Drama/Umdlalo womoya

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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Presenter: Big Joe

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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

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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Police have noted multiple gun related deaths in South Africa over weekend. In one incident, police in the Eastern Cape are investigating a case of murder after five people were shot dead in a mass shooting at a house in Gelvandale in the Nelson Mandela Bay late Sunday night. In Gauteng, five people were left in Westbury and Eldorado Park in an alleged gang related shooting incidents. Whilst in Mpumalanga police are investigating two cases of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident at a tavern in KaNyamazane near Mbombela over the weekend. Bongiwe Zwaned spoke to Gun Free South Africa researcher, Claire Taylor.

The Department of Home Affairs is challenging a court finding that the termination of government's Zimbabwean exemption permit (ZEP) programme is unlawful in Pretoria High Court. The Pretoria High court in June criticised the department and its minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, for not following proper procedure in terminating the regime, which allows more than 178,000 Zimbabweans to stay and work in South Africa. It extended the regime by 12 months to allow the minister to follow a fair process to end it. Motsoaledi believes the judgments delivered earlier this year sets a dangerous precedent. Bongile Zwane spoke to SABC reporter, Zoleka Qodashe

The Nkomazi Local Municipality in Mpumalanga says it has noted with concern the high rate of young girls being impregnated by older men. This follows, reports of cases of girls as young as 10-years-old falling pregnant by older men in Mjejane village on the border with Mozambique. A concerned resident, Innocent Madonsela has been receiving a number of complaints and submitted a signed petition by more than 3000 residents to the Human Rights Commission. Madonsela says once the girl is pregnant, the man will pay a fine, called ' Fulelani nganeno', to the girl's family. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nkomazi Local Municipality spokesperson, Cyril Ripinga.

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Presenter: Big Joe

The tradition of Ukuthwala is reportedly on the rise in Nkomazi, more especially in Mjejane village in Mpumalanga. Innocent Madonsela , runs a campaign against the practice on Change.org and is trying to put an end to the practice. Young girls as young as 10-years-old are reportedly impregnated by older men, who then pay what is known as "funelani nganeno' as a way of apologising to the family of the girl. Udo Carelse spoke to the Julie Malgas Foundation and Nguvu Collective change leader, Innocent Madonsela from.

Platinum and gold mining company, Sibanye- Stillwater has begun retrenchment talks with more than 2,380 workers and more than 500 contractors as it looks to reduce continued losses at its Kloof 4 gold shaft. Kloof is a large, shallow to ultradeep-level gold mining and processing operation in the Far West Rand Goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin. The firm said on Thursday in a statement that it has recorded losses even with the recent high gold prices. Udo Carelse spoke to Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs at Sibanye Still Water, James Wellsted.

National Taxi Association, SANTACO says it is in full support of the march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in which civic movement 'PutSouthAfricaFirst' together with the Xolani Khumalo Foundation aim to draw government's attention to the scourge of the illegal trade and use of drugs in the country. Other organisations that form part of the march include, the Young Communist League and the Bomme ba Selelo, a women-based formation from Mapobane, north of Tshwane. Udo Carelse spoke to SANTACO spokesperson in Tshwane, Mcdonald Makata.

Preparations have been made for the transportation of the remains of late Amazulu traditional prime minister and former IFP president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to travel from a mortuary in Ulundi to his home in Emahlabathini for his funeral on Saturday. The procedure to be followed for his burial is said to be similar to the that followed after the death of AmaZulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini in 2021. Udo Carelse spoke to SABC reporter, Vusi Makhosini.

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The Special Investigating Unit has found that National Treasury flouted its own internal procurement processes when it awarded a contract for the implementation of the Integrated Financial Management System in 2016. It says the contract with service provider Oracle resulted in fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting to 68-million rand. It also found that there was a conflict of interest for some of the former directors general at the Treasury. This emerged when the SIU updated Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on their investigation into the project. Abongwe Kobokana reports...

The trial of five men accused of murdering soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa has been postponed to the 2nd of October by the High court in Pretoria. The postponement is to allow the defence time to peruse over 700 photos they requested from the state. The defence's cross examination of state witness, Constable Sizwe Zungu is expected to continue when the trial resumes. Zungu has testified that he saw all five accused at a hostel in Vosloorus the day Meyiwa was killed. SABC News reporter, Pearl Magubane has more.

Efforts by Johannesburg's City Power to cut off electricity to hijacked buildings in the inner City have been met with resistance and threats of violence by local residents. City Power officials, accompanied by law enforcement officers had to abandon their operation in Jeppestown yesterday due to heightened tensions. The power utility had targeted four buildings which it says collectively owe the City close to 20 Millions rands in unpaid electricity consumption. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to City Power's Head of Rick and Security, Sergeant Thela.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says measures to address budget shortfalls resulting from government's current fiscal constraints must not impact negatively on service delivery. Ntshavheni also reflected on the ongoing high levels of load shedding. This after Eskom warned South Africans to use electricity sparing due increasing demand for electricity during the peak hours prompted by a cold front that hit the country this week. Ntshavheni briefed members of the media on the outcomes of a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

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