Drama/Umdlalo womoya

Commission for Gender Equality in Mpumalanga has added its voice to the problem of the practice of Fulelani Nganeno. Update at Noon has been putting the spotlight on the crisis in Nkomazi local Municipality on the high rate of young girls being impregnated by older men and the practice of Fulelani Nganeno also known as Ukuthwala. This issue was highlighted by a concerned resident , Innocent Madonsela, who says he's been receiving a number of complaints from parents. Last week , he delivered a petition signed by over 10 000 people to the Human Rights Commission. The Commission for Gender Equality , The Human Rights Commission and the Council of Traditional Leaders have now joined hands in an effort to end the practice. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Lucky Mabuza from the Commission for Gender Equality.

Water experts have warned government officials to take responsibility for the current water challenges faced by various communities in Gauteng. This follows calls by Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu for Rand Water to implement water shifting as a temporary measure to alleviate the water shortages in Sandton, Midrand and hardest hit area being most parts parts in the South of Johannesburg. Water expert, Dr Anthony Turton however says sixty percent of the water that is pumped into Joburg's water systems is lost through poor and failing infrastructure. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Water Expert, Dr Anthony Turton.

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South Africa is now experiencing worse criminal activity than countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. That's according to Global Organized Crime Index 2023. This index provides important context for the growing growth in organized crime over the past decade. The index showed that organized crime is rising globally, with 83% of the world's population living in conditions of high criminality. South Africa is seen to have performed particularly poorly, with both criminality and resilience scores worsening over the past year. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Lizette Lancaster, Crime and Justice Information and Analysis Hub at the Institute for Security Studies

The case against the 9 accused linked to the Fort Hare university murders has been postponed to the 30th of October in the Alice magistrates court this morning. The nine are accused of being involved in the murder of Fort Hare's Fleet Manager, Petrus Roets, and the Vice Chancellor's bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Sidima Mfeku.

Municipal workers union, the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union, says it's disappointed with the Tshwane Metropolitan city continuing to dismiss workers. The municipality has allegedly dismissed over 100 of its employees for participating in what it calls an illegal and unprotected strike. The city is also accused of failing to pay it's workers, instead challenging them to explain why they are entitled to their salaries. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Imatu Tshwane Regional Chairperson, Melita Baloyi.

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Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi has paid homage to struggle stalwart and the 'Mother of the Nation' Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. He was speaking at the official unveiling and renaming of William Nicole Drive to Winnie Mandela Drive. The William Nicol Drive, stretches from Sandton to Diepsloot, and remains one of Johannesburg's busiest roads, often being heard on radio traffic bulletins during peak morning and afternoon traffic. The ceremony to honour Madikizela-Mandela coincides with the 87th birthday of the late icon of the nation. Premier Lesufi had this to say the late struggle icon.

Aides and supporters of Niger's deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, have welcomed the decision by France to withdraw its diplomatic staff and military from the country. The say that this move will deny the military junta a scapegoat to disguise its failings. President Emmanuel Macron told French viewers during a televised address on Sunday that military cooperation with Niger was "over" and that French troops would withdraw by the end of the year. The announcement came months after Niger's presidential guard detained ousted president Mohamed Bazoum. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to director of the Geneva Centre for Africa Security and Strategic Studies, David Otto.

The Western Cape has been plunged into chaos as severe weather conditions hit the province . Thousands of people have been displaced following the heavy rain and damaging winds. The N2 highway at Botrivier has been cut off, making travelling to and from Cape Town impossible. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to City of Cape Town Disaster Management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell.

Following events of strong winds and persistent rain causing havoc in the Western Cape, SA science writer Leonie Joubert and Wits climatologist Professor Coleen Vogel have warned that SA cities need to prepare for the worst. They say that cities and the countryside are vulnerable to rain bombs and devastating flooding. Leonie was speaking during journalism webinar with a special focus on El Nino and La Niña. The webinar highlighted that El Niño can result in flooding, as seen in Durban in April 2019. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Cape Town-based science writer, Leonie Joubert.

