Update@Noon

Today marks the day on which the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, is set to deliver his much anticipated Budget speech. Speculations are that there will be likelihood of increases in taxation. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Equity Analyst from Effectus Capital Management, Lungile Malinga, to share more.

1. Markets in Asia traded mixed on Wednesday, despite U.S. gains, as investors await policy details from the Trump administration on tax reforms and deregulation 2. South Africa's rand weakens, Shoprite tops stocks index. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela, for more.

1. Budget Day is finally here. There is a lot of talk about government needing to raise revenue. How could this be achieved? 2. Could you talk us through some of the expenditure considerations as the finance minister deliver his budget speech later today? 3. Anything else we should be on the lookout for? Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Manisha Morar, Economist at ETM Analytics for more.

Former Eskom CEO is at the epicenter of controversy yet again after the announcement that he would be appointed as a member of Parliament. The decision by the North-West ANC executive has split the Haartebees branch. While branch chairperson, Bethuel Mmutle, produced two membership forms as proof that Molefe was a member, another faction led by Christina Malula desputed that. Sakina Kamwendo speak...

Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian markets in positive territory as the US celebrates President's day and Citi Bank is to pay R69 million penalty to the competition commission

A 30 year old SAfm listener Philikis Mariba from Kgobokwane Limpopo, is accusing a government hospital and the MEC of Health in the province Dr Phophi Ramathuba, of medical malpractice and negligence. He says he has been living with a foreign hazardous object in his left eye after undergoing a procedure to stitch his lacerated left eyeball at Mankweng hospital in 2014. Mr Mariba says he was sent t...

Manisha Morar, Economist at ETM Analytics looks the release of the SARB's leading indicator data, the release of PMI data out of the developed markets and What is the 2017 global growth outlook looking like?

1. Asian markets opened mostly lower on Monday, as investors await further details from President Donald Trump on his economic policies, including tax reforms 2. Pressure mounts ahead of the Budget Speech with the political rumours concerning investors 3. South Africa's rand slides as dollar rebounds. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela.

Parliament says it strongly refutes as 'baseless rumours and far-fetched fabrications' media reports that senior officials award themselves study bursaries over junior staff applicants. This follows reports that the secretary of parliament, Gengezi Mgidlana, awarded himself a bursary to study for a master's degree after turning down fifty junior applicants, claiming the legislature had run out of...

The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan will deliver his 2017 Budget Speech on Wednesday. As a build-up, we talk to different stakeholders to hear what they are anticipating to get out of the speech. Today we put the spotlight on the Congress of South African Trade Union, COSATU. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to its President, Sdumo Dlamini.

Foreign nationals affected by public violence in Pretoria West say the South African government is not doing enough to protect them. They say they are living in fear after their businesses were robbed and destroyed. This comes after angry residents torched two houses and a motor vehicle panel beating business believed to be a haven for drugs and prostitution allegedly operated by Nigerian national...

Hazel Ngubeni has been fired as South Africa's High Commissioner to Singapore after news of her spending two years in prison in the United States for smuggling a bag of cocaine into the country in 1999 emerged. This comes after the Security Agency announced that her security clearance has been revoked and that she is being investigated. Arthur Fraser, the director-general and accounting officer of...

Manisha Morar, Economist at ETM Analytics looks at the much anticipated Budget speech by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the rand recorded one of its best week's last week, at one stage breaking below R13 to the dollar.

1. US equities close lower; Asian markets follow suit. 2. The Stronger Rand benefiting the Airline Industry. Comair reported strong results on Tuesday and cited the stronger Rand as one of the factors that contributed to improved earnings. Bongi Gwala speaks to Maudi Len-tsoane, group CEO at Lehumo Investments, for more.

1.Billions of rands are being earmarked for a big new coal expansion in Mpumalanga. 2. Millions of rands were spent in the last six months to clean up old mine dump areas. 3. Enormous global demand is on the way for South Africa’s platinum, the Mining Indaba has been told. Bongi Gwala chats to Martin Creamer, Publishing Editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

1. Rand pauses rally to test previous resistance levels 2. Gold prices look set to end its 7th positive week in the last 2 months as global risk rally slows 3. Big focus on SA budget next week. What are the expectations on this? Bongi Gwala speaks to Mohammed Nalla, Head Strategic Researcher at Nedbank CIB.

Government has praised Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for his commitment to the promotion of justice, human rights, freedom and equality. In his reply to the debate of the 2017 State of the Nation Address in Parliament yesterday, President Jacob Zuma announced that government will rename the refurbished Marabastad Refugee Reception Office in Tshwane after Archbishop Tutu. Zuma is expected to off...

Flooding is expected in Vhembe and Mopani District Municipalities of Limpopo as tropical storm #Dineo sweeps through. Bongi Gwala speaks to Limpopo's Head of Disaster Management Centre, Esme Magwaza

The predictions of the collapse of the Rand started way back in early 2002. Kevin Wakeford, was asked to resign from his job as the CEO of the South African Chamber of Business, Sacob, after exposing the possibilities of the plummeting of the rand. The rand then plunged from 7.60 to 13.84 to the US dollar. Bongi Gwala chats Kevin Wakeford.

The Competition Commission says it will be working closely with its international counterparts on the case involving some banks for collusion in currency trading. The commission says the majority of the trade took place outside the country, involving mainly foreign banks. Some of the institutions implicated in the collusion are based in London, Australia, USA and New Zealand. Bongi Gwala is joined...

1. SA inflation eases but retail sales remain downbeat 2. US CPI surged leading to greater expectations of a Fed hike and supporting the dollar. It this was short lived 3. China's holdings of US treasuries drop by most on record last year as the Chinese utilize reserves to shore up economy. Bongwi Gwala speaks to Mohammed Nalla, Head Strategic Research at Nedbank CIB.

Heavy winds and rains have been sweeping through Inhambane, Mozambique. Most of Inhambane's coast is at risk as Dineo, which has been classed a category four Cyclone, brings high winds of up to 200 kilometers an hour with the likelihood of rainfall of more than 100 millimetres in 24-hours. The South African Weather Services have warned residents in northern KwaZulu-Natal to brace themselves for he...

1. Asian equities higher, following a bullish session in the U.S. Overnight 2. Stats SA will publish the consumer inflation rate for January. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to, Group CEO at Lehumo Investments Maudi Len-tsoane for more.

DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Phumzile Van Damme has accused the Chairperson of the Communications Portfolio Committee, Humphrey Maxegwana, of blocking the appointment of the SABC interim Board. Van Damme says the appointment of an interim board at SABC is now 58 days overdue. Committee Chairperson, Humphrey Maxegwana, joins Sakina Kamwendo to interrogate the issue.

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on government to scrap Life Orientation (LO) as a subject in schools. He says it's a complete waste of time and adds no value to the academic development of learners in South Africa. He instead suggests that Maths and History be made compulsory for all pupils until grade 12. However, others argue that LO is an important subject which promotes among o...