Update@Noon

The Southern Africa Development Community Council of NGOs (SADC- CNGO) says it is alarmed by the current developments in Lesotho. The Council has also called for Lesotho's military chief Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli to immediately step down to give the country a chance at peace and stability. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Boichoko Ditlhake, Executive Director of the SADC Council of NGOs…

1. Asian stocks erased losses and U.S. equity-index futures climbed as some of the most heavily sold shares in Hong Kong and China rebounded 2. China's stocks rose in volatile trading, led by consumer and health-care companies, as the government battled to restore investor confidence in a market that's lost $3.9 trillion in less than a month 3. AMCU quits Gold sector negotiations 4. Thursday inves...

The South African judiciary will meet with President Jacob Zuma to discuss the recent attacks on it and for analysis on this matter Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Executive Secretaty for Council for the Advancement of South African Constitution Lawson Naidoo

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has allegedly quit collective negotiations with Gold producers AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye Gold, Harmony Gold and two other gold producers. Amcu has allegedly threatened strike action because there is no progress. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Gold producer's spokesperson Charmane Russell and Amcu treasurer Jimmy Gama

The Pretoria High Court has declared Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies' decision to award the lottery licence to Ithuba Holdings as invalid. This comes after previous lottery company Gidani approached the High Court in Pretoria seeking a judicial review of the manner in which the tender to Ithuba was awarded. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Ithuba's CEO Charmaine Mabuza

1. Yesterday morning we heard that trading had been suspended in more than half of Chinese stocks. Later in the day trading was suspended on the New York Stock Exchange for several hours due to "technical issues". Is there any link between here to purely coincidence? 2. Considering events in the rest of the world, isn't it then surprising that the JSE managed to claw its way back above the 50,000...

1. Asian stocks climbed and Treasuries fell amid speculation that Monday's sell-off in risk assets was overdone 2. Samsung Electronics Co. posted second-quarter profit that missed analysts' estimates as shortages of new smartphones made it harder to lure customers from Apple Inc.'s iPhone and cheaper devices made in China 3. `Banana Republic' Tag Haunts Australia 30 Years On

The Greek government plans to propose a new bailout deal with creditors at an emergency Eurozone summit in Brussels today. This comes in the wake of Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis' resignation, after the country voted to reject the terms of a bailout. Experts say the resounding rejection puts the country's euro zone membership into further doubt. For more Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Peter Draper,...

The case against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli has been struck off the roll at the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court. Mdluli is being charged with fraud and corruption. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said the court scrapped the case because the police investigation had not been completed. For an analysis Sakina kamwendo spoke to Professor Shadrack Gutto from t...

Labour groups have rejected the initial pay offer made by the gold companies. The producers had proposed a five-year wage deal with annual wage increases of as much as 13%, plus a share of profits. Gold producers want to stem rising costs that have left half of the industry unprofitable. The National Union of Mineworkers is demanding an 80% increase in basic pay. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to acting sp...

Three of the four gold mining industry unions, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity have rejected increases of between six hundred and fifty and one thousand rands for the former, and five percent for the latter, fixed for five years, that has been tabled by gold mining majors AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye, Harmony Gold,...

A review regarding a limitation on fees and interest rates applicable for borrowings are up for comment. The Department of Trade and Industry published a Gazette Notice to proposes changes to maximum rates for unsecured credit. Research studies and statistics show that South Africa has a worrying high level of over-indebtedness. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Department's deputy director-general for...

· With all the focus yesterday on Europe and its petulant teenager, we didn't talk about China. What has been happening in that market over the last few days? · What impact has that had on commodity markets? · Speaking of commodities, NUM has rejected the opening offer of employers in the gold mining industry wage negotiations. The two sides appear to be miles apart. Are we heading for a repeat of...

1. Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index set for its biggest drop in more than a year 2. China suspended initial public offerings, while brokerages pledged to buy shares and state media urged investors not to panic as officials intensified efforts to stop the steepest plunge in equities since 1992 3. Why the Greeks Matter now?

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has dismissed reports that 13 new locomotives imported from Spain are too high for local rail conditions. Prasa was responding to a Sunday newspaper report that the diesel locomotives worth 600 million could damage overhead electrical cables. The locomotives were reportedly bought despite warnings that they were unsuitable for South African conditions. Mea...

Hundreds of people gathered at the Chris Hani High School in Khayelitsha yesterday to remember the eight young women who died at a tavern last week. Six young women were killed during the early hours of Sunday morning in a stampede at Osi's tavern when a structure collapsed. Two more died in a car crash while en route to hospital. Community leaders as well as government authorities have once again...

** What does the "NO" vote mean for Greece? ** What does the "NO" vote mean for the Euro? ** What does the "NO" vote mean for South Africa?

Co-founder of the Soul Brothers David Masondo has died after spending almost two months in the Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg. This was confirmed by the Managing Director of Johan Sibiya Music Promotions, where Masondo recorderd his last album. Masondo was born in Hammersdale in Durban in 1950. He started his musical career by doing gigs in townships with Groovy Boys. He later co-founded the...

Transport spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso says they're pleading with the taxi association to help curb violence in #Mamelodi.

Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly looks at what’s happening in the mining front in South Africa. 1. Strong calls were made at high level this week for government and business to work together to end the current stagnation of the South African economy. 2. South Africans and Americans are working together brilliantly to boost the local content of locomotives. 3....

Regional leaders are to meet this morning to find a solution to Lesotho's political crisis. This follows the killing of former army commander Maaparankoe Mahao. Last year's violence saw then prime minister Tom Thabane flee the country months before he lost the election to Pakalitha Mosisili. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to our reporter in Lesotho Nthakoana Ngatane

1. China's stocks slumped, extending a bear-market rout, as government measures to shore up equities failed to stop margin traders from unwinding positions 2. Research shows that social media impacts negatively on Small Business! 3. A Chinese company wants its employees to ask for permission to get pregnant

Today, the EFF will be going to the Marikana police station in the North West, to lay criminal charges against Cyril Ramaphosa, Nathi Mthethwa, Rhia Phiyega, Zukiswa Mbombo, and Lonmin for the deaths of 44 people, mainly miners, in Marikana in 2012. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the spokesperson for the EFF, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi

** SA consumer confidence numbers that came out yesterday ** update on Greece heading into the referendum ** Is buying SA equities still a good idea given that they are expensive

The government has sold its 13,91 percent stake in Vodacom to the Public Investment Corporation to help fund the 23-billion rand allocation to Eskom. National Treasury says these measures will strengthen Eskom's balance sheet. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) this week declined Eskom's most recent tariff increase application. To assess whether the sale of the Vodacom stake was...