Update@Noon

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor in the Eastern Cape, Gary Van Niekerk has resigned from the position and is expected to be replaced by his deputy and ANC councillor, Babalwa Lobishe. Van Niekerk, who hails from the National Alliance is expected to take up the position of deputy mayor. The ANC has now retained back mayoral positions in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Johannesburg Metro, Tshwane. and Ekurhuleni. S...

The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that seven learners from Bongucele Secondary School in Mthwalume on the South Coast of the province, have been treated at a clinic for alleged food poisoning, after consuming snacks at a nearby tuckshop. The Department says the pupils were suffering from diarrhea and vomiting and were taken to the clinic to be treated.  Sakina Kamewndo spo...

Members of various taxi organisations are today marching to the mayor of the City of Johannesburg's office in Braamfontein. They say the mayor has failed to respond to their queries about payments due to taxi owners who surrendered their minibus taxis and operating permits to make way for the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System. They say the payments are overdue for over 8-years. Sakina Kamwendo spo...

 Six-year-old Amantle Samane has been described as feisty, resilient and stubborn at her funeral service which was held at the Orlando East communal Hall in Soweto. Amantle was found murdered and allegedly raped inside a shack a few metres from her home on Monday last week. A 24-year old Mozambican national, Pethe Sara Simao was arrested after an intensive search by both members of the community a...

The public sector wage bill is once again expected to come into sharp focus this week as the finance minister delivers the midterm budget policy statement under the government of national unity.  Government has tabled at 4.7-percent wage offer after unions rejected its initial 3-percent offer.  Public service unions - who are demanding a 12-percent wage increase for the 2025/26 financial year - ha...

Citizens of Botswana are today headed to the polls to choose their next  leadership.  President Mokgweetsi Masisi is said to  still  be confidently seeking a second term but has to contest this with other candidates. Economic issues  are said to have dominated this election campaign. Some analysts suggest that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party is on the edge because of a fragmented opposition....

A 43-year-old police officer who allegedly murdered six people for insurance payouts of about ten-million-rand - is expected to apply for bail in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court in Limpopo. Sergeant Rachel Kutumela of the Senwabarwana police station - will appear alongside her 27-year- old daughter and 47-year-old sister -- on several charges. Her co-accused are said to have benefited from Kutume...

Unconfirmed reports are that yet another body has been found in Mqhekezweni village in the O.R Tambo district of the Eastern Cape. This follows the fata shooting of a local traditional leader and the rape of five matric learners at a nearby school. Nogcinile Mtirara was gunned down at the Mqhekezweni Great Palace over night. One villager explains what is believed to have transpired during this lat...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is leading a march to Parliament ahead of the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) today. The action comes ahead of signs of further budget cuts, reduced social spending, and increased economic strain on working-class families. COSATU and civil society organisations want the minister to address the country's high unemployment rate and to i...

The case against two men accused of killing five Seti family members at Bityi outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape has been postponed to the seventh of November for formal bail application. 39 year old Mphumezi Ncambe-Dodobala and 22year old Lukhanyo Gam are facing five charges of murder two charges of attempted murder amongst other charges. They are accused killing five Seti family members in NgNc...

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) has approached the Labour Court in defence of Community Healthcare Workers. The union seeks to review the arbitration award that ruled against its application to compel the Department of Health to appoint community healthcare workers permanently. Nehawu president, Mike Shingage explains...

The Home Affairs Department is again on the spotlight following recommendations of the Lubisi Report. A multi disciplinary task team on the implementation of the Lubisi report is today briefing by the Counter Corruption and Security Services on its work to deal with corruption within the Department of Home Affairs. The committee has urged the department to intensify the speed of this work while ad...

The Judicial Conduct Committee has recommended a further probe on impeached Judge President, Dr John Hlophe's complaint against now retired former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. This stems from Hlophe's 2020 complaint against the former Chief Justice where the former alleged, among other things, that the former Chief Justice "conducted himself improperly and unlawfully in the manner in which he ha...

Life Esidimeni families are staging a picket urging the the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to pursue criminal charges against the former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the former Director of Mental Health in Gauteng, Dr. Makgabo Manamela for their roles in the Life Esidimeni tragedy. In 2016, 144 people with mental health problems died after they were moved from Life Esidimeni. In Ju...

Mayor of Bushbuckridge local municipality in Mpumalanga, Lydia Moroane says this weekend's storms in the province has left a significant trail of destruction, structural damage, and many families who lost everything have been displaced.  Four people have died following the thunderstorm including a pupil who succumbed to fatal injuries when a roof of his home collapsed. The storm which was coupled...

The trial of five men accused of involvement in the 2014 murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa, has resumed in the High Court, in Pretoria. Lead investigating officer, Bongani Gininda has returned to the witness stand, where he is testifying on banking and cellphone evidence that allegedly links accused number one, Muzi Sibiya, to the crime. SABC reporter, Pearl Magubane has more

An investigation has been launched into allegations that corrupt correctional service officers, are giving unauthorised private hospital passes to wealthy prisoners in KwaZulu-Natal. It is alleged that these are prisoners serving time at the Durban Westville Prison and New Prison in Pietermaritzburg. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Correctional Services National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale 

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola is hosting his Ukrainian counterpart Minister Andrii Sybiha today. This forms part of political consultations between the two countries. Sybiha has been on six day tour of four countries in the Middle East and Africa. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Khayelihle Khumalo 

The trial of five men accused of involvement in the murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa, has resumed in the High Court in Pretoria. Five men are on trial for the 2014 murder of the goalkeeper.  SABC reporter, Pearl Magubane has more

Health minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has confirmed that the chemical found in possession of the four people who were arrested last week in Johannesburg, is not linked to the deaths of the six children in Naledi, Soweto. The Minister this morning announced that the cause of death of the six children, is a chemical called Organophosphate. Motsoaledi says Organophosphate is a group of chemicals used...

KwaZulu-Natal police have launched a manhunt for group of gunmen that shot and killed four in the Nyezane area in Estcourt.  It is believed that police have arrested one suspect in connection with the murders. Gunmen opened fire randomly, killing four and injuring one. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the current food poisoning cases are deemed as a national security threat. This follows the recent reported cases of food poisoning, which led to the death of children and some hospitalized in various provinces such as Gauteng and Mpumalanga. The minister also highlighted that they have doubts that the poisonous agents are found in school feeding scheme fo...

The community of Bishop Lavis in the Cape Flats is still reeling in shock following the shooting and killing of seven people last night. Police say an armed suspect entered an informal dwelling in Kogelberg Street and fired several shots at the occupants. This latest shooting follows yet another shooting where five people were shot and killed on the Cape West Coast on Wednesday. A family member in...

The Protea Magistrate's Court, in Soweto, has postponed to next Friday, the case against a man accused of raping and murdering a six year old girl, in Orlando, earlier this week. The Mozambican national was arrested on Wednesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest, just days after he allegedly lured, raped and then murdered the child. The community of Orlando took matters into their ow...

The fraud and corruption case against former Sport Minister, Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused, Jehan Mackay, has been postponed to next Friday, where the outcomes of their representations to have charges against them dropped, will be delivered. Kodwa and Mckay made a brief appearance at the Palm Ridge Magistrates, after they were charged for alleged involvement in bribes to the tune of R1.7 million,...