Update@Noon

The Chamber of Mines is expected to present a draft agreement to three gold mining sector unions next week, at wage talks mediated by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). These unions, Solidarity, NUM and UASA have in principle agreed to a six per cent increase for artisans and thirty two percent for entry level employees spread over three years. Meanwhile, AMCU says i...

The Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development Mr John Jeffery says the constitution is not an easy document to read. The Minister was responding to a Forum@8 discussion in which SAfm listeners said the constitution was not easily accessible.

President Jacob Zuma says government is studying the International Criminal Court's deadline of the 4th of next month to respond to its order regarding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. The ICC earlier ordered South Africa to explain why it did not arrest Bashir when he was in the country in July. President Al-Bashir has been wanted since 2009 on charges of crimes against humanity. Presidential C...

NYDA has received its first-ever clean audit report. The Deputy Minister responsible for youth development, Buti Manamela, says this report will be an opportunity to partner with the private sector and turn around the situation of young people. He was also quoted as saying that the perception that the NYDA belongs to the ANC Youth League or the Young Communist League, is a fallacy. On the line now...

South Africa has declined in rank in the annual economic freedom index released earlier this week. The index shows that the country declined from 42nd place in 2000 to 96th out of 157 countries and territories. The report was released by the Free Market Foundation. South Africa ranked 89th in the previous index. Amina Accram reports

The leadership of the ANC Women's League has given its marching orders to its deployees across all spheres of government. Yesterday in Johannesburg, the League's top structures met with Cabinet ministers, MECs, Speakers of Provincial parliaments and mayors who form part of its membership. The meeting was aimed at communicating the organisation's vision and programme of action to strengthen it goin...

Mohammed Nalla Strategist at Nedbank Capital looks at the U. S FED remains the core focus for this week with their decision on Thursday, eyes on the current account data out for South Africa this morning and Chinese attempt to bring on shore and offshore Yuan value closer together

Gauteng Education Department has confirmed that one of several bullies at the Laerskool Randfontein on Gauteng's West-Rand has been suspended. The remaining thirteen primary school children will learn their fate tomorrow (wednesday 16 September) during a disciplinary hearing. Video footage of the bullying incident went viral on social media over the weekend. Jacques Steenkamp reports

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian markets retreat following volatile Chinese markets, Japanese leave rates unchanged reassuring that the economy is stable and Finance Minister Nlanhla Nene confident of SA economy despite the negative sentiments

1. Asian stocks advanced, led by gains in Hong Kong, after China published plans to reform its state-run companies as it battles to meet economic-growth targets 2. Singapore's ruling party, fresh off a big win in parliamentary elections, will need to guard against complacency as it heads into its sixth decade of leadership 3. Baidu's Li Says Investors Don't Get China's Coming Internet Boom, which...

As from Monday, the power system will be tight as Eskom will be undertaking maintenance work. This planned maintenance, which will be taking place on the Cahora-Bassa Hydroelectric scheme together with Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa, will result in South Africa getting only 650 megawatts instead of its usual daily 1 500megawatts. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Eskom's Spokesperson, Khulu

The beatification of Blessed Benedict Daswa has been used as a platform to call for an end to violence and senseless killings linked to witchcraft and witch hunts in South Africa. A call was also made for the strengthening of families, in honour of Blessed Daswa. Daswa has now officially been named a "Blessed" after the beatification service at his home village of Tshitanini outside Thohoyandou in...

The national education department on Friday announced the writing of the Annual National Assessments (ANA) has been postponed to next year. The announcement came after threats from teacher unions to boycott the ANA - a series of tests for learners between grades one and nine to test their numeracy and literacy levels. To talk to us about the implications of this Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Education...

Thousands of technical and private college students have been affected by a top-level probe which was instituted by the Department of Higher Education and Training after exam papers were leaked to candidates via WhatsApp. The leaked papers fell under Natural Sciences studies, which affected students from the country's technical, vocational, and private colleges. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to th eDepart...

Parents of the children from Roodepoort Primary School, west of Johannesburg, say they want the department to tighten the security at the school. This came out during a meeting which Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, held with them at Matholeville in Roodepoort. The meeting was aimed at addressing the parents' request, to not send their children back to Roodepoort Primary school. The scho...

The inquest into the death of Anika Smit, a 17 year old who was sexually molested, stabbed and her hands cut off, will start in the Pretoria North Magistrates court today (MONDAY). Smit was found dead in her father's house in Theresapark, Pretoria, in March 2010. She was in grade 11 at Gerrit Maritz High School when she was murdered. Her father made the gruesome discovery. Liela Magnus reports ......

News and Current Affairs Show hosted by award winning presenter Sakina Kamwendo, live on weekdays from 12 noon to 1 pm on SAfm 104-107fm

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says government does not have an immediate answer to a call for by the protesting residents of Vuwani to have the decision by the Municipal Demarcation Board reversed. Residents have asked the Deputy President to investigate the municipal demarcation board's decision to have some parts of Vuwani merged with Malamulele to form a new municipality. They believe that t...

1. Asian stocks fell, paring the regional benchmark measure's first weekly advance since July. Consumer and industrial shares declined 2. South African insurer Discovery to set up retail bank 3. South Africa July factory production up 5.6 % year/year

The discovery of fossils of a new species called Homo Naledi at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site near Johannesburg, has received mixed reaction. While some welcomed the discovery, others questioned how this species can be related to human beings. Someone who thinks the researchers could have used the money and resources differently, Founding President of the Kara Heritage Institute, Dr...

Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, says police killings are an attack on the state. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Police Minister

Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, says police killings are an attack on the state. He was taking part in a debate in the National Assembly on police killings. Nhleko says 60 police officers have been killed so far this year alone. Nearly half of them died while on duty. Last weekend, President Jacob Zuma called for a tactical plan to be implemented urgently, to combat the killing of police officers....

Yesterday, we had the Northern Areas Education Forum on the show. They said that the Basic Education Department is not serious in addressing their concerns which include teacher shortages and payment of teachers. The Forum Spokesperson said they have resolved that as a result, schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape will not be taking part in this year's annual national...

1. South Africa made headlines worldwide yesterday, and for a change it was for a good reason. The discovery of the "Homo Naledi" fossils has put us firmly in the archaeological spotlight. Does this present any other benefits to us? 2. Speaking of history, although a bit more recent, today marks the 14 year anniversary of 9-11. What's changed in the global economy and markets since then, or rather...

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, has made an impassioned plea to MPs not to use offensive language in the House. This comes after MPs hurled insults at each other and one MP used a swear word. MPs accused each other of being drunk in the National Assembly. This happened during ministerial statements. Zalene Merrington has more...