Update@Noon

It's reported that struggling state airline SAA is splurging millions on executives and consulting firms in a spending frenzy that has been described as "worrying". According to these reports, SAA''s recently appointed Chief Executive, Vuyani Jarana, said the increased expenditure is necessary to address a severe skills shortage. Its also reported that, just last week, SAA received yet another R5-...

The Vhembe district in Limpopo is experiencing a high rate of physical and sexual abuse of children. About 200 physical and sexual child abuse cases have been reported in this district alone since the beginning of the year. The Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme says 60% of those affected are children under the age of 13. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Director of the programme Tshilidzi Masik...

South Africa is preparing to join the United Nations world body for peace and security for the third time in just over a decade. It's expected to be voted onto the UN Security Council today. It would become one of five countries to win a non-permanent seat on the 15 member Council. But South Africa, a long-time campaigner for UN reform, is asking for more than just another two year term. Nick Harp...

Former president Jacob Zuma has once again warned his detractors against portraying themselves as 'innocent' while labelling him 'guilty of corruption'. Zuma addressed a group of his supporters outside the Durban High Court where they came out in their numbers after holding a night vigil at Albert Park in Durban. His fraud and corruption case has now been postponed to the 27th of July at the Piete...

Patients reliant on cancer and heart medication may struggle to get the treatment they need after the Pelindaba nuclear facility halted production this week. This after abnormally-high level on hydrogen gas were detected at the facility last week forcing production to be halted. Pelindaba is a key producer of molybdenum-99 (known as "Molly"). This radiochemical is essential for helping patients wi...

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has withdrawn its corruption and fraud case against former acting National Police Commissioner, General Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused at the Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria. The charges relates to Phahlane and his wife allegedly accepting cars from a car dealer as a form of gratuity. Our reporter Phanuel Shuma was in court.

Triple axe murderer Henri van Breda says he will appeal his three life sentences and an additional 15 years for attempted murder. He was found guilty of the murder of his father, mother, brother and the attempted murder of his sister at the De Zalze Estate in Stellenbosch in 2015. Van Breda was also sentenced to 12 months for obstructing the course of justice. Judge Siraj Desai handed down the sen...

Another court challenge is looming ahead of the upcoming KZN Provincial Elective conference this weekend. A group of disgruntled ANC members from the Moses Mabida Region, has briefed the media this morning, where it raised concerns regarding the alleged flouting of ANC processes during their Branch General Meeting. The group's representative, Msizi Ngcobo spoke to Sakina Kamwendo.

The competition Commision is today holding public hearings to determine the competitiveness of the transport industry. The commission says it has reason to believe that there features in the sector that may prevent, distort or restrict competition. Several transport organisations and unions are expected to make submissions. The Competition Commission's Sipho Ngwema spoke to Sakina Kamwendo.

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande faced tough questions from Members of Parliament when he appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Transport this morning. He was tabling the PRASA 2016/17 Annual Report. PRASA is being plaqued by problems. Chief amongst those is corruption, irregular expenditure and the running of trains which sees many commuters waiting for hours. An interim board was appointed...

The Polokwane High Court has granted leave to appeal in the Michael Komape civil case, in respect of the R2 million claim for constitutional damages. Last month the court ruled against the family's claim for general and constitutional damages for the death of their son, who drowned in a pit latrine in 2014. Judge Gerrit Muller instead ordered that two of Komape's siblings be paid R6 000 each for g...

The health care system continues to spiral out of control as more evidence of human rights abuses continue to surface. The latest incident was uncovered at Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. An investigations by the South African Society of Psychiatrists has found instances of human rights violations. President of SASOP, Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg says upon visiting the...

It's emerged that convicted murderer Henri van Breda sustained minor injuries in a scuffle with another inmate at Cape Town's Pollsmoor prison. He suffered scratches and bruises and injured his foot. This was revealed during sentencing procedures underway in the High Court in Cape Town in the trial of the axe murderer. Both the defence and State denied reports that he tried to commit suicide. Twen...

Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle has assigned education MEC Mandla Makupula to investigate how members of a school choir were allowed to sing on stage naked when the department hosted an eisteddfod in Mthatha on Friday. A video showing choristers singing and dancing with their buttocks and breasts exposed has sparked a public outcry. The nudity occurred during a segment referencing a Xhosa tr...

The case against the man allegedly involved in the hijacking incident which left 9-year-old Sadia Shukraj from Chatsworth outside Durban, killed, has been postponed until tomorrow. 39-year old Sibonelo Mkhize appeared in the Durban magistrate's court today. Our reporter Nhlanhla Nxele was in court.

Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court has ruled that citizens who are not in that country on 30 July 2018 will not be able to vote. The election date was announced by President Emmerson Mgangagwa today. This will be the first election since the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe. Around five-and-a-half million Zimbabweans are registered to vote. Our Acting Political Editor, Sophie Mokoena gave us...

The girl who was kidnapped from the Siyabuswa Primary School in Mpumalanga yesterday, has been found. It's alleged that she was abducted by two men whom she knows. She is currently in police custody after being dropped at a police station by a taxi driver. This is a third kidnapping incident this month. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi gave us the latest.

Today marks Africa Day. It is the day on which the Organisation for African Unity was formed in 1963 in Ethiopia. The organisation aimed to bring Africans together and to develop the continent and it's people after hundreds of years of colonization and oppression. It also sought to help liberate other countroies who were still under the control of colonisers. We spoke to Senior Research Fellow and...

Convicted ANC councillor Andile Lungisa has been granted ten thousand rand bail, by the Port Elizabeth Magistrates court, pending his petition to the Judge President at the Grahamstown High Court. Lungisa was sentenced to three years imprisonment, of which one year was suspended. His defence has filed a petition to the Judge President on both his conviction and sentence. Olwethu Matsipane reports.

Labour Federation, COSATU says it will take to the streets to oppose the power purchase agreements (PPAs) that government has signed with 27 independent power producers (IPPs). The Federation, says government misled South Africans by saying the procurement would lead to the creation of 58,000 jobs. We spoke to COSATU President Sdumo Dlamini.

Workers and councillors at the Modimolle Mookgopong Municipality in Limpopo have not been paid their salaries. They received text messages on Yesterday, informing them that they will be paid by next week Friday. This is the third time workers have not been not paid since the DA and EFF took over the running of the municipality in a coalition in 2016. Our reporter Shibu Mamokgere is on the story.

Tensions continue to simmer at Thubelisha township in Welkom in the Free State. This follows the killing of a 22-year old gang member belonging to the IJP at the weekend. Two gang groups clashed following the incident. This also disrupted teaching and learning in some schools in Thabong. Ishmael Modiba is following the story.

Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga has delivered his budget speech today in the city. This comes a day after the Auditor-General revealed that the Metro was third on a list of municipalities who incurred irregular expenditure in the 2016/2017 financial year. Mayor Msimanga says plans are afoot to address this challenge. He spoke to Sakina Kamwendo.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths of the three people in the cave system on a small holding near Vlakplaas on Schurveberg road, west of Pretoria. The bodies of the two men were found on Tuesday whilst another was discovered yesterday. Police spokesperson, Augustinah Selepe spoke to our presenter Sakina Kamwendo about the latest.

The National Union of Mineworkers says its concerned by Anglo Gold Ashanti's announcement that at least two thousand jobs are now on the line. The gold mining company is warning retrenchments may be necessary as it plans to restructure operations. For more on this we are joined on the line by NUM Deputy President, Joseph Montisetse