Update@Noon

Automobile Association says it has received a number of queries regarding problems with changes in the renewal of vehicle license discs. The association says the problems are that motorists are not receiving license renewal letters. Claims that are refuted by the department of transport. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to AA Layton Beard

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says government and business will meet rating agencies and investors in an international roadshow planned for next week. Gordhan says the aim of the roadshow is to address some of the concerns raised by rating agencies and investors about South Africa. The move is seen as an effort by the country to maintain its investment rating and to avoid a junk status. Gordhan...

Grathel Motau, Chartered Accountant and Development Economist looks at MTN which released its results yesterday, amidst the outstanding fine with the Nigerian regulator and the new Development Bank will open its doors in South Africa from next month.

Former ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani has been redeployed as the new South Africa's ambassador to Germany. This follows his resignation as Member of Parliament with immediate effect. Stone Sizani has been ANC Chief Whip since 2013 when he took over from Mathole Motshekga. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to ANC's Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at emerging-market stocks that rose for a fifth day in this year's longest rally, and inflows boosted currencies after U.S. data beat estimates and on optimism that China is working to regain investors' confidence, Moody's Investors Service cut its credit-rating outlook on China's largest phone company and its biggest banks after doing the same to the country...

Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko has defended the probe by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, into the South African Revenue Services. The Hawks had sent Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan a list of questions on the existence of a so-called rogue unit. It's been called a witch-hunt against Gordhan in political circles. Nhleko told reporters at Parliament the invest...

Economists say April will bring further financial woes for already struggling consumers. Government has announced an increase in several administered prices to be effected at the beginning of next month. Some companies will also be hiking their prices then. Tshepo Mongoai reports…

Service delivery protesters at Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape blocked the R61 road with burning tyres and debris, last night. They also ordered a truck driver to block the road with his vehicle. They are demanding proper road infrastructure, RDP houses and clean water in several villages. Two police officers were injured when an Nyala armoured car overturned during the confrontation. Nkululeko Nyem...

The independence of the National Prosecution Authority cannot be trumped for the pursuit of an individual. That was the crux of the NPA argument at the High Court in Pretoria yesterday, as it defended former head Mokotedi Mpshe's decision to drop corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma. Zuma's legal counsel argued that there was conspiracy around the timing of the indictment- aimed at deci...

The grain producing sector has warned South Africans to brace themselves for higher food costs. More than 300 farmers from all over South Africa and 200 role players in the sector are attending a two-day conference at Nampo Park outside Bothaville in the Free State. The country is currently experiencing the worst drought in decades. Delegates at the conference have discussed financial options to a...

Grathel Motau, Chartered Accountant and Development Economist looks at the SARS and Finance Minister war which continues, Lonmin announced fewer retrenchment than originally anticipated and Clover is to exit the Nigerian market citing the unavailability of foreign currency as one of the key reasons

The NPA says there was a political conspiracy in the prosecution of President Jacob Zuma, with former Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy at the helm of it. The Prosecuting Authority also conceded there is no evidence that former President Thabo Mbeki knew about the plot. The NPA will continue with arguments in the hearing on the DA's application for a review of the 2009 decision to drop corruption ch...

The woman once seen as the successor to President Robert Mugabe has launched an opposition party yesterday Joice Mujuru, ending months of speculation, announced herself as president of Zimbabwe People First. She is hoping to succeed where other opposition parties have failed in unseating the ruling Zanu PF party in power since 1980. Shingai Nyoka reports

SARS has labelled reports that Commissioner Tom Moyane introduced investigations into an alleged rogue unit created by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan when he ran SARS, as lies. The revenue service says the current operating model at SARS was not instituted by Commissioner Moyane but by their previous acting Commissioner, Ivan Pillay. SARS also issued a warning against any suggestion that it could...

The ANC has defeated the DA's vote of no-confidence in President Jacob Zuma in the National Assembly. The party has also vowed that no such motions will ever succeed in future. Joseph Mosia reports

Barclays Africa CEO Maria Ramos says the bank will ensure that a change in shareholding in the company brings a satisfactory outcome for all stakeholders. Barclays PLC which owns sixty percent of Barclays Africa, the owners of Absa bank, announced its decision to reduce its stake in the African operation. Ramos says Barclays Africa's strategy will remain the same despite a change in shareholding....

The SRC at the University of the Free State has boycotted a prayer service and march for peace held on the main campus in Bloemfontein. The student leadership says issues of transformation have not been properly addressed, and for this reason they decided not to attend. The march follows a week of sometimes violent protests that led to students vandalising university property. Thabiso Radebe repor...

Grathel Motau, Chartered Accountant and Development Economist looks at Nersa's decision to granted Eskom an electricity tariffs hike of 9.4%, GDP growth figures released by StatsSA marginally higher than expected and Barclays Plc finally announced that it will exit its majority stake over the next 2 years.

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian markets which are mostly high, Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley, poised to announce the fate of the lender's African business, must convince investors he can improve the investment bank's profits just as slumping trading revenue batters the industry and what to expect from the GDP numbers.

Government is working on normalizing security issues at various universities in the country. Higher Education Minister and Police Minister Nathi Nhleko have met to find a solution to violent campus protests and the destruction of property. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande

A number of South Africans are falling through the cracks as there is no policy in place to deal with statelessness. They are unable to prove their citizenship and risk deportation, sometimes on a whim. Today we look at the sad story of Alpha Mntambo, a Zulu speaking man who grew up in South Africa but who was deported to Zimbabwe where he is now a stranger. Senior Constitutional Court Reporter Ca...

Grathel Motau, Chartered Accountant and Development Economist looks at GDP figures for the 4th quarter which are expected to be released today, the Presidency issued another statement regarding the feud between the Minister of Finance and SARS Commissioner and SA recorded a trade deficit in January, after a surplus in December

Democratic Alliance's leader, Mmusi Maimane, does not want all Ministers and their Deputies to vote after a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma has been debated. He believes this will result in a conflict of interest. The no confidence motion is expected to be heard in parliament today. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to the DA's Member of Parliament and Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen.

Counsel representing the former wife of the late president Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has presented their arguments in the Mthatha High Court on her claim to the house and land at Qunu outside Mthatha. She contends that she's still the rightful owner of the site in terms of the customary law. Senior Counsel, Patrick Mtshaulana argued that their divorce, which dissolved the civil ma...

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip says the call for motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma is nothing but a baseless tactic to divert attention from the racism scandals the party has been experiencing. Sakina speaks to Moloto Mothapo from the ANC's Office of the Chief Whip.