Update@Noon

The appointment of SABC's Group CEO has been met with mixed reactions. Frans Matlala - a former bank executive - fills the position which has been vacant for more than a year after Lulama Mokhobo resigned in February last year. The ANC and the DA have welcomed the Matlala's appointment while COPE believe the Matlala's tenure won't bring any change to the broadcaster. Noma Bolani reports

Government has allocated 18-billion rand to improve socio-economic conditions of distressed mining communities across the country. This was announced by President Jacob Zuma in an exclusive interview with the SABC. In the aftermath of the August 2012 Marikana shootings, President Zuma established an Inter-Ministerial Committee for the revitalisation of mining areas as an intervention mechanism to...

Sadc facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa rushed back to Lesotho yesterday following fears of more political instability in the country. Ramaphosa was sent by SADC Troika Chairperson President Jacob Zuma following a report by a Troika fact finding mission on the killing of former army commander Maaparankoe Mahao. Nthakoana Nkatane reports

He's humble, yet hard working. He's dedicated to his job, works long hours and won't rest until he has an accused person locked up behind bars. That's Captain Selaelo Ramabale of the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit. The shy and soft-spoken detective is commended for cracking several cases, mainly involving serial rapists. In one of the cases, he spent eight month...

1. The euro dropped with Asian stocks and U.S. index futures, while Treasuries surged by the most since 2013 as the collapse of Greek rescue talks roiled global markets 2. Some of China's biggest state firms were found to have falsified revenue and profits, while some state lenders doled out loans to unqualified borrowers 3. Scelo Nciki on twitter asks; What do u make of da insider trading claim b...

Terror continues to loom over Lesotho with the killing of former army commander Maaparankoe Mahao by soldiers. South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is in Lesotho on a SADC fact-finding mission joined by delegates from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. sakina Kamwendo spoke to our correspondent in Lesotho Nthakoana Ngatane...

The Democratic Alliance says families of miners killed at the Marikana tragedy deserve' compensation. The party leader Mmusi Maimane says families suffered loss of income and hardship. President Jacob Zuma released the findings of the Farlam commission of inquiry last week Thursday. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to DA leader Mmusi Maimane

** Naspers results coming out today **An update on Greece ** U.S. first quarter growth numbers that were confirmed

1. Asian stocks fell, following global equities lower, as Greece and its creditors broke off talks for the night in Europe without reaching a deal. 2. Two resources company reports show tough times in the sector - ( Sentula Mining and Keaton Energy ) 3. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reports negative Foreign Direct Investments for RSA ending 2014 4. Thursday Investment Theme :...

The High Court in Pretoria has requested the National Director of Public Prosecutions to consider initiating criminal charges against government for allowing Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to leave South Africa despite a court order forbidding it. .To discuss this further Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the International Criminal Justice lawyer at the Southern African Litigation Centre, Angela Mudukut...

The Pretoria High Court has declared the extension of a tender for a company that has been operating the eNatis system null and void. The Department of Transport's former Director General George Mahlalela, allegedly extended Tasima's contract between 2010 to 2015 without following proper procedures. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Transport Department's spokesperson, Tiyani Rokhotso.

South African and Argentinian paleotologists have discovered a new 200-million year old dinosaur in South Africa and named it Sefapanosaurusafter the Sesotho word "Sefapano" meaning cross. The specimen was found in the 1930s in the Free State, but remained hidden among the largest collection of fossils in South Africa at Wits University. For more Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Dr Jonah Choiniere of the...

Two siblings kidnapped in Mpumalanga in July last year are making their way back home tomorrow.. The siblings were allegedly trafficked to Malawi under false pretences by a woman who offered them free education and employment in the United Kingdom. Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant spoke to Sakina Kamwendo and says the siblings are safe and unharmed.

1. ASIAN MARKETS RALLY LED BY JAPANESE STOCKS WHICH ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST PEAK IN 8 YEARS 2. THE RAND STRENGTHENS FOLLOWING STRONG DOMESTIC CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT RESULTS 3. PRICES OF OIL SLIGHTLY INCREASED FOLLOWING REVISED DEMAND MEANING WE MIGHT SEE PETROL PRICE HIKES NEXT MONTH

Many Northern Cape residents are back to using bucket toilets. This comes after the controversial 631-million rand sanitation tender awarded to the non-compliant Siyenza Group was terminated earlier this month. The cancellation of the lucrative tender follows months of investigation and exposure of extremely poor service delivery and maladministration which have left many residents of the Amathole...

South Africa's power supply crisis poses the biggest obstacle to growth. That's according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It says there is a need for higher tariffs. The IMF singled out delays in easing electricity shortages, and policy and regulatory uncertainties as chief constraints to economic growth. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to IMF senior representative in SA, Axel Schimmelpfennig

The Ad Hoc Committee on Nkandla has decided to consider Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko's report on President Jacob Zuma's security upgrades at his private residence. Committee Chairperson Cedric Frolick spoke to Sakina Kamwendo and says he is also considering visiting Nkandla for assessments.

** The current account data that came out for SA yesterday ** The danger present in U.S . Equities

Are South Africans getting value for money from public representatives. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent takes a look at some of the benefits that MPs are entitled to, so that they carry out their constitutional mandate. Their remuneration benefits are determined by the Commission that deals with the remuneration of public office bearers. But they also get administrative support fro...

1. Asian stocks climbed with U.S. index futures and the euro ahead of an emergency summit on Greece's debt crisis 2. Japanese stocks rose, led by insurers and banks, as investors await for more data out of the Eurozone and their resolution 3. China Aircraft CEO Resigns During Vacation, Can't Be Reached

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) says opposition to E- tolling organisations such as OUTA and JPSA are misleading the public. Sanral's spokesperson Vusi Mona says their statements are based on selective reading of the Gazette which clearly explains the new lowered tariffs. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Vusi Mona and OUTA Spokesperson, Wayne Duvenage,

Gold producers are reportedly going to present unions with a package of welfare-boosting measures when wage talks begin today. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is to push for an 84% rise in basic pay for entry-level gold mining workers whilst its fierce rival, (AMCU) has asked for a R12,500 per month basic wage. The wage negotiations, come at a time when the industry is grappling with depre...

Water rationing has kicked in at a number of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to conserve water in the province. The Hazelmere Dam that supply Durban and surrounding towns, has a mere two months supply of water remaining. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube

** The emergency Eurozone summit being held on Greece today ** Where to find value on the stock market into the sell-off ** The precarious position faced by US equities OUTRO: That was Nadir Thokan analyst at 27four investments

1. The Bank of Japan maintained its record monetary stimulus as Governor Haruhiko Kuroda seeks to spur inflation and announced plans to improve transparency 2. China's stocks fell, sending the benchmark index toward its steepest weekly loss since 2008 3. How automation is slowly changing the future employee and career choice? Artistic versus Academic!