Update@Noon

On the Coal-Face this week Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly talks; secret stocks that have been befuddling our platinum price | mineworker numbers are expected to fall 8% a year in the next two years| possible labour unrest in the gold mining industry in 2015.

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communication has found the Chairperson of the SABC Board Zandile Ellen Tshabalala guilty on all two charges of misrepresenting her academic qualifications and lying under oath. The committee says it will now recommend for her immediate suspension and removal from the SABC board. But, as our parliamentary reporter Abongwe Kobokana reports, the committee resolved...

Government has been engaging with prospective nuclear vendor countries recently, as part of the process towards the implementation of the expansion in the nuclear new build programme. A week long nuclear vendor workshop has been concluded, where vendor countries, China, France, South Korea, and the USA, showcased how, if chosen, they plan to meet South Africa's needs in the implementation of the r...

A document claiming that NUMSA's leadership is plotting to overthrow the South African government is part of a dirty tricks campaign to destroy the metalworkers union. Briefing the media in Johannesburg yesterday the metalworkers union says it is being targeted as part of the creeping authoritarianism of the current regime. The document signed by unnamed sources simply calling themselves concerned...

A document claiming that NUMSA's leadership is plotting to overthrow the South African government is part of a dirty tricks campaign to destroy the metalworkers union. Briefing the media in Johannesburg yesterday the metalworkers union says it is being targeted as part of the creeping authoritarianism of the current regime. The document signed by unnamed sources simply calling themselves concerned...

Japan leads Asia stocks higher on U.S. car sales and a weaker Yen, China stock markets rally boosts confidence and gears investors for a bullish market, Russian woes worsen as recession looms with banks in 'panic'

Kenya's Interior Security Minister Joseph Lenku has been fired, while the country's Police chief David Kimaiyo has resigned hours after 36 people were killed in a terror attack in Mandera, on the border with Somalia. Militant group Al shabab say they attacked the quarry on the border with Somalia ten days after they shot dead 28 passengers in the same town. Senior Researcher on International Crime...

Lungisani Innocent Mdlolo escaped from the High Court in Palm Ridge yesterday, shortly before he was due to be sentenced for various crimes including murder, rape & armed robbery. It is alleged that he was not wearing leg irons when he was brought to court. Ministerial Spokesperson at the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development, Adv Mthunzi Mhaga speaks on the matter

SA vehicle sales data disappoints, Eurozone PPI stays in deflation and US dollar remains strong pressuring rand and commodities

Mohammed Nalla Head of Strategic Research at Nedbank Capital looks at the day's market updates, Massive sell out of equity markets yesterday and global PMI data

The impact of OPEC's decision not to cut production, Trade balance numbers coming out of South Africa today, European economic data also out today

Most Asian stocks rise as Japan climbs after inflation data, Glaxo (Glaxo Smith Kline) fired executive who raised South Africa race complaint – the executive wrote a note to the international relations wing of 17 pages explaining concerns over discrimination in the RSA business, Potato Chips lead in “Anything-But-Oil” Canada Rally – Investors putting their money where their mouth is literally by o...

The SABC has filled strategic positions which the corporation says will contribute immensely to the stability of the organisation. Nothando Maseko takes over as Head of Television News. Sebolelo Ditlhakanyane is the Head of Radio News; Bessie Tugwana has been appointed as Head of Sport and Sully Motsweni as Group Executive: Stakeholder Relations and Provinces. We speak to Jimi Mathews who has been...

The first day of the ANC youth league's consultative national conference descended into chaos as disgruntled delegates vented out their anger on speakers. Yesterday some delegates kept shouting the name of former treasurer and presidential hopeful Pule Mabe, when speeches and messages of support were being delivered. The move was a protest against a decision to convert the conference which was sup...

Cardiologist Dr Wouter Basson appeared before the Health Professions Council of South Africa, facing a string of accusations of breaching medical ethics during a chemical warfare programme in the 1980's. Sentence arguments started in Pretoria yesterday, with proforma complainants in the professional conduct matter against him arguing that his conduct as head of chemical warfare programme was disgr...

Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu PF's Central Committee is to meet next week to review results of the organ's elections in which senior party leaders including the country's Vice President were denied seats. The Central Committee is party's principal organ from whose membership party leader Robert Mugabe will appoint his two vice presidents and party chairman in the Congress next week. Current Vice Pr...

Power utility Eskom's woes are deepening, the company has apologised to the public, due to a malfunction at the Lethabo power station has led to dust emissions higher than normal. This is due to the failure of the ash plant equipment that is responsible for moving ash to the ash dump, resulting in significantly high dust levels. This comes at the back of rolling blak outs that Eskom had to impose...

A social analyst who has studied the history of rioting in the United States has questioned why police officers no longer shoot to subdue suspects as opposed to killing them. Professor Joshua Brown of the American Social History Project also argues that there's been a groundswell of outrage tied to police violence particularly against unarmed black males that raises questions about broader inequal...

The Nigerian central bank devalued its currency by 8% as the oil-producing nation takes a hit from falling oil prices. UK GDP figures coming out today Vukile to release some property data

Asian Stocks rise for fourth day as Materials shares lead gains, Uber ( A taxi service application ) said close to raising funding at up to $40B value, why it was necessary for the GDP number to look positive!!

As the country prepares to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), there are rising concerns that poor households would not be able to afford set top boxes despite government subsidy. The Right2Know Campaign and the SOS Coalition will be protesting for free Set-Top Boxes outside the Universal Service& Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) today (sic). Government has committ...

SAA's acting CEO Nico Bezuidenhout has broken his silence following media reports accusing him of lying about his academic qualifications. Bezuidenhout told the SABC News that his staff and colleagues have always known that he does not have a degree. He says his experience and proven delivery are a good substitute for academic qualifications. We speak to CEO of iFacts Limited, Jenny Reid, whose co...

As the Health Professions Council of South Africa today begins its sentencing hearing of Dr Wouter Basson, former head of the Apartheid chemical and biological weapons, a short film that highlights Dr Basson's activities will be screened at Wits university. The film will also reflect on the outcome of the hearing and why this remains important today. Last year, the HPCSA found Basson guilty of une...

South Africa's GDP increased by 1.4% quarter on quarter from a revised 0.5% rise in the second quarter, Eskom's financial position systematically deteriorating due to rising primary energy costs including diesel and coal, Steinhoff acquires controlling stake in Pepkor, Naspers announced financial results

Asia Stocks Drop With Oil as the Dollar Hits 7-Year High to Yen, Shinzo Abe calls for elections and delays sales tax by 18 months, Indonesia Surprises With Rate Increase as Fuel Planned increases Draws Protests and Shanghai Stock Link Flows Plunge as CLSA Sees Ghost Train