Update@Noon

Oakbay Investments, will this week embark on a campaign to restore relations with South Africa's major banks. Last week the company owned by the Gupta family, has had a misfortune of being deserted by four banks in South Africa. There has also been a lot of controversy about the whereabout of the Gupta brothers after they resigned from their positions at Oakbay Resources on Friday. Bongi Gwala spo...

Congress of the People (COPE) has withdrawn from parliamentary activities. This follows a meeting of the party's Congress Executive Committee in Johannesburg yesterday to consider the recent Constitutional Court judgment on President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home. For more Bongi Gwala spoke to COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota

1. The Rand has put in a very strong showing over the last few days. What is the reason for this strengthening trend? 2. Does this also explain the strength in commodity prices? Both precious metals and oil prices have increased quite a bit. 3. This change of fortune for gold comes at the same time as a wage settlement between AMCU and Sibanye was announced. Is this a good thing for the beleaguere...

Police at Welkom in the Free State have recovered the bodies of 3 illegal miners, also known as zama-zamas, from Harmony Mine's Eland shaft. They are believed to have inhaled methane gas underground. Police have also recovered food and beverages worth of a million rand at a house in Welkom. The food was destined for a mine shaft occupied by illegal miners. These pre-packaged food parcels get wrapp...

Faith leaders from different religious denominations have accepted President Jacob Zuma's apology following the Constitutional Court judgement. Members of the National Interfaith Council of South Africa - NICSA say faith leaders must promote reconciliation and that President Zuma's apology must be seen as essential element of that process. These faith leaders are drawn from Christianity, Islam, Hi...

Grain SA has called for a reduction in the price of bread. This follows the announcement of a 34 percent increase in import duty on wheat by the National Treasury. Grain SA says the price of bread should actually have decreased since last December. For more Bongi Gwala spoke to CEO of Grain SA, Jannie de Villiers

Co-operative Governance Minister Des Van Rooyen has condemned the violence reported at some voter registration stations over the weekend. The final day of registration for the municipal elections began with glitches as protests flared up in parts of the country. Bongi Gwala spoke to the Chief Electoral Officer at IEC , Mosotho Moepya

1. Most Asian stocks fell, as losses in Japanese equities on a stronger yen offset gains in Chinese shares 2. Emerging-market currencies rose for a third day as speculation oil producers will agree to limit output pushed up prices for the commodity 3. South Africa's AMCU union accepts Sibanye Gold new wage offer

Hotel and tourism staff would now be able to tackle the problem of child sex tourism. Molo Songololo and Fair Trade Tourism is training the staff on how to spot potential child abusers. To explain further Bongi Gwala spoke to the Regional development manager of Fair Trade Tourism, Netsai Sibanda

ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe says the late SACP leader Chris Hani will be at the heart of the battle to save the ANC from self-destruction. He was speaking at an event to commemorate the 23rd of Hani's death. The event was attended by both members of the ANC alliance partners the ANC, Cosatu, the SACP and Sanco. Mantashe says Hani will be disappointed to see the ANC faced with so many cha...

Five people have been arrested in connection with a massacre of six family members in Ceza near uLundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The incident has shocked the community. Earlier this year, the area saw another killing of six people allegedly over the selling of cattle. Locals say they believe the latest incident was also linked to cattle theft. Vusi Khumalo visited the area and filed this report.....

Protesters have set alight two houses belonging to a community leader in Masakona village outside Vuwani in Limpopo. This comes after protesting residents accused him of being in favour of a newly-demarcated municipality that will see the merger of Vuwani and Malamulele. Forty-three out of 57 voter's registration centres were opened in LIM-345, the interim name for Malamulele and Vuwani. Witness T...

Waste management company Pikitup confirms that the strike is finally over. The commission for conciliation, mediation and arbitration CCMA has also confirmed that it successfully facilitated the settlement agreement. All parties involved are committed to quickly dealing with the waste backlog. Bongi Gwala spoke to Pikitup's Spokesperson Jacky Mashapu....

1. Credit ratings agencies and the threat of a potential downgrade for South Africa remain in the headlines, thanks to widely-reported comments by S&P last week. What were the main messages from them? 2. You speak of rising debt-servicing costs in the event of a sovereign credit rating downgrade. How significant then is the announcement that came out on Friday that Treasury had successfully placed...

Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa has taken a swipe at religious leaders who are criticising government, saying they should rather pray for the government. This week a delegation of church leaders refused to back down over calls for President Jacob Zuma to resign following the Nkandla scandal. Ramaphosa addressed a church service at Mahwelereng in Limpopo. He was in the area to encourage people to...

The Public Protector has appeared before parliament for the first time after the Constitutional Court ruling that confirmed that her remedial actions are binding. Last year she received a hostile reception at the committee, especially from ANC members. Today opposition parties demanded that the committee apologise to her. But the ANC was adamant there was no need to apologise. Joseph Mosia reports...

Traditional leaders say they have partnered with different universities in the continent and abroad to ensure that all cultural practices are consistent with the constitution. This came out in their meeting with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria, yesterday. The meeting was called to discuss the president's address to the National House of Traditional Leaders earlier this year. Ntebo Mokobo reports.

Vantage Gold Fields that owns Lily gold mine in Lows Creek near Barberton has been placed under business rescue. Vantage Gold Fields has been struggling to source funds to assist to drill a new shaft at Lilly gold mine that will help gain access to where its three workers have been trapped two months ago, following a collapse. Vusi Twala reports…

Trade union, Cosatu, has called on the City of Johanneburg's Municipal Manager to intervene in the Pikitup strike. More than 4-thousand SAMWU members downed tools five weeks ago demanding parity pay and the resignation of MD Amanda Nair amongst other things. Noma Bolani reports...

1. Emerging markets snapped two days of losses after oil surged and minutes of last month's Federal Reserve meeting reaffirmed its gradual approach to raising interest rates 2. Fed's Global Concern Signals Barriers to Next Rate Increase 3. Thursday investment theme: The market has become hypersensitive to any sign of weakness in global economic growth

ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe says they are sending members of the NEC to meet with branches around the country to engage them on the Constitutional Court judgement on Nkandla. This follows a call by the Sefako Makgato branch in Johannesburg for President Jacob Zuma to step down or face disciplinary action. Bongi Gwala spoke to Secretary General of the African National Congress.

CIVIL organisations are planning mass mobilisation around the country to pressurise President Jacob Zuma to resign. The Unite Against Corruption movement led by some ANC veterans, lchurch leaders, activists, former judges and activists are pushing for President Zuma to be removed from office following a Constitutional Court judgement found that he failed to uphold respect and defend the Constituti...

The next local government Elections will be held in 17 weeks' time. President Jacob Zuma has announced August the third as the date when local elections will take place. In his statement, the President also encouraged the youth who would be voting for the first time, to register for the local elections during IEC's registration weekend. Bongi Gwala spoke to the Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC,...

The city of Johannesburg says it cannot afford to pay ten thousands rand per worker. The South African Municipal Workers Union demands a salary adjustment of up to 10-thousand rand. They also demand that the MD of PIKITUP, Amanda Nair to be removed. The city also says even if they can agree on offer - the sanctions against employees who embarked on an illegal strike will remain. The strike has now...

1. FOMC minutes 2. The impact of food inflation on the consumer 3. The impact of global growth on asset class returns