help of some residents after being turned away at the Ngwaabe clinic outside Jane Furse in Limpopo. The incident happened on Saturday morning after the woman, whose identity is being protected, was told by security guards that the clinic does not operate on weekends. Meanwhile, a homeless man died on the steps of theTshwane District Hospit...