Update@Noon

The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) says it supports the call for an investigation into the procurement of 22 laptops at a cost of approximately two million rand through an alleged SITA contract. The entity says the investigation must shed light on many procurements related questions that have yet to be answered, following the purchase, which was made by the Mpumalanga Department of Bas...

The Western Cape High Court is currently hearing an application by the DA and the EFF that is aimed at blocking the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase tabled by Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana.  Both parties say the VAT increase will intensify the country's cost of living and hit the poor the hardest. They also propose that other alternatives instead of increasing VAT, such as cutting a blo...

Suspended Netball South Africa president, Cecilia Molokwane, has excused herself from a meeting between the federation and Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture scheduled for this morning.  Molokwane who is serving a second term as president, was suspended from all netball related activities by World Netball this weekend. Molokwane has not reacted to her suspension in pe...

The Vatican says Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday at St Peter's Basilica. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service. At the end of the funeral, the Pope's body will be moved to St Mary Major for the burial. Pope Francis died yesterday at the age of 88 following weeks of poor health. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Communications Officer for the Southe...

The trial of the 5 men accused of the 2014 murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa has been postponed to the 5th of May 2025. The postponement was requested by defence counsel, Charles Mnisi, who cited his lack of readiness to proceed with today's business. Mnisi's request comes a week after the court stated that he had been given a final postponement after the two month adjournment to allow him to pr...

 A recent study conducted by Stellenbosch University has revealed a worrying crisis brewing within South Africa's (SA) teaching profession. Half of all teachers surveyed are considering leaving the profession within the next decade, citing burnout, administrative overload, and a lack of mental health support as key drivers. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to to senior researcher and co-author of the re...

Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy together with her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa are interacting with drivers at Kranskop on the N1 as travelers head back to their destinations following the Easter Weekend. Creecy is encouraging drivers to remain vigilant and drive safety in order to arrive safely. She also notes that it remains concerning that a drunk driver attempted to bribe a traffic officer and...

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died. He was 88, and had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia. His death comes after he appeared at the Vatican's St Peter's Square yesterday to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Father Russel Pollit a parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Braamfontein

All Serie A matches set to take place on Monday (April 21) have been postponed, as per an official statement. Serie A posted a statement on their social media channels to confirm that the scheduled fixtures – Torino vs Udinese, Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Genoa vs Lazio and Parma vs Juventus – will no longer take place due to the death of Pope Francis

Over six hundred law enforcement officers in Mpumalanga are hard at work, doing 24-hour shifts, monitoring the movement of people and goods at the Lebombo Border Post with Mozambique. Traffic volumes have been on the surge on most of the province's roads including the N4 toll road and the N12. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News reporter, Motsebi wa Monareng

Both Richards Bay and Cape Town City are on 24 points, just one spot from bottom with Richards Bay having a game in hand. With the relegation process still unknown, expect some fireworks as the teams look to score points. SABC Sports News Anchor, Jon Gericke 

The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) weather centre says a solar storm that hit planet Earth recently, has impacted satellite navigation systems in South Africa. Based on data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Severe-class solar storm hit on Wednesday. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SANSA Space Weather Forecaster, Salma Khan 

Holidaymakers have been urged not to accept help from anyone at ATMs as bank card scamming is likely to be on the rise this Easter Long Weekend. People may have their cards cloned or swapped, or tapped if they are not vigilant enough. According to the Banking Sector, criminals targets least busy ATMs at filling stations and city centres. People are advised not accept any help from strangers, as it...

The Putco Bus Company has partnered with the SAPS and traffic officials to ensure safe journeys for over two-million ZCC pilgrims that are expected in Moria over this Easter weekend.  The company has dispatched 500 buses to accommodate pilgrims heading to Moria. For more on this we are now joined on the line by Putco Bus spokesperson, Lindokuhle Xulu...

Tottenham have lost five of their last seven knockout stage away games in all UEFA competitions. Spurs boss, Ange Postacoglu. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Tottenham lose 5th of last 7 knockout stage away UEFA games

Chaos has gripped Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, as two learners were stabbed at two separate schools in Orange Farm in the south of Johannesburg this week. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has warned that any learner found to be involved in gang-related violence will be suspended. . The incidents have sparked fear, outrage and frustration in the community. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Johan...

The young women who testified against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso during his trial - say they feel let down by the justice system. Omotoso and his two co-accused were found not guilty on all 32 charges including rape, human trafficking and racketeering by the High Court in Gqeberha last week. Speaking during a media briefing held by the CRL Rights Commission in Johannesburg earlier toda...

Police are investigating a murder case in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. This comes after a 60-year-old scholar transport driver was shot and killed this morning. The man had just dropped off schoolchildren at Christiaan De Wet Primary school.  A relative of a scholar transport driver who was gunned down says the incident has traumatised her. Lucia Smith says the deceased was her brother. 

The Transport Department has vowed to increase law enforcement visibility at night and early mornings ahead of the Easter long weekend. This has travelers have already started to embark on journeys to their respective destinations for the first term holidays. Numerous traffic road blocks have been ongoing since the start of this week to ensure safe driving, roadworthiness of vehicles and combat sp...

Higher Education Minister, Nobuhle Nkabane is scheduled to visit the family of the Walter Sisulu University student who was killed during a protest. Yesterday Nkabane apologised to the students of Walter Sisulu University as well as the family of the student, after the university issued a statement saying that the deceased waas not a registered student nor a staff member at the university. Sakina...

Stellenbosch's win over AmaZulu last night came at a cost with Ashley Cupido expected to be out for "a minimum of six weeks" duer to a hamstring injury. The striker will miss this week's trip to Zanzibar for the Confederation Cup semifinal against Simba FC. Cupido was replaced by South Africa U20 forward Langelihle Phili but he will have Amajita duty in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations competiti...

Former Free State Premier, Ace Magashule has pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him at the Free State High Court. Magashule, a former secretary general of the ANC was expelled by the party in June 2023 after refusing to abide by the party's instruction of step aside while he was formally criminally charged. He, together with 14 others stand accused of corruption, fraud and money...

The Film and Publications Board (FPB) says its working towards getting access into the dark web space to prevent illegal activities including the child pornography trade. Yesterday, the FPB briefed the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade on harmful content brought by social media and other online platforms and measures to counter them.  The FPB is a statutory online content reg...

City Power officials, together with their technicians have returned to Alexandra township, North of Johannesburg to continue cutting off illegal electricity connections. The power Utility says this is part of efforts to curb electricity theft and ensure community safety whilst improving service delivery. The operation is supported by law enforcement agencies and remains peaceful while local reside...

Accused number two in the Joshlin Smith disappearance case, Steveno Van Rhyn, has told the High Court that he was assaulted repeatedly by police officers following his arrest. Van Rhyn has testifying in the trial-within-a-trial hearing which seeks to determine the admissibility confession statements made by himself and accused, Jacquen Appollis. Van Rhyn says he was taken to the Sea Boarder office...