Update@Noon

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is urging Burundi's Parliament not fail in its duty to represent and protect Burundians. This comes amid concerns over the deteriorating political situation following President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision to seek a third term in office in April. To discuss this matter further,Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Camer...

Another province has been declared disaster area due to drought. Mpumalanga will need at least R900m in relief aid joining the ranks of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West and the Free State who have already been declared drought disaster areas. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan....

1. Asian stocks were little changed after a drop in U.S. shares. A stronger yen weighed on Japanese exporters, while energy companies retreated after a decline in oil 2. European stocks climbed, resuming a rally that had stalled earlier this week, amid deal activity and earnings reports 3. Currencies from Turkey to South Africa advanced, trimming losses that have weighed on almost every emerging m...

Ten protesting students have been arrested at the University of the Western Cape after setting a number of campus buildings alight. The University of the Western Cape says it is horrified at the conduct of protesting students who have attacked fellow-students and police and damaged property in the name of the FeesMustFall campaign. For more Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the University of the Western Ca...

Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, says a Ministerial Reference Group has recommended that a board of inquiry - led by a retired judge or senior advocate - should be established to investigate suspended police commissioner, Riah Phiyega. The MRG has travelled the country since July last year, investigating complaints and concerns against Phiyega. Among others, senior members were removed from their po...

While Parliament's Joint Rules Committee was meeting to adopt a joint rule to deal with disruptions during joint house sittings, there was chaos on the Parliamentary precinct. This as police attempted to remove striking NEHAWU parliamentary support services staff from the precinct. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent tells us more

Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, says a Ministerial Reference Group has recommended that a board of inquiry - led by a retired judge or senior advocate - should be established to investigate suspended police commissioner, Riah Phiyega. To unpack this Sakina kamwendo spoke to Gareth Newham of the Institute of Security Studies..

1. The big story of the day yesterday was the news that the mega-deal between SABMiller and Anheuser Busch InBev has been confirmed. Talk us through some of the implications for investors. 2. On a very different topic, as South Africans we are very aware of the impact the weakness in the rand has on our economy. On the other side of this coin, strength in the dollar, does that only have positive i...

The Gauteng and City of Joburg officials are working with aid organisations to assist the 300 families which have been displaced at Msawawa Informal Settlement. Yesterdaya fire destroyed their homes which are built near Kya Sands north of Johannesburg. No one was injured in the incident. Noma Bolani compiled this report.

A soon-to-be-launched BBEE commission has sent out a stern warning to companies that are fronting. The commission says companies and individuals found to be practising bad behaviour and undermining the new BEE regulations and laws could face stiff penalties and up to ten years in jail. Amina Accram reports

The ongoing strike by NEHAWU Parliamentary staff has caused a postponement of the sitting of the National Assembly. Workers say that their current demands do not fall in the two year agreement that was put in place earlier this year. The Union is hopeful management will begin engaging with them soon. We are joined on the line by NEHAWU Chairperson, Sthembiso Tembe for more on this...

President Jacob Zuma has wrapped up his state visit to Germany which is being hailed a success. The president and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed a range of issues, including trade and investment, the refugee crisis and climate change. Jack Parrock reports from Berlin

1 Asian stocks fluctuated, with the regional benchmark index trading near the lowest since mid-October, as investors awaited a spate of Chinese data for clues on the extent of the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy 2. Tencent Holdings Ltd. rose in Hong Kong trading after the Internet company posted record third-quarter profit, despite declining economic data on Singles Day 3. Under the...

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is to swear in more ministers today. This could affect South African firms facing regulatory woes in Africa's biggest economy, including MTN and Standard Bank. Buhari was elected on an anti-corruption and anti-terrorism ticket in May. So far, he's only installed half his cabinet and some ministers-elect still don't know their portfolios. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to...

Gauteng provincial government has lost over 91-million rand due to financial misconduct. These are the findings of the Public Service Commission. Its report, the State of the Public Service in Gauteng 2015, indicates that criminal action instituted against employees is very low. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Gauteng Provincial Government spokesperson, Thabo Masebe

South Africa's urbanisation trends suggest that by 2050 around 80% of the population will live in cities. Cities are the largest contributor to the national economy and their role is becoming increasingly important. The recently-released State of the City Finance report indicates that in the past five years, cities spent a combined 117-billion rand on capital-related projects. Sakina Kamwendo spok...

1. The Rand once again reached record levels yesterday, but this did little to boost mining shares. However, elsewhere there was a glimmer of hope for domestic economic growth with the release of the latest manufacturing statistics yesterday. On balance, what is the expectation for the 3rd quarter GDP? 2. With all these negative forces feeding into domestic growth, or rather, the lack thereof, wha...

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says the use of Mandarin Chinese in public schools from next year will not equate to the colonization of South Africa. He has also dismissed as a myth comments that the introduction of any foreign language will be to the detriment of South African languages. Lesufi was speaking during a debate regarding the teaching of Mandarin in public schools. Tshepo Phagane...

The City of Johannesburg has introduced stage two water restrictions. The City said it had to implement the restrictions because of the ongoing drought. Last month, Rand Water issued the Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipalities notification that its supply pipeline servicing the areas was under severe strain. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Environmental and Infrastructure Member...

South Africa's biggest fixed line network Telkom for the first time confirmed that it was in discussions on thea possible acquisition of mobile network Cell C. The confirmation comes in a cautionary announcement to Telkom shareholders. Saudi Arabia's Oger Telecom is Cell C's biggest shareholder, with a 75 per cent stake in the mobile network. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Jan Vermeulen from MyBroadban...

NUMSA says it will not pursue its appeal for reinstatement within Cosatu. Following its weekend Central Executive Committee meeting in Johannesburg, the metalworkers' union has announced that there is no point in pursuing the appeal against its expulsion at the upcoming COSATU National Congress. It was expelled from the labour federation in November last year. It says it will not waste any more of...

Learners at Qhorha Primary School in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape have not been able to write their exams as they have no furniture to write on. Their desks were reposed by a local businessman for non-payment. The owner of Bright Ideas Project, Mlulami Sanqela, claims that the Eastern Cape provincial Department of Education has not paid him the 160-thousand Rand that they owe him for the school toil...

Researchers are sending global warnings about a catastrophic change in climate ahead of the COP 21 Climate Change Conference which will soon be taking place in Paris. A latest report by the World Bank says more than 100 million people could be in poverty by 2030. To give a perspective on this, Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Climate Change Activist from Greenpeace, Melita Steele.

The charges against the University of Johannesburg students and workers who were arrested on Friday have been dropped in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court. The 141 people were taken into custody for public violence, gathering illegally and contravening a court interdict. They've been protesting against the outsourcing of workers at UJ. As the crowd made marched from court to UJ's Kingsway campus...

Today Nerina Visser Strategist & Advisor at ETF looks at implications of the HeatWave on agricultural crops and ultimately food inflation, AGOA and the JSE's 125th birthday.