Update@Noon

Scores of workers affiliated to the National Transport Movement have downed tools at the Botshelo Mills in Delareyville in the North West. The company's operation which produces over 200-thousand tons of maize a year, has been affected since last Monday. Workers from various units including transport and maintenance, are demanding wage increases and benefits. Zebilon Maine reports

There has been international condemnation of the terror attacks that occurred in Brussels Tuesday. US President Barack Obama called for unity while European leaders pledged their support for Brussels and said they would unite to fight terrorism. The series of attacks left at least 34 people dead. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks amid many unanswered questions. Catherine...

The UN Secretary General says he draws encouragement from how far the world has come since the Sharpeville massacre in 1960 but believes much distance remains to be traveled to achieve equality for all. The UN observed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action - considered the most compreh...

1. A rally in emerging-market assets paused after two Federal Reserve officials floated the possibility of a rate increase as soon as April 2. Asian stocks rose, led by a rally in Japan as the yen weakened 3. Exclusive: China central bank to Fed: A little help, please?

Disagreements over Cuba's human rights record and Washington's trade embargo were the main issues that U.S. President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro discussed yesterday (monday). The two leaders held historic talks in Havana as the two countries took another stride away from Cold War-era animosity. Obama arrived in Cuba on Sunday for the first visit by a U.S. president in almost 90 years....

There are fears that the hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak has spread to rural parts of the Limpopo province. The disease, which is caused by the coxsackie virus and mostly affects children below the ages of fourteen, was first reported in Polokwane and the surrounding areas since mid February. The outbreak led to the early closure of some primary and pre-schools in Polokwane. Some parents at...

Motorists, who have been refusing to settle their e-toll accounts, may soon be faced with civil summonses. The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has issued a warning that sheriffs have started delivering the first set of civil summonses to individuals in Gauteng. Bongi Gwala spoke to SANRAL Spokesperson Vusi Mona and the Chairperson for OUTA, Wayne Duvenage

South Africa enjoys achievements in the transition from apartheid to democracy but there is still too little to celebrate. This is according to the Centre of Constitutional Rights as it commemorates Human Rights Day this year. The centre's legal officer Phephelaphi Dube says the country's achievement for equality is an elusive goal with a lot more room for improvement.

1. Fed speakers indicate U.S. hike may come as soon as the next meeting 2. Oil higher on OPEC estimates 3. Eyes on SA CPI this week as political headlines should ease in the near term

Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate, of the South African Human Rights Commission, says fighting racism in the country is still going to take a while. Speaking on the sidelines of Human Rights Day at Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium, Mokate says people should take comfort in the fact that there are avenues available to them if they feel their rights have been violated. Dries Liebenberg compiled this report.

Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni has described the ANC's decision to dismiss an open letter from party veterans as a missed opportunity. Bongi Gwala speaks to Policy and political analyst Prof Somdoda Fikeni from UNISA.

The ANC has strongly condemned any attempt by business conglomerates to capture the state and influence awarding of multi-billion rand government contracts. This emerged at the end of the governing party's three-day National Executive Committee meeting, which was held in Irene south of Pretoria. Presidential Correspondent Tshepo Ikaneng

South Africans are being urged to use this year's Human Rights Day to confront the demons of racism in the country. The day commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre in which police shot and killed 69 people on March 21st in 1960. President Jacob Zuma will address the main Human Rights Day commemoration at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban later this morning. Our Presidential Correspondent Ntebo Mok...

Cultural and traditional barriers were broken when the late former President Nelson Mandela's grandson, Chief Mandla Mandela went down the aisle with his Muslim wife, Rabie Clarke in Mvezo village near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape yesterday . Hundreds of invited well wishers in Islamic and isiXhosa traditional attires ululated and sang in celebration of their union, held privately in Madiba's birth...

Market analyst, Clive Ramathibela speaks to Dhashen Moodley on his reaction to the MPC decision and the retreating of the Asian Markets

President Jacob Zuma has denied being influenced by any external force including the Gupta family in the appointment of ministers and their deputies. He was responding to questions in the National Assembly . This was his first oral reply to the joint sitting of parliament for the year. The president has also rejected claims by former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor that she was offered a ministerial post by...

ANC General Secretary Gwede Mantashe says state capture by business is a threat to the party. He was speaking ahead of what is expected to be a heated National Executive Committee meeting that will discuss the issue. However, there is division over the Gupta family's influence on the governing party and the state. This comes amid revelations that the family offered ANC members cabinet posts and pr...

Nerina Visser, Strategist at ETF SA looks at the SARB hiking interests rates by 25 basis points, the rand to strengthen despite what's happening on the local political front and a rise in food prices

Police and protesting Zandspruit residents north-west of Johannesburg continued to clash as service delivery protests turned violent yesterday. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas as residents of the informal settlement returned for a second consecutive day of protests. Beyers Naude Drive is still closed to traffic after residents blocked the roads with rocks and burning tyres. Jamaine Krige...

Highly-indebted South Africans are in for a tough year ahead. The Reserve Bank has increased the cost of borrowing by a cumulative 200 basis points since 2014 to tame rising inflation. The bank increased interest rates by 25 basis points to 7 percent yesterday (17/03/16). This has pushed the prime interest rate up to 10,5 percent. The bank's governor Lesetja Kganyago expects higher interest rates...

Nerina Visser, Strategist at ETF SA looks at yesterday’s announcement by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mncebisi Jonas, which has added even more fuel to the fire that is raging in South Africa, ratings agency Moody's in South Africa and the US Fed announced last night that it will keep rates unchanged for now.

SACP congratulates Deputy Minister of Finance, Cde Mcebisi Jonas for affirming the values of revolutionary morality by refusing an offer to take over the position of Finance Minister he confirmed was made to him by members of the Gupta family. Dhashen Moodley speaks to the SACP's second Deputy secretary Solly Mapaila

Some political parties in Parliament say they will approach the police to investigate an admission by deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, that the Gupta family offered him the job of Finance Minister. After news broke in the Sunday papers, Jonas has not been silent on accusations that he was offered the position of then minister Nhanhla Nene...an offer that he had refused. Opposition parties ha...

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas has broken his silence and confirmed that the Gupta family offered him the post of Finance Minister. This was shortly before President Jacob Zuma fired then Minister Nhlanhla Nene late last year. Jonas says he has spoken out in accordance with his conscience, political values and the best traditions of the ANC. Joseph Mosia reports...

Constitutional law scholar Processor Pier De vos says he doesn’t expect that there would be no any minutes of a meeting between Guptas and Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas. Professor De Vos adds that anybody who takes any unlawful that impairs the independence of government and the state can be charged for treason