Update@Noon

The National Youth Council of Nigeria is reported to have threatened to shut down all South African businesses today over the recent conflicts between locals and foreign nationals. The council made the call during a recent protest at the South African embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. South Africa's mobile-operator MTN Group earlier noted with concern violence and vandalism at its property in Nigeria, wh...

The Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama had earlier summoned the South Africa's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, to discuss the strained relations between Africa's two biggest economies. Onyeama said he is worried about the safety of Nigerian nationals living in South Africa and the destruction of their property. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Mnguni for more details.

The EFF leader Julius Malema's unsuccessfully challenged the ANC to take up the party's offer of 6-percent to amend the constitution to expropriate land without compensation. The National Assembly rejected the motion. It required two thirds of the votes to pass the motion. The PAC, APC and Agang are some of the parties that supported the EFF Motion. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent...

The ANC caucus within the North West Provincial Legislature has urged Premier Supra Mahumapelo to go ahead with his government's plan of erecting President Jacob Zuma's statue in Groot Marico outside Zeerust. The provincial government is planning to put up a six metre giant statue of President Zuma . The tender has already been advertised to sculpture and erect the statue by the Provincial Culture...

1. Let's talk about SASOL earnings 2. Nadir talk to us about the Bidvest earnings. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Nadir Thokan of 27 four investment managers

1. The MSCI AC ASIA PACIFIC Higher, led by the Nikkei. 2. The dollar hanging on to gains ahead of the Donald Trump's address to Congress. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Maudi Len-tsoane, group CEO at Lehumo Investments

The looting of foreign-owned shops continued last night in Jeppestown, Johannesburg. Police say the looting was carried out by a group of hostel dwellers in the area. Public order police continued to monitor the situation. This follows the protest action demanding foreign nationals in Pretoria West and Atteridgeville to curb their alleged criminal activities. Residents claim that the foreign natio...

Transport and Allied Workers' Union, SATAWU will be seeking a meeting with the Transport Minister over challenges at Passenger Rail Agency, Prasa. SATAWU says it is worried by media reports that former PRASA acting CEO Collins Letsoalo had given himself a salary increase of more than three hundred percent. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Satawu's general secretary, Zenzo Mahlangu

The National Treasury has until today to submit a proposed strategy to the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on how outstanding pay-outs for former Venda Homeland civil servants will be paid out. This in light of an order by the former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to get Government Employees Pension Fund to pay former public servants what is due to them. Yolisa Tyantsi who speaks on behalf o...

Passenger Rail Agency Prasa's board has terminated the contract of Acting Group Executive Chief Officer Collins Letsoalo with immediate effect. Letsoalo will return to the Transport Department, where he worked before being seconded to Prasa. The board says it views the controversy over the Acting GCEO's remuneration package in a dim light. Weekend newspapers reported that Letsoala had hiked his sa...

The Department of Higher Education and Training says the Back To The Bible Training College in Mpumalanga is a bogus college as it is not registered with the Department as a private Higher Education Institution. The Department has since opened a case against the college in an attempt to close it down. This will affect the hundreds of students from various African countries, wishing to become pasto...

The SACP has described President Jacob Zuma's new notion of radical economic transformation as nothing but rhetoric meant to further enrich the elite. SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande says the term is the same as constant references to "white monopoly capital". He asked whether the lives of the black majority would change for the better if there was "black monopoly capital". The ANC has repea...

1. What do we make of Anglo's decision to reverse asset sales 2. Where to from here for finding value in equities and some of the benefits of the new taxes announced in the budget. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Nadir Thokan of 27 four investment managers.

President Jacob Zuma has concurred with a call by the ANCYL that the leadership of the ANC should also reflect young people. Zuma was addressing the ANCYL KwaZulu-Natal Provincial conference underway in Durban. Meanwhile ANCYL President Collin Maine called on President Jacob Zuma to remove Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan - accusing him of being a stumbling block on radical economic transformation....

The man who was asked to go resuscitate PRASA from its financial woes is now being accused of giving himself a 350 percent salary increase. Collins Letsoalo, the former CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) resigned from the Corporation amidst allegations of death threats against his life. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Lillian Mofokeng for more.

1. Japan leads Asian markets lower as investors await U.S. economic news 2. Rand trading slightly weaker however still below R13.00. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Maudi Len-tsoane, group CEO at Lehumo Investments for more.

Former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe's swearing in, in Parliament continues to be at the epicenter of public debate. While the dark cloud continues to loom over his head following his implication in the Former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela's, State of Capture Report, there is speculation that Molefe might replace Gordhan as Minister of Finance. Patrick Dintwa reports...

1. Markets in Asia were mostly lower in morning trade early morning 2. Tesla's 'close to the edge' cash foretells capital raise 3. South African regulator allows Eskom to raise tariffs by 2 percent in 2017/18. Sakina Kamendo speaks to Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela for more.

1. Producer inflation came out yesterday, and much softer than was expected 2. What does all this mean for interest rates? 3. The Department of Energy is today scheduled to announce the fuel price change for March. What can we expect? Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Manisha Morar, Economist at ETM Analytics, for more.

A proposed recommendation for action to be taken against Communications Minister Faith Muthambi generated an intense debate in the Ad Hoc Committee probing the affairs of the SABC. One of the observations was that Muthambi may have interfered in the operations of the SABC. There was general consensus that the Ethics Committee investigate Muthambi's conduct and for the matter to be referred to the...

1. An investment of billions of rands is on the cards for the deep Mponeng gold mine on the Far West Rand 2. Discussions are under way between Germany and South Africa for the introduction of fuel cell buses 3.A new national rail strategy is being drafted to give direction to the underperforming rail sector. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, Publishing Editor of Engineering News and Mining...

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has tabled the 2017/2018 budget with a total expenditure of 1. 56 trillion rand. His message was very clear - the country is once again at a crossroads, and tough choices have to be made. Lulama Matya reports…

Government says it will study the Pretoria High Court's judgement before deciding on a course of action. The court yesterday set aside Pretoria's decision taken in October last year to withdraw from the international criminal court on the grounds that the move was invalid and unconstitutional. The application to set aside the decision was brought by the Democratic Alliance. The party argued that J...

1. South Africa will target high earners with a new personal income tax 2. Markets in Asia traded mostly lower on Thursday, following a mixed close in U.S. equities overnight as minutes from the Federal Reserve's previous meeting hinted that a rate hike is coming "fairly soon." Sakina Kawendo speaks to Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela.

1. What are your overall thoughts? 2. What were the key highlights and what stood out for you? 3. What do you think the ratings agencies make of the budget? Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Manisha Morar, Economist at ETM Analytics, for more.