Update@Noon

Parliament says it is ready to host the President for this year's State of the Nation Address. National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete says there is adequate security to deal with any attempts to disrupt the event, as the EFF has threatened. Addressing the media at parliament, Mbete says all security services have made the necessary preparations and they expect everything to go smoothly. Joseph Mos...

Government and the business sector have agreed on new measures to improve levels of cooperation and engagement. This emerged after the meeting between President Jacob Zuma and the country's Chief Executive Officers of top companies in Cape Town yesterday. The meeting comes ahead of the President's State of the Nation Address on Thursday. Presidential Correspondent Tshepo Ikaneng has filed this rep...

1. The restructuring happening at Bidvest 2. The rout in European equities and what is driving it? 3. Janet Yellen's testimony to congress happening today and tomorrow

Thousands of EFF supporters descended on the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg to support the party's legal battle against President Jacob Zuma and the national assembly. They marched from Newtown to outside the court where the country's legal eagles were squaring up on the Public Protector's recommendations that President Zuma pay back the money for non-security upgrades at his Nkandla home in...

The number of doctors in the country is critically low while administration staff such as clerks and managers is fast escalating. The SA Medical Association says its concerned that there are too many medical posts that are frozen in provinces which need doctors the most. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Vice Chairman of the SA Medical Association Dr. Mzukisi Grootboom and Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoal...

1. Emerging-market stocks ended a two-day gain amid the widest price swings this year as slumping oil prices sapped energy companies and traders weighed the timing of U.S. interest-rate increases 2. More than a quarter of the African nations south of the Sahara Desert have presidential elections this year, and renewable energy developers could stand to benefit 3. India sees its growth exceeding ec...

The much-anticipated Constitutional Court hearing into the powers of the Public Protector is set to get underway this morning (tuesday 9 february). The marathon hearing before the highest court in the land is expected to settle the dispute over whether President Jacob Zuma is obliged to pay to pay back money for non-security features at his Nkandla home. Senior Constitutional Court reporter, Candi...

Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza on NDPP's decision to prosecute members of the Soweto Special Branch for the murder of Nokuthula Simelane.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says they have decided to prosecute four members of the Soweto Special Branch for the murder of Nokuthula Simelane. Simelane disappeared in September 1983. She was an ANC underground operative. She disappeared in the hands of the Soweto Special Branch. Sakina spoke to spokesperson of the NPA Luvuyo Mfaku and Thembi Nkadimeng , sister to Nokuthula Simelane L...

The North West police have confirmed an incident where a group of EFF members allegedly attempted to attack and set alight the house of the ANC Youth League President, Collen Maine, at his home village outside Taung. The alleged attack happened yesterday afternoon. This is apparently linked to the comments made by Maine at a youth league's rally in Shoshanguve north of Pretoria, over the weekend....

HIV testing kits are now available over the counter. The Pharmacy Council of South Africa says pharmacists can now sell HIV testing kits at their pharmacies. The Council says the ban on the sale of the testing kits was removed last year and is now ready to be implemented. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to CEO of Pharmacy Council of South Africa Amos Masango...

1. Amplats earnings 2. India's economic growth numbers 3. Janet Yellen's testimony to congress later this week

The search for the three missing staff members of the Lily gold mine continues. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Lilly Mine Operations Director who says the search is at the critical stage, but they are not loosing hope.

Markets Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at China's foreign-exchange reserves shrank to the smallest since 2012, Oil traded near $31 a barrel after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela met to discuss cooperating to stabilize the market and U.S. data signalled investors are split on the direction for prices and U.S. companies created 151,000 jobs in January, a disappointment compared to the economist consensu...

Nadir Thokan, Analyst at 27Four Investment Managers looks at US jobs numbers that came out on Friday, shrinking Chinese foreign reserves and why is this happening and the tough task facing Pravin Gordhan for the budget speech.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out against incidents of racism in the country. He said that the government is working hard to improve the economy and create employment. The Deputy President also promised solutions to mitigate against the downgrading of the economy by rating agencies including a negative forecast by the World Bank on the country's growth prospects. He was speaking duri...

Two Durban cyclists have been killed by an alleged drunk driver. The incident happened just after five o' clock on Sunday morning. Both cyclists were members of the Kings Park Cycling Club. Minoshni Pillay compiled this report

The ANCYL says it is ready to defend its mother body and its president, Jacob Zuma. Addressing thousands of members at the Kgala-mela len-yatso rally in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, youth league president, Collen Maine, told the crowd they must protect the ANC and not be distracted as the Local Government Elections approach. Maine also had a strong message for opposition parties. Phumzile Mlange...

South African Businessman Tokyo Sexwale says he is pushing on with the race to be Football World Governing body FIFA's next president despite a decision by the Confederation of African Football to endorse Bahrain Football Association's President Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa. Sexwale says the continent needs a person who understands what ails football in Africa and he is that man. Sarah Kimani spoke t...

The public hearings by the National Energy Regulator, NERSA into Eskom's application to increase tariffs by more than 16 percent were held at Gallagher Estate in Gauteng today. The utility says it is applying for this increase, bearing in mind that consumers are hard pressed. It maintains that it is sensitive to the current socio-economic challenges and the increase will help it meet its financial...

The Constitutional Court case looking into the powers of the Public Protector is set to go ahead next Tuesday. President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday proposed how he might go about paying back part of the money for non-security related features to his Nkandla home. The Constitutional Court responded by saying that the parties should decide the issue among themselves. But such an agreement seems unlikely....

The eThekwini Municipality may soon be forced to revisit its practice of grave sharing if the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, disapproves it. The issue came under the spotlight at the Commission's recent sitting in Durban. Legal experts say the body has every right to force the municipality to urgently reconsider this. Mi...

COSATU says it is gearing up for a must win battle. The federation is going ahead with their fight for the new pension tax laws to be scrapped. The labour federation held a special Central Executive Committee meeting to map out a way forward with just three months to go before the law comes into effect. The new laws limit workers to withdrawing a third of their pension as a lump sum upon retiremen...

Zimbabwe's Central Bank has unveiled a draft of measures aimed at tightening exchange controls and keeping money in the formal banking sector. The country's Reserve Bank Governor John Manguya says Zimbabwe lost close to two billion US dollars or 160 billion rand - in externalization of funds in 2015. He tabled his 2016 monetary policy yesterday. Shinga Nyoka reports....

Moody’s Investor Services indicates that the GDP low growth prospects is credit negative. What does this mean and what would be the impact if any and can professionals play their part in curbing the scourge of unemployed graduates.