Update@Noon

Three people have died in a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, including a Dutch woman who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport. The Health Department says only two infected passengers entered South Africa. A British patient remains in critical condition in isolation at a Sandton private hospital. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi 

The community in Vosloorus ext 9 is threatening to shut down all illegal spaza shops in the area.  They say they want answers as to what happened with Mazwi Khubeka who went missing after refusing to sell his spaza shop. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Horisani Sithole and and A Vosloorus community member who calls himself Putin 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says the country cannot celebrate 32 years of democracy while crime and corruption continue to harm communities. The union is now calling on Parliament to urgently overhaul the criminal justice system to better tackle crime and corruption. COSATU President Zingiswa Losi says persistent violence, sexual abuse and corruption continue to undermine t...

As South Africa today marks Workers' Day, with the main May Day celebrations underway at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and other May Day events taking place across the country. Many unions are now moving away from pure political activism toward affording value beyond traditional labor disputes. In a shifting economic landscape, unions are increasingly functioning as service providers,...

Trade union AMCU is today holding its May Day commemorations in Marikana outside Rustenburg. The union rose to prominence during the 2012 Marikana unrest, when Lonmin Platinum workers embarked on a strike that shook the mining sector. AMCU has since become the majority union in several mines in the area. The union is also calling for May Day to be moved to 16 August to honor the Marikana massacre...

A group of protesters are marching in the Johannesburg CBD today as they protest against illegal immigration, crime and corruption. The group marched the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Gauteng Legislature in the past two days to hand over a memorandum of demands. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy Government Spokesperson, William Baloyi.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says they are clear that resolving the water crisis requires a collaborative and coordinated response across all three spheres of government whilst working together with all social partners and communities. Ramaphosa says the Water Crisis Committee will oversee the implementation of a National Water Action Plan. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC Politics Reporte...

The Polokwane Magistrate Court has denied Lekompo artist Lehlogonolo "Shebe Maburna" Chauke bail. Chauke is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC repoter Nsuku Shiluvana.

Bellarmine Mugabe, son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, and co-accused Tobias Matonhodze have been sentenced at the Alexandra Regional Court in Johannesburg. Mugabe will be deported to Zimbabwe today after pleading guilty to firearm and immigration offences in South Africa. The court heard that his convictions relate to illegal possession and breaches of immigration law. Matonhodze...

The March and March group is today continuing its protest in Johannesburg, gathering outside the Gauteng Legislature. Demonstrators claim illegal immigration is fuelling unemployment and labour violations. It is the second day of the movement's campaign in the city. They plan to hand over a memorandum of demands to the Gauteng provincial legislature. The group says it seeks urgent government actio...

The case of nine people accused of the killing of a part-time lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology, Sifundo Madasi, has been postponed to June in the Soshanguve Magistrate's Court north of Pretoria. The group allegedly killed Madasi in Soshanguve in February after accusing him of sexually assaulting two minors. All the accused are on bail of two thousand rand each under strict conditio...

Parliament's Social Development Committee Chairperson Bridget Masango says allegations against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe are being treated as serious, but remain unproven. Masango confirms the minister will be summoned to account before Parliament. The allegations against Minister Tolashe include the alleged misuse of a public servant as a nanny at her official residence and the r...

Organization Undoing Tax Abuse Senior Project Manager Rudie Heyneke says leadership instability at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme is deeply troubling. He points out that losing two chairpersons in under two years raises serious governance concerns. This after Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela announced resignations from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board. Inte...

The Office of the Auditor General is today briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in Parliament on the latest audit outcomes of metropolitan municipalities. The Auditor-General's business unit leader for the Free State, Odwa Duda, has reported to members that the audit findings for the Mangaung Metro in the Free State reveal ongoing weaknesses in financial control. Duda, says the audit...

March and March Movement together with several other political parties are marching to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today. The parties say the march is over unemployment, safety, dignity and access to opportunities. The movement is also concerned about what it describes as the deterioration of the country including crime and illegal migration. To discuss this further Sakina Kamwendo spoke to AT...

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has written to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to ask that the National Treasury investigate possible irregularities in the procurement process for textbooks for Grade 1-3 pupils. Allegations surfaced  that publishing company Lighthouse Publishers (Pty) Ltd, which stood to make more than R285 million producing textbooks and learning and teaching suppo...

Amnesty International South Africa says the promise of dignity and equality for all remains unfulfilled for millions of people as the country commemorates 32 years since the end of Apartheid. The organisation says millions of South Africans are still denied basic services in the new dispensation. Amnesty International says today, more than five million people live in informal settlements that are...

The South African Council of Churches and its counterparts the Reformed Church in America (RCA), Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP),  the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) says they reject the false narrative of a so-called "White genocide" in South Africa. The SACC says on Freedom Day they gather to reflect on the shared and interconnected realities facing our contexts in the United States, Sou...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions says Freedom Day must go beyond celebration, as the country marks the occasion today at Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. The federation warns political freedom remains incomplete without economic justice, citing deepening inequality and unemployment. It says the vision of the Freedom Charter has been undermined, while urging government to pr...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Government of National Unity is prioritising inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction and easing the cost of living, while building a capable and ethical state. Addressing thousands at National Freedom Day celebrations at Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, he stressed that strengthening local government is key to transforming municipalities int...

Suspended Tshwane Metro Police deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini has come under intense questioning before the Madlanga Commission over a message referencing alleged EFF-linked company lists. Commissioners pressed him on his WhatsApp exchange with Sergeant Nkosi, where he wrote, "Please check with Mfowethu (CFO) if it's the same list as his from CIC Juju. " Dhlamini further told the Commission that the...

The Boksburg Magistrate's Court has postponed to Tuesday the ruling on the bail application of suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi and City of Ekurhuleni manager, Kagiso Lerutla. They were arrested at the weekend on charges of corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter Thabiso Radebe 

The State in the case involving Bellarmine Mugabe, son of the late former Zimbabwean president, and co-accused Tobias Matondze is seeking imprisonment for both men. The pair appeared this morning at the Alexandra Regional Court in Johannesburg after pleading guilty to several charges including attempted murder and the shooting and wounding of a former employee at their residence. Sentencing has be...

The City of Joburg says Rea Vaya buses will operate special services this Sunday for the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates FC and Kaizer Chiefs FC at FNB Stadium. The city says fans will be transported from Sandton, Alexandra, Cresta, Yeoville, Parktown, Florida North, the Joburg CBD and parts of Soweto. City of Johannesburg spokesperson Virgil James explains 

The South African Communist Party says its decision to contest the 2026 local government elections independently is not a break from the alliance but a push to advance working-class interests. General Secretary Solly Mapaila told media the move follows concerns over the direction of governance and the need for accountable representation. Mapaila says the party rejects what it calls attempts by the...