Update@Noon

Nerina Visser, Strategist and Advisor at ETFSA talks about the Manufacturing data, ever heard of King Rand! What is driving this sudden strength in the currency

President Jacob Zuma believes SA is ready for a female president

Learning and teaching in Limpopo has been confronted with a challenge of the unavailability of stationery at affected schools throughout the province. The non-delivery of books has prompted a furor from education unions and some political parties. The provincial Education department says this was largely caused by the late appointment of a stationery distribution service provider. Katlego Nyoni re...

Condolences are pouring in following the death of four school children in an accident involving a bus and a taxi at Ntuzuma north of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. The children were on their way to school for the first day of the academic year when the accident occurred. All the other children in the taxi were injured. One is in a critical condition in hospital. Fanele Mhlongo reports.....

The Department of Military Veterans says it will be clamping down on those fraudulently benefiting from its educational support scheme. The department says it will conduct a forensic audit to ensure that it eliminates fraud and deals with those responsible. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Department of Military Veterans Acting Director General, Max Ozinsky, for more information.

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has approached the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate a series of attacks against mosques. In one incident a pig's snout was left on an entrance gate to a mosque in Simon's Town and in a second incident, blood was found splashed on the walls of a Mosque in Kalk Bay. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Deputy President of the Muslim Judicial Council, Moulan...

A meeting between Black First Land First (BLF) and the office of the Public Protector is expected to take place this morning (thursday 12 January). The Leader of BLF, Andile Mngxitama, has confirmed that the Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane will be meeting with his organisation to discuss issues they raised with the previous public protector, Thuli Madonsela, but which had not been dealt with by the ti...

Nerina Visser, Strategist and Advisor at ETFSA looks at the SACCI Business Confidence Index for December was released yesterday, virtually unchanged from the previous reading, what are the latest forecasts for economic growth released by the World Bank this week and the World Bank sees the US as resuming its role as the leading global engine of growth.

Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela looks at the Asian markets which are mostly high with Japan slightly under as the Yen's strength compromises exports, Nigeria's blue-collar oil union began a three-day warning strike to protest job cuts at oil companies including local units of Chevron and Exxon Mobil and South Africa's business confidence steady in December

The Communications Committee in Parliament says it is confident that the recommended names of persons to serve on the Interim SABC Board will be ready before the National Assembly sittings resume in February. The SABC says the acting executive positions of the CFO, COO and CEO were extended in December just before the delegation of authority for those positions expired. Our Parliamentary Correspon...

The ANC stalwarts say they will now hold further discussions with the party's top 6 to press for an early consultative conference. Last year, it was resolved that it would take place two days before the party holds its policy conference in June, but the veterans say this will be too late. Mbali Sibanyoni Reports…

Schools across the country re-open for the new academic year this morning. We now go to Limpopo where we speak to our reporter Rudzani Tshivhase, who is in Tshivhilwi Village, one of the areas that were badly affected by recent flash floods outside Thohoyandou. We also speak to our reporter Reginald Witbooi at the Calvinia High School in the Namaqua District in the Northern Cape, which is the best...

Learners around the Vhembe district in Limpopo are starting the 2017 school calendar in a low mood as their stationery and school uniform were damaged in recent floods. Houses at Magidi, Thohoyandou block G extension and F were flooded by heavy rains during the week. Furniture, clothe and house hold equipment were all destroyed. A recently constructed bridge at Luvhimbi village was also washed awa...

The Communications Committee in Parliament says it is confident that the recommended names of persons to serve on the Interim SABC Board will be ready before the National Assembly sittings resume in February. The SABC says the acting executive positions of the CFO, COO and CEO were extended in December just before the delegation of authority for those positions expired. Our Parliamentary Correspon...

Nerina Visser, Strategist and Advisor at ETF South Africa, looks at the impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act on chicken farmers in SA, as imports from the US resumed last year and Apple iPhone is celebrating its 10th birthday this week.

The ANC stalwarts say they will now hold further discussions with the party's top 6 to press for an early consultative conference. Last year, it was resolved that it would take place two days before the party holds its policy conference in June, but the veterans say this will be too late. Mbali Sibanyoni Reports

58 thousand pupils still need to be placed in schools across Gauteng. Schools in the province re-open for the new academic year tomorrow. The Gauteng Education Department says a lack of schools is one of the reasons for learners in grades one to eight not being placed in schools. Sakiana Kamwendo speaks to Gauteng Department of Education's Acting Chief Director of Communications, Oupa Bodibe,

Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela looks at tough start to the year for Asian markets remain mixes this morning despite positive reports from Samsung, U.S economy could be the key to reversing a weak 2016 growth, with interest rates hike cycle and FAWU cries foul on chicken imports compromising the industry, as export taxes remain high

The young man whose mother was killed in a stampede at the University of Johannesburg whilst in the late application queue has told of his trauma five years on. The incident not only sparked change in the registration process at major universities, but it also highlighted the scramble for space at the country's tertiary institutions. Nomsa Mdhluli reports.

Some residents of Musina in Llimpopo are accusing certain officials at the local municipality of being involved in allocating RDP houses improperly. The beneficiaries were allocated RDP houses on the municipal list, only to learn that other people who were not on the list have occupied their houses. Others have opened cases of fraud with the police. Our reporter Rudzani Tshivhase reports

Foreign shop owners near Kuruman in the Northern Cape say they have lost over 10-million-rand in stock after community members looted and torched shops in the area. An angry mob attacked over 50 foreigners and looted 26 shops. The attacks come after community members accused a foreign shop owner of fatally stabbing a 16-year-old boy, who he allegedly accused of stealing his meat. Neo Bodumela comp...

Nerina Visser, Strategist and Advisor at ETF South Africa looks at National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) reported on vehicle sales for 2016, as it declined for the third year in a row oil price fell quite a bit and the rand strengthened and a major contributor to inflation last year were rising food prices caused by the severe drought.

Market analyst, Nerina Visser of ETF South Africa looks at South African markets as major political events and their far-reaching consequences, equity market has surging ahead since Donald Trump was elected as the 45th US president in November and Trump's policies expected to have a major impact on global trade relations...

About 3-thousand workers will be out of jobs from the end of the month in the chicken industry. The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), has called the country's chicken producers victims of trade arrangement between our government and the European Union. Chicken producers Country Bird, is earmarking to retrench 1500 workers, while RCL Foods which used to be Rainbow Chicken, has actually started...

Thousands of matriculants who have passed with bachelor's exemption could be rejected as most universities report that they are already full. Some of the universities say they have seen an increase in applications for undergraduate places this year. We spoke to Yonela Tukwayo, who is spokesperson for Walter Sisulu University...