Update@Noon

Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts SCOPA, has recommended the immediate suspension of HoD of Health in the North West, Dr. Thabo Lekalakala for making a pre-payment of 30 MILLION rand to a Gupta-linked company MEDIOSA. Lekalakala, who the Treasury found that he bended rules in awarding a 180 million rand to MEDIOSA company has also conceded that he enjoyed a 4 day all-expenses paid trip to IND...

Political parties in Parliament expect Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba to strike a delicate balancing act between government's spending priorities and the burgeoning budget deficit. Gigaba is expected to table the budget speech in parliament at 2 o'clock on Wednesday. This comes as opposition parties have been calling for Gigaba's sacking accusing him of failing to ensure financial stability at Sta...

President Cyril Ramphosa has described the Marikana tragedy as the darkest moment in South Africa's young democracy. He also says the Life Esdimeni tragedy is the most appalling dereliction by the state to its people. He was replying to the Joint SONA debate. He also told MPs that young White South Africans still have better opportunities than their young Black counterparts. Our Parliamentary Corr...

Police in the Eastern Cape have confirmed that at least 6 police officers have been killed after gunmen attacked the police station in the small town of Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape. Police say the alleged attackers came into the police station after 11 pm last night and locked some of the officers in a room. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni

Market analyst, Wayne McCurrie looks at Asian Markets in the midst of Lunar New Year holiday and the day before finance minister, Malusi Gigaba's much anticipated budget speech

Market analyst, George Glynos of ETM Analytics looks at SA markets ahead of the budget Fitch has indicated that the improved growth outlook since Ramaphosa took control, the Budget due to be released on Wednesday and SARB's leading indicator for Dec released

This year's budget speech by Minister, Malusi Gigaba is expected to be one of the hardest he has yet had to address. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Faith Ngwenya, technical executive at the South African institute for professional accountants who says it is a daunting task for Gigaba to try and budget what we as the country have available to us

A man who has turned state witness in a murder case involving 14 men from Marikana near Rustenburg in the North West, has told the North West High Court sitting in Mogwase that there are many people who were involved in Petrus Sabata 's murder in 2016. The 14, including community activist Napoleon Webster, are facing murder charges. Sabata was hacked to death with knives and spears in Marikana fou...

More ANC branches in KwaZulu-Natal have made their voices heard following the recall of Jacob Zuma as President of the country. Some branches from the KwaDukuza, Abaqulusi and Musa Dladla regions have condemned the manner in which the ANC NEC handled the recall. During the weekend NEC members were deployed to various regions of the province to communicate the decision to recall Zuma. Vusi Khumalo...

The interim Leader of Zimbabwe opposition MDC-T Nelson Chamisa has appealed for tolerance as the party bids farewell to its late founder Morgan Tsvangirai. Chamisa - one of three vice presidents who have been jostling for power since Tsvangirai fell ill, spoke at the memorial service at Freedom Square in Harare. Opposition leaders in South Africa also paid tribute. Nthakoana Ngatane reports

Interpol has been roped-in to track down Atul and Tony Gupta. Ajay Gupta has been declared a fugitive from justice. This after he failed to hand himself over, despite his lawyers confirming to the Hawks that he will do so. He has since disappeared. The Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula has also issued a warning discouraging people from offering a reward for the arrest of the Gupta brothers. At th...

Ashburton Investments Portfolio Manager, Wayne Mccurrie Looks at Asia Markets following a watershed week for SA and some Asian markets remain closed for the Lunar new year

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula says Interpol has been asked to help track down three people who are being sought in connection with the Estina farm project in the Free State. Eight associates of the Gupta brothers appeared in court in Bloemfontein last week on charges that include fraud and money laundering for their part in the project. Mbalula says the three are being sought in China, Dubai Chin...

Police in Mpumalanga have been called upon to intervene in gang wars in Barberton. Schools have been turned into battle grounds as rival gangs clash. Residents of Barberton and learners of KaMhola Secondary School on Sunday held a funeral service for a 17 year-old learner killed in a gang-related incident. Eric Lubisi compiled this report..

Director & Head of Analytics at ETM Analytics (Pty) Ltd, George Glynos looks at South African Markets following a watershed week for SA with an equally important week ahead for the economy, key releases in the form of CPI and the leading indicators and judicial review of the mining charter that was due to begin today on hold

The mother of the late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly threatened to commit suicide if Nelson Chamisa, the Movement for Democratic Change vice president who says he's taken over from her son, attends the funeral. Power struggles within the MDC are intensifying following Tsvangirai's death on Wednesday in Johannesburg after a two year struggle with colon cancer. A memori...

Former president, Thabo Mbeki has urged the newly inaugurated president, Cyril Ramaphosa to cleanse the ANC and reposition it not to be used for corrupt activities. Mbeki was speaking to the SABC on the sidelines of the swearing-in of Ramaphosa by Chief Justice Moegeng Moegeng on Thursday at the Cape Town Office of the Presidency, Tuynhuys. Ramaphosa is expected to deliver his maiden State of the...

Economists have expressed confidence that president Cyril Ramaphosa will be able to remove investor impediments and inspire economic growth. It's believed if the fight against corruption, clean governance and policy certainty are prioritised, the country could attract investments which could ease many socio economic challenges. Tshepo Mongoai reports .

Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected the President of South Africa after weeks of turmoil that saw former President Jacob Zuma resign his position on Wednesday night. In his acceptance speech Ramaphosa promised among other things to work with opposition parties as he had started to do as Deputy President. He has also committed himself to put South Africa's interests at the top of his agenda. Joseph Mo...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to outline his plan to fight corruption when he delivers the State-of-the-Nation-Address in the National Assembly *this evening. For the first time in almost a decade someone other than former president Jacob Zuma will walk on the red carpet to the doors of the Parliament to deliver the address. Roads mostly in the Cape Town DBD will be closed from six o'clock...

SABC Senior Economics reporter, Nompumelelo Siziba looks at Asian Markets as some Asian markets are down for the Lunar New Year, the JSE had an amazing roll and the euphoria is over and if there's a lot of work that needs to be done

City of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille narrowly survived a motion of no-confidence against her held on Thursday. She earlier walked out of the council meeting in protest after the speaker ruled that voting would take place through an open ballot. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Western Cape Provincial Leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela

Nelson Chamisa was elected by an emergency meeting of the party's National Executive Council in Harare to lead the party for 6-months Chamisa is the interim President of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC-T following leader Morgan Tsvangirai's death on Wednesday. Meanwhile president Cyril Ramaphosa and former President Thabo Mbeki have also sent their condolences to the Tsvangirai family and the people of...

Political parties and civil society organisations are welcoming last night's resignation of former president Jacob Zuma. Announcing his resignation, Zuma maintained he has always been a good cadre of the ANC and was willingly resigning without the fear of losing presidential pecks and benefits. For reaction on some of the comments during his address on Wednesday night. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Fut...

Political parties across the spectrum have welcomed Jacob Zuma's resignation. The ruling ANC says Zuma's decision shows he's a dedicated member of the party. Opposition parties say they hope this marks the beginning a of a new era away from the corruption and state capture that came to characterise his tenure. Joseph Mosia reports.