Update@Noon

Schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape will not be taking part in this year's annual national assessments. This is according to the Northern Areas Education Forum (NAEF). The forum claims that for over 12 months, they have been asking the Basic Education Department to resolve issues like vacant posts and payment of teachers, but the department has failed them. Sakina K...

In a last ditch bid to avoid paying up, two lawyers and a doctor have petitioned the Constitutional Court. They were saddled with potentially millions of rands of costs in a medical negligence claim. The High Court in Johannesburg found the Gauteng Department of Health liable for damages in a case which has dragged on for more than a decade. The court then ordered that the officials themselves, be...

14 suspects who arrested for arson at Marapong township in Lephalale are expected to appear at the local magistrate court. They were part of a mob which allegedly torched 21 busses belonging to Lowveld company, a satellite police station, municipal office and also partly damaged a community library on monday evening. The community is demanding jobs, saying locals are not given first preference whe...

1. AngloPlatinum and Sibyane Gold announced the deal around the Rustenburg mine as expected - what can you tell us about some of the details? 2. Ratings agencies have been in the news again this week, first with Fitch announcing its withdrawal from the South African market, and then both Moody's and S&P lowering their forecasts for growth in Asian economies. What has the reaction in the market bee...

The Parliamentary Protection Services had to be called inside the National Assembly chamber to remove the Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema yesterday. This after the chairperson of the House Mmatlala Boroto asked Malema to withdraw remarks in which he called the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a murder in reference to the Marikana 2012 tragedy in which 44 people including 34 minework...

Classes at Roodepoort Primary School on Gauteng's West Rand are expected to resume today. The school has been experiencing violent protests and was temporarily closed for the third time last month. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi was quoted as saying that after careful inspection, he is confident that the school is ready to re-open. For more Sakina Kamwendo spoke to our reporter Sashin Naidoo...

1. Asian stocks surged, led by the biggest gain in four years for Japanese shares, while emerging-market and commodity-producer currencies strengthened amid optimism China will be able to stabilize its financial markets 2. Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and General Motors Co. all posted gains of at least 2.7 percent amid a broad-based rally as investors returned from the Labour Day...

The South African National Roads Agency says they currently have a short fall of around 197-billion rand which they need to settle, in order to maintain the 750-thousand kilometres of roads across the country. SANRAL says the money they receive from government is not enough to support their operating costs and pay their outstanding debt. SANRAL has taken a media contingent on a tour of the existin...

The United States embassy in Pretoria has issued a rare "terrorist threat" warning to US interests in the country, and advised its citizens to be on heightened alert against attack. The message released yesterday afternoon gave no information on the possible timing or target in South Africa, which has escaped the militant Islamist attacks seen in several other African countries. Kate Fisher report...

The United States embassy in Pretoria has issued a rare "terrorist threat" warning to US interests in the country, and advised its citizens to be on heightened alert against attack. The message released yesterday afternoon gave no information on the possible timing or target in South Africa, which has escaped the militant Islamist attacks seen in several other African countries. Sakina Kamwendo sp...

The United States embassy in Pretoria has issued a rare "terrorist threat" warning to US interests in the country, and advised its citizens to be on heightened alert against attack. The message released yesterday afternoon gave no information on the possible timing or target in South Africa, which has escaped the militant Islamist attacks seen in several other African countries. Sakina Kamwendo sp...

The Post Office's Chief Operating Officer, Mlu Mathonsi, has told Parliament that the revenues are still not matching its costs, and that financial recovery has been slower than anticipated. But SAPO's ambitious turn-around strategy includes opening up new revenue streams, and they have approached commercial banks for funding. Esley Philander reports

1. "Operation Phakisa" was back in the spotlight yesterday with a meeting of the Mining Sector Consultative Forum. We've been talking about the need for better communication and cooperation within the mining industry between government, business and labour. Are we finally making progress? 2. Speaking of deals in the mining industry, Angloplats and Sibanye Gold have scheduled a joint media conferen...

The Deputy Minister of Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, says the department will bring a draft bill to Parliament to enforce medical circumcision. Bapela briefed Parliament's portfolio committee on his department's report on initiation. During the past winter season, 34 young men died, ten less than last year. But Bapela says while the number of casualties is less than the previous period, too ma...

AfriForum Youth has issued a prevention plan for South African Universities that will ensure that Afrikaans is retained as a medium of instruction. They say Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande's political agenda to transform universities on a race basis is the reason why there has been a crisis at some South African Universities. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to AfriForum Youth Natio...

1. Modi Gathers India's Top Economic Minds as Stocks with Asian markets still mixed 2. Samsung Electronics Co. is preparing to cut 10 percent of workers at its headquarters 3. European Stocks Rebound From Weekly Drop

The ANC Youth League's disgruntled members say they will challenge the outcomes of its conference in the Constitutional Court. The group unsuccessfully tried to stop this past weekend's elective congress. They say they do not recognise the new executive, as the processes which led to their election was irregular. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to a member of the disgruntled North West ANCYL group, Thabo Mo...

Residents of the Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape say government intervention in the administration of this municipality has had very little impact on the services it provides to the people. The embattled municipality, which includes Grahamstown, Alicedale and Riebeck East, was placed under administration last year. A year later, the Select Committees on Co-operative Governance and Traditio...

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised South Africa's commitment in addressing challenges relating to sustainable management of the world's forests. Ramaphosa was addressing delegates at the 14th World Forestry Congress in Durban. Meanwhile, experts in the forestry sector and civil society groups have called for more bold and urgent measures for preserving the already under pressure fores...

Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa has described the Bhisho Massacre as one of the saddest moments in his life where he witnessed 28 people die and 200 more injured on this day 23 years ago. Ramaphosa has been addressing dozens at the Bhisho stadium where the 23rd commemoration was held. He was among leaders of the ANC such as Chris Hani, Steve Tshwete and Ronnie Kasrils who led the march. They wan...

Police are monitoring the situation in Lephalale in Limpopo after about 21 busses, a satellite police station and a municipal office were set alight while a library was partly damaged at Marapong township. The damage was allegedly caused by a mob of former construction workers at the nearby ESKOM's Medupi Power Station. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to our reporter Rudzani Tshavhase and Eskom Spokesperson...

About 21 busses, a satellite police station and a municipal office have been burnt down while a library was partly damaged at Marapong township of Lephalale in Limpopo last night. The damage was alleged caused by a mob of former construction workers at the nearby ESKOM's Medupi Power Station. The mob of those who were fired following an industrial action early this year and those whose contracts w...

1. We do not often discuss company specific news with you, but there were some interesting results released yesterday, including Sasol releasing full year numbers to June 2015. In the light of the massive decline in oil prices over the last 12 months, I would have expected these numbers to be quite dismal. Talk to us about the performance of Sasol. 2. Another big commodity company that was in the...

The African Nation Congress says it is considering banning dual citizenship. Obed Bapela, head of the party's National executive Committee's subcommittee on international relations says there are worrying issues that exist regarding South African Jews receiving military and intelligence training in Israel.

1. Asian stocks fluctuated as early gains by Chinese shares evaporated after national holidays 2. China Revises 2014 GDP Growth to 7.3% From 7.4% 3. Oil Bears Cashing Out From Crude Market's Roller-Coaster Ride