Update@Noon

The DA wants the NPA boss Shaun Abrahams to appear before the Portfolio Committee of Justice and Correctional Services if alleged plans to drop fraud and perjury charges against his deputy Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba goes ahead. This follows weekend media reports that Abrahams is set to withdraw charges against Jiba, and to also lay criminal charges against Ivan Pillay, Anwa Dramat and prosecutor Gerri...

• What has happened in the world whilst we were celebrating phenomenal women (like you and me ) over the long weekend? Can you give the listeners who have been away for a few days a quick update? • So the week started off with a bit of struggle for everyone, except China, it seems, and that pushed the US markets higher last night. What is the latest news from the world’s 2nd largest economy? • La...

Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has released an audit report into corruption allegations at Glenvista High School in Johannesburg. The report has revealed what he has called the worst corruption in a school he has ever come across. Speaking at a press conference he said he was stunned by the findings. He has now vowed to to file criminal and civil charges againsts the former principal , chair...

Lesotho nationals in South Africa continue to call for the abolishment of borders between their country and South Africa. According to the Free Movement of Basotho, there is a need for the incorporation of their country into South Africa, an ideology they are negotiating with their government. They are also calling for the implementation of the SADC free trade area and SADC free movement treaty. T...

Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party says the country's constitution remains unimplemented, despite its overwhelming endorsement by millions of the people during the 2013 referendum. In a statement to mark today [Monday] national Heroes day commemorations, the MDC said the country;s failure to change the laws to support the charter has denied ordinary Zimbabweans their f...

The congregation of the End Times Disciples Ministry in Soshanguve,north of Pretoria say they will continue with church services. This comes after The EFF in Gauteng visited the tent church and set it alight. The EFF in Gauteng say they are outraged by the behaviour of the church leaders. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to EFF's spokesperson , Mbuyiseni Ndlozi ...

A Gift of the Givers volunteer who was caught in the shootout at a Mali hotel on Friday, has contacted the foundation's director Dr Imitiaz Sooliman to inform of his survival and that he and another South African have been moved to a hotel in the capital Bamako and that they are under security protection. He has described the experience as terrible, frightening and traumatising'. Meanwhile, the De...

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema says women are not yet liberated as they are still excluded from contributing meaningfully to the economy. He says this is as a result of them being denied proper access to education and employment. Malema was speaking at an EFF Women's rally in at thr Dr JS Moroka hall in Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga. Maluti Obuseng compiled this report...

President Jacob Zuma has counted the country's successes in empowering women but says focus should now be on ensuring they participate fully in the economy. He was speaking at the national Women's Day celebrations at Sasolburg in the Free State. The event was also attended by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the newly elected ANC Women's League President Bathabile Dlamini. Our Political Corres...

1. Asian stocks headed for a third weekly loss and bond risk rose amid concern a U.S. payrolls report will reinforce prospects the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates 2. Australia's central bank indicated the jobless rate has peaked as signs mount the economy is improving, even as it pushed back forecasts of a growth upswing by a year 3. Emerging market central bankers are getting nervous ab...

ANC Women's League members appear to be divided about who should serve as the League's next president. During their 12th national elective conference in Pretoria, two groups have emerged - one supporting the continued presidency of Angie Motshekga for another term, and the other throwing its weight behind Social Development Minister, Bathabile Dlamini. To unpack this, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to poli...

President Jacob Zuma has called for unity within the ANC women's league. This as the league prepares itself for one of the most hotly contested leadership race later today. It's understood that Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini is contesting current president Angie Motshekga for the position. Opening the conference yesterday, delegates sang songs about their preferred candidate, a move...

1. U.S. Jobs numbers coming out today 2. Mondi interim results released yesterday 3. Ascendis bid for Spanish company Farmalider

President Jacob Zuma has once again found himself in a middle of a political storm regarding upgrades of his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu Natal. The EFF was true to its word that it would insist that the President should say when he will pay back the money for non security upgrades as instructed by the Public Protector. Joseph Mosia reports...

On the Forum@8 we ask, why are we losing the fight against drug and substance abuse? Our guest, Operations Director for the South African Depression & Anxiety Group, SADAG, Cassey Chambers, Chief Director responsible substance abuse at the dept of Social Development Siza Magangwe and Cindy Le Grange, Editor in Chief of Addicts Magazine and living with family members that were addicts.

1. Asian stocks rose, following a rebound in global shares, amid optimism over the American economy 2. Japanese stocks advanced, sending the Topix toward an eight-year high, as a weaker yen boosted earnings prospects 3. Thursday Investment Theme: Fixed Income Funds

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police has condemned the support shown by the Board of Commissioners of the Police towards their boss, National Commissioner Riah Phiyega. The Board of Commissioners, which consists of nine provincial police commissioners, issued a statement saying they are concerned about the unfair and negative attitudes towards Phiyega. The Chairperson of the Portfolio C...

South Africa is heading for a major crisis as a result of a lack of nuanced and mature strategic leadership. This is according to the Vice-Chancellor of Wits University and political analyst, Professor Adam Habib He says the country is facing a moment of reckoning, and the political pact of 1994 is slowly beginning to unravel.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed seasoned corporate executive Sizwe Nxasana as chairperson of the troubled National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Nxasana will have the task of trying to resolve issues of alleged corruption and financial mismanagement at the scheme. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande...

In August 1945, US planes dropped two atomic bombs - one on Hiroshima, and the other on Nagasaki three days later. It was the first and only time that nuclear weapons have been used in history. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives as a direct result of the bombings. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Japanese ambassador to South Africa Shigeyuki Hiroki

1. MTN interim results 2. Standard bank PMI data that came out yesterday 3. Ascendis health bid for Spanish pharmaceutical company Farmalider

Job losses at the country's mines took the centre stage during a debate on transformation of the mining industry in the National Assembly. While political parties were not in agreement about solutions, there was broad agreement that the decline in commodity prices was largely to blame for the crisis. Joseph Mosia reports

The Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramatlhodi is said to have instructed Glencore to suspend its Optimum coal mine operations as it did not comply with legal requirements in its retrenchment process. Last month, Glencore announced that it would shut part of the Optimum mine and cut 380 jobs due to lower coal prices. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Minister's Special Advisor, Advocate Mahlodi Mu...

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says he will not rest until all schools in the province are open to all races. Lesufi says he's prepared to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. He was responding to questions from opposition parties in the Gauteng Legislature. Tshepo Phagane

Kenya is carrying out a polio vaccination campaign targeting eight Million children amid concerns from the Catholic Church that the vaccines being used may cause infertility. While the country's ministry's of health says the vaccines are provided by the World Health Organisation and met all standards the church through it's association of doctors says independent tests show the vaccines contain tr...