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The South African Weather Services says the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are expected to bear the brunt of the predicted extreme weather conditions. he Disaster Management Centre is on high alert for the incoming cut-off low weather system making landfall on Sunday into Monday. Damaging waves, strong winds and severe thunderstorms are also expected in certain parts of the Western Cape. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC meteorologist, Joel "Guy" Chabata

Parliament is to clamp down on members of parliament who don't show up for public hearings and oversight visits that have already been paid for. According to the National Assembly House Chairperson Cedric Frolick, this cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of rands. Frolick, says fruitless and wasteful expenditure can never be tolerated. Public hearings are a crucial step in the parliamentary legislative process and an expensive process paid for by taxpayers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to National Assembly chair responsible for committees and oversight, Cedric Frolick.

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The ANC has defeated the Democratic Alliance private member's bill that sought to stop cadre deployment in the public sector. The bill, which was proposed by DA MP Leon Schreiber and reviewed by the Public Service and Administration portfolio committee, was supported by all opposition parties present, with the exception of one the PAC. The end cadre deployment bill sought to outlaw the employment of political party office-bearers in the civil service. Cadre deployment has been an ongoing point of tension between the parties, with the DA earlier this year winning a court case compelling the ANC to hand over its records, which the ANC is fighting. In today's discussion what we're asking is whether the current ANC cadre deployment policy working in favour of the country or not. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to DA's Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration Leon Schrieber 078 395 6374 and ANC member Chrispin Phiri

Renowned economist Dawie Roodt warned that South Africans should expect another big petrol price increase next month. His warning comes amidst a weaker currency and a significant increase in the Brent crude oil price. The rand has been trading within a narrow range of R18.80 to R19.10 per US dollar for most of the week.

The poultry industry continues to bear the brunt of the high-pathogenic avian influenza or avian flu which has led to the loss of almost Four Million chickens since June this year. The current outbreak of the deadly HPAI equates to about a third of egg-laying chickens and a quarter of broiler-breeding chickens dying from the virus or being culled. The bout was first detected in early June in Mpumalanga but has since spread to Gauteng, parts of Limpopo and Rustenburg in the North West. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the South African Poultry Association General Manager, Dr Abongile Balarane...

Presenter: Big Joe

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There's a growing concern from the legal fraternity about the the Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill. The Department of Transport gazetted the draft RAF Amendment Bill, 2023, last month. It proposed changes to how the RAF will operate in South Africa in future. Legal experts claim this move will see the fund severely cut down on the support offered to road accident victims. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Deputy Minister of Transport, Lisa Mangcu.

Gauteng police have arrested seven suspects in relation to the kidnap of an 18 year old student from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The male student was reported missing by his roommate yesterday after being lured through a dating site called Grindr. His alleged kidnappers demanded a 30-thousand ransom from his family in order to secure his safe release. A quick sting operation from crime intelligence partnering with other entities of the state which include a cellular data investigator, led to an arrest of one of the suspects while he was attempting withdraw the ransom money at an ATM on the M2 highway. Brigadier Brenda Muridili explains further and Bongile Zwane speaks to Criminologist at Tshwane University of Technology, Professor Kholofelo Rakubu.

The public has until the 13th of next month to give commentary on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill together with the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill. Both bills are expected to be game changers if passed, in the country's transition from a centralised electricity market to a more open and competitive model. If the ERA bill for instance is not passed by the end of term for this parliament, it will fall away and need to be revived by the new administration post the 2024 national elections. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Alecia Pienaar, Counsel for Environmental and Regulatory Law Practice at Cliffee Dekker Hofmeyr Law Firm.

The Western Cape government has condemned the destruction of public infrastructure at Swellendam in the Overberg region. Protesters blockaded the N2 and allegedly burnt down another municipal building as well as a fire service vehicle. Swellendam township and informal settlement residents are fuming over the indigent subsidy policy. This means residents will have to apply for indigent benefits for poor households. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Swellendam Mayor , Francois Du Rand.

