Update@Noon

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs says a total of 39 people have died since October as floods continue to devastate the province. The department earlier urged residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers after the remains of two people were recovered from a vehicle that was swept away by flood water on New Year's eve. Elvis Presslin spoke to spokesperson...

As South Africans mourn the death of legendary photographer, Dr Peter Magubane, he has been described as a fearless story teller, whose commitment earned him international acclaim, numerous awards and recognition. Magubane passed away on Monday at the age of 91. He rose to prominence by covering pivotal political events in South Africa such as the June 16 student uprisings in 1976. For a look at M...

Around 20 000 Minstrel performers are expected to take to the streets of Cape Town today for the annual Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Street Parade, as they light up the streets in their colourful outfits. The parade is expected to attract over 80 000 spectators along Darling Street, the Grand Parade, Adderley Street and into the Bo-Kaap. Elvis Presslin spoke to Operations Director for the organising...

The outcome of the upcoming 2024 general election is touted to hold the same importance as the country's first democratic election in 1994.  Throughout 2023, speculation has run rife as to whether any party will get an outright majority.  An array of surveys predicted a drop of below fifty percent for the ruling African National Party.   This predictions, is said to provide opposition parties the...

The year 2023 saw the Life Esidimeni Inquest conclude its hearings into the deaths of 144 mental health patients, with the families of the deceased asking the High Court in Pretoria to find former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu liable for the deaths of the loved ones.  The families blame Mahlangu for the controversial relocation from the Life Esidimeni facilities and its subsequent closure in...

Democratic Republic of Congo President, Felix Tshisekedi has secured over 70% of the country's recent vote, according to the DRC's election commission. The preliminary results of the December 20 election were announced in Kinshasa amid demands from the opposition and some civil society groups for the vote to be rerun due to massive logistical problems that put the validity of the outcome into ques...

WIth the countdown having begun towards next year's national and provincial elections, the Electoral Commission is working hard to ensure a free and fair poll. NPE 2024 - as it has been dubbed by the IEC - will be historic as independent candidates will contest seats in the national assembly as well as provincial legislatures for the first time. Recent Constitutional Court judgements require the C...

Search and rescue teams have recovered the remains of 27 people following deadly floods in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Mop-up operations are continuing in different parts of the province after heavy rains swept through the area, submerging homes, damaging infrastructure and washing away vehicles. Weather conditions are not expected to ease as the South African Weather Service issued a level four a...

The death of Dr Donato Francesco Mattera, aka Don Mattera "Bra Zinga", the world-renowned poet, author, and anti-apartheid activist who died at the age of eighty-seven on Monday 18 July 2022 left his family and South Africans with the huge void. Today 29th December 2023 is his birthday and we want to pay tribute to this giant. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Teddy Mattera, Deputy Chairperson of the Don...

The South African Weather Services has issued severe weather warnings in some parts of the country as rain continues. The weather service says severe thunderstorms, damaging strong winds and disruptive rains should be expected today across the country. The warning comes as Kwazulu-Natal province is still reeling from disastrous floods. Elvis Presslin spoke to South African Weather Service Forecast...

The Search and rescue teams have recovered two more bodies today at Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, pushing the death toll in the Christmas Eve floods to 15. This follows the devastating floods in Ladysmith on Christmas Eve. Emergency workers have been looking for missing people since the floods. Elvis Presslin spoke to IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, Samantha Meyrick

The South African religious delegation, who spent Christmas in Bethlehem with Palestinian war victims, have returned home. Leader of the delegation, Reverend Frank Chikane described their weeklong trip to Bethlehem as an eye-opener. He says they had an opportunity to engage with the communities affected by war. Elvis Presslin spoke to Reverend Frank Chikane

 It's almost that time of the year, when many people will be considering making resolutions, as a way of improving their lives in the new year, and setting goals for themselves. Although studies have shown that most people fail to stick to their goals over the long term, some believe, resolutions help people become organised and ignite some passion and determination. As the year draws to an end, s...

The World Health Organisation continues to visit overwhelmed hospitals in Gaza. The WHO is concerned about the strain made by escalating hostilities on the few remaining hospitals, with most of the health system decimated. The hospitals are taking in more patients than their capacity and staff can handle, with many not surviving the wait.  The WHO has warned that Gaza has 13 partially functioning...

Late acclaimed composer and playwright Mbongeni Ngema has been applauded for his contribution in developing performing arts in South Africa, and fostering unity in the country. The 68-year old was killed in a head-on crash on Wednesday night near Bizana, in the Eastern Cape. Elvis Presslin spoke to actor and playwright, Somizi Mhlongo about the late thespian's legacy.

Tributes continue to pour in for the award-winning playwright, actor, choreographer, singer and composer, Mbongeni Ngema. Ngema died on Wednesday in a head-on collision whilst returning from attending a funeral in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. The 68-year-old was known for iconic productions such as Sarafina. My colleague, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to him in 2017, where he highlighted the impact the...

The deaf community celebrated one of its biggest achievements in 2023. The South African Sign Language became the country's 12th official language. Earlier this year, Parliament voted for the Constitution 18th Amendment Bill, the president assented, and it became law. Mercedes Besent takes a look back at the long journey it has been for the deaf community, to reach this milestone.

Runners from Bella's Athletics Club in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, have spent the festive holidays giving back to destitute members of the community. The runners provided food parcels to underprivileged families in Hermansburg and Mattafin, as well as homeless people in the CBD. The club says the initiative is to restore the dignity of locals. Eric Lubisi reports....

The number of people missing after flash floods hit Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal on Christmas Eve, has risen to 12. The bodies of 7 victims have been recovered so far after the Vaalspruit burst its banks due to heavy rains in a severe thunderstorm. Search and rescue teams - including members of the police and emergency service IPSS - are continuing their search for the missing today. Washed up jacke...

Immigration has been a hot topic in South Africa and will dominate discussions heading into the 2024 general elections.  The expectation is that issues of migration and foreign nationals will be major talking points in party campaigns as the country's courts recently meted out severe blows to attempts by the department of Home Affairs to perform a complete overhaul of the migration system.  The ai...

The board of Rea Vaya bus operator Piotrans, has been dissolved after the operator was placed under business rescue.  Business rescue practitioner, Mahier Tayob, told Update at Noon yesterday that anyone found to have broken the law at Rea Vaya will be held accountable. The company is facing financial difficulties due to fraud, maladministration, mismanagement of assets, poor governance, lack of e...

The eThekwini Municipality has apologised to affected consumers who received inaccurate bills due to an error in the city's Indigent Policy. As many residents of residential flat units have received inflated water billing in their most recent eThekwini bills, the city has released a statement informing residents that 6 liters of water are available to households with an annual income of R250 000 a...

The year 2023 has been one of the toughest for many consumers. Many households' finances were put under pressure by a slew of costs including rising inflation, high interest rates and costs related to load-shedding and water scarcity. Consumers say because of the lack of jobs and rising costs, they were forced to change their lifestyles. Nothando Magudulela reports...

When adversity and difficult times emerge among communities, the unsung heroes are often small charity based organisations doing God's work. This played out in Makhanda, which is facing serious water supply problems, with the local Rotary club coming establishing a water and sanitation project helping schools with access to the life giving fluid. The project raised R6-million, assisting 7 schools...

A unique fund raising initiative in KwaZulu-Natal called, The Bucket Initiative, has enabled people from all walks of life to give back to those in need. The initiative is the brainchild of the Ayanda Msweli Foundation. It encourages people to donate as little as 10 Rand into a bucket that has traversed the length and breadth of the province. Nonkululeko Hlophe reports…