Update@Noon

COSATU president Sdumo Dlamini says the labour federation is prepared to welcome back its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and affiliates to the Central Executive Committe meeting.

JSE hits the skids on the first trading day of March, Nasdaq closes above 5,000 for the first time in 15 years, Deloitte Agribusiness released a report on risks to food security in SA over the medium to long term

· Stronger US economic data vs. weaker world markets · Quo vadis the ratings agencies and SA - Moody's issues a positive report after last week's budget · ABIL update: Louis von Zeuner, former ABSA, appointed as chairman, hope to appoint CEO and board by end of March

1. Asian markets positive as China plans to collect past taxes for foreign money 2. Fuel price could go up by close to R1 per litre 3. Chelsea sign £40m-a-year Yokohama Rubber shirt sponsorship deal

According to a Financial Mail report, South Africa's ambassador to Japan Mohau Pheko is not a PHD graduate from LaSalle University as she claims in her CV. LaSalle was shut down in 1996 when it emerged it was selling degrees and other academic qualifications via the Internet. Pheko claims she received her PHD there in 2000. Pheko is among several South African public officials recently found to ha...

African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is in the country and Sakina Kamwendo takes the opportunity to speak to her on a variety of issues, including her role in the AU.

Rating Agency Fitch reviewed the latest budget speech saying the budget highlights the challenge the government faces in narrowing the fiscal deficit , South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar in line with the euro yesterday, South African stocks edged up on yesterday led by Gold Fields tell us more about the top movers.

Mohammed Nalla Head of Strategic Research at Nedbank Capital talks about Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s budget speech talking about, taxes, electricity levies and fuel prices all going up.

Market Analyst and Homemade Economist Clive Ramathibela gives his take on Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and a praise song

City Power is set to implement a residential time-of-use tariff system that will allow the utility to price electricity at different rates during the day. This will encourage use during off peak hours to reduce the cost to customers and lessen the pressure on the national grid. Eskom is expected to increase its tariffs by more than eight percent in the next four years. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the...

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene presents his budget speech this afternoon. It will be the first national budget since 1994 that will require increased taxes to raise revenue. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Economist at Economists dot co.za, Mike Shussler

Al Jazeera are in possession of explosive spy cables implicating some the worlds spy agencies like the CIA, MI6 and our very South African Security Agency. A digital leak of hundreds of secret intelligence documents have strong and disturbing links to South Africa. From Iranian spies working in Johannesburg to the theft of South African missile technology blueprints. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Edito...

A Benoni family has done its own DNA tests to verify if the remains which they received from the Nigerian government are those of their sister. Her remains were among 11 brought home early this month because they could not be positively identified earlier. The South African government had previously advised families of the deceased not to open the body bag. But they had done so anyway. 84 South Af...

Gauteng Premier David Makhura says the final decision on E-tolls will be made once Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's team has completed its work. Makhura who was speaking at his State of the Province address in Johannesburg says the provincial government is part of the current consultation process led by Ramaphosa to develop a better dispensation which will mitigate the negative impact of Etolls...

That was the voice of Cyril Ramaphosa, on this day, the 24th of February 1992, the ANC announced its constitutional proposals during the CODESA talks. The ANC's proposals envisioned a two-phase transition to a post-apartheid democracy and were supported by the South African Communist Party (SACP). During Phase One an all-party interim government council would be appointed by CODESA by the third qu...

** South African stocks climbed to an all-time high yesterday, with Naspers Ltd. leading gains ** Gauteng premier put the economy at the centre of his state of the province address, pledging incentives for private business investment and jobs ** Statistics South Africa will release gross domestic product (GDP) data for the fourth quarter of 2014 today as Finance Minister Nhlanhla expected to deliv...

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has dismissed claims that Minister Michael Masutha has received an application from convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik for the conversion of his medical parole to ordinary parole. The Democratic Alliance says it will take the matter to court if Shaik's application is to be considered. For more clarity Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Justice and Correctio...

1. Asian Stocks Advance to Five-Month High After Greek Bailout Deal 2. Russia Gets Second Junk Rating From Moody's on Ukraine 3. Why is Gijima delisting from the JSE?

The Hawks will today approach the High Court in Pretoria, to challenge a court ruling that saw the overturning of the suspension of the Gauteng Hawks boss Maj-General Shadrack Sibiya. On Friday, Judge Elias Matojane ruled that Sibiya's suspension was unconstitutional, invalid and unlawful. Sibiya was suspended pending an investigation into his alleged role in the illegal rendition of Zimbabweans i...

** Greece has negotuated a settlement but the Troika needs to agree to its proposed reforms today. ** Oil is stabilized around 60 dollars as supply remains ample. ** Big focus this week on Minister Nene's budget.

Breaking down President Jacob Zuma's post SONA response, by hearing from young South Africans who could one day make their mark in business, politics and civil society, Youth Activist Simamkele Dlakavu, Khusela Sangoni who is, Mail and Guardian top 200 young South Africans and Attorney and Global strategist, Abdullah Verachia.

1. Asian markets in the green booted by Japanese stocks thanks to the weaker YEN, 2. Walmart CEO reaps the rewards of increasing the employees' salaries a year ago 3. South African farmers warn of possibilities of imported maize as drought affects produce

The Gauteng Department of Education has sought an urgent court interdict to stop parents of the Roodepoort Primary School, from preventing the principal and teachers from entering the school premises. It has been reported that parents want a coloured principal as the area where they live is coloured. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Gauteng Department of Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi.

NERINA VISSER, STRATEGIST AND ADVISOR AT ETF SOUTH AFRICA · Greek bail-out negotiations are on a knife-edge and are set to go all the way down to the wire · Earnings season is about to head into overdrive in SA - this is a time when company specifics often outweigh macro issues. · Budget preview: the new tax-free savings account, to be introduced from March2015, is a 'no-brainer' - it should be th...

Market Analyst and Homemade Economist Clive Ramathibela looks at; Japanese stocks rose, with precision instrument makers and banks leading gains and the Chinese new year - The Lunar Year, "Year of the Goat" what does it have in store!!