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The personal injury plaintiff lawyer association, together with the other six legal associations, have strongly opposed the proposed changes to the Road Accident Fund, which will severely cut down on the support offered to road accident victims and negate compensation in some cases entirely. Advocate Justin Erasmus, Chairperson of the Personal Injury Plaintiff Lawyers Association, has described this move by the Department of Transport as taking away the rights of people. He says road accident victims are now being turned into Sassa pensioners, lamenting this as a recipe for disaster. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Advocate Justin Erasmus, Chairperson of the Personal Injury Plaintiff Lawyers Association

The Consumer Price Index has increased slightly from four-point-seven per cent in July to four-point-eight per cent in August 2023. Statistics South Africa released the data earlier today, with an increase that is in line with analysts' expectations. Contributions to the increase came from food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, as well as miscellaneous goods and services. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Senior Economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Xhanti Payi.

Corruption Watch says there is an increase in the number of reported deviations in 2023. The data shows a massive increase of 247% from 2021 to 2023. The anti-corruption organisation says this represent a cause for serious concern when set against the backdrop of generally decreasing deviation numbers since 2017. It says this analysis is purely based on reported data and the increase in the deviation numbers may reflect increased reporting of deviations rather than an actual increase in deviations. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Legal Researcher at Corruption Watch, Motlatsi Komote.

Residents of Eldorado Park, Westbury and Riverlea are complaining that police are not doing enough to keep gangsters off the streets and to ensure their safety. This follows a spate of alleged gang-related shooting incidents over the weekend that claimed the lives of six people in Westbury and Eldorado Park. Today, the city of Johannesburg speaker Colleen Makhubele visited the areas. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC reporter, Horisani Sithole.

The Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town is in court today as a friend of a court, in a case against the Department of Home Affair's practice of blocking Identity Documents. The institute wants the practice to be declared unconstitutional as it accuses the department of illegally blocking over a million IDs, leaving the children of those ID holders desperate. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Paula Proudlock, senior researcher at the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town and Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi

Topic: Ukulayelwa kwabantu abakhubazekilo eminyangweni efaneleko yezenzelwa/ Referral of disabled people to appropriate services. Guest: SoNtokozo Mahlangu (Sivutha Umlilo Disabled Group)

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Presenter: Big Joe

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On Monday, Update@Noon continued to put the spotlight on the crisis in Nkomazi local Municipality on the high rate of young girls being impregnated by older men and the practice of Fulelani Nganeno also known as ukuthwala. Concerned resident , Innocent Madonsela says he has been recieving a number of complaints from concerned parents. Today he delivered a petition signed by over 10 000 people to the Human Right Commission. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Eric Mokonyama from the South African Human Rights Commission.

SATAWU Transport Union has joined the chorus as calls mount for the axing of Transnet's CEO. This comes as the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the other five business chambers have written letters to the minister of public enterprise, Pravin Gordon, calling for the axing of Transnet's top executives, including CEO Portia Derby, citing the continued deterioration of port and rail services, which has adverse effects on revenue for not only Transnet but also its clients. SATAWU deputy general secretary Anele Kiet says they had expected a lot from the CEO based on the promises she had made when she took over. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SATAWU deputy general secretary, Anele Kiet.

Services within the City of Tshwane continue to be disrupted as the strike action by South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) continues. On Tuesday, the city reported an alleged vandalism of the Heatherley Substation which saw power outages in parts of Pretoria East. Meanwhile, refuse collection continues to pile up in many parts the capital with SAMWU members continuing with their strike action which commences in July. This comes as the city has stuck to its guns insisting that it does not have the 600-Million rand needed for the salary increases. Workers want to force the city to honour the last year of the three-year wage agreement for 2023/2024. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAMWU's provincial secretary in Gauteng, Mpho Tladinyane.

Johannesburg's power utility, City Power is currently conducting cut-off operations in Naturena, south of Johannesburg. The utility has switched off electricity to defaulting customers & those connected illegally. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena.

The City of Ekurhuleni says it is working with Rand Water to try and address the water supply challenges facing residents of Tsakane, Daveyton and Kwa-Thema. Residents from these townships have taken to the streets in protest over lack of water supply in the areas. Ekurhuleni Metro police have been deployed to the areas to quell the situation. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC reporter, Prabashni Naidoo.

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