Drama/Umdlalo womoya

Just days before the start of the African National Congress (ANC) Veterans League Conference, its presidential hopeful, Tony Yengeni, has been barred from contesting for the post. Yengeni was set to square off with party veteran Dr Snuki Zikalala, who is the Convener of the Veterans League. He says he got an invitation stating that he can only attend the conference as a guest and not as a delegate. The ANC Veterans' League will hold its National Conference this weekend to elect new leaders. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to ANC NEC member Tonny Yengeni

The Institute for Economic Justice together with the #PayTheGrants, have filed an application at the Pretoria High Court to challenge regulations which they say exclude many eligible people from getting the Social Relief Grant. They say fewer people have access to the grant today than was the case at its peak in March 2022. The latest research estimates at least 16 million people should be eligible for the SRD grant. Yet, in May 2023, while 14.4 million applied for the grant, only 8.4 million were approved, with 7.1 million people actually being paid. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy Chairperson of the #PayTheGrant, Elizabeth Raiters...

Residents of Mqhekezweni in the Eastern Cape live in fear as criminals demand protection fee, or they could be victims of rape. The chief in that area has indicated that they are aware of this and the community is patrolling however the challenge is that the criminals are armed with guns. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to reporter, Fundiswa Mhlekude...

Qubudile Dyantjie, Chairperson of the Section 194 committee probing the fitness of suspended public protector Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane has briefed the committee on the application by Mkhwebane to remove himself from presiding over her inquiry. Dyantyi has decided not to recuse himself and says Mkhwebane failed to provide all the recordings she relied on in the recusal application. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to our reporter in parliament, Joseph Mosia..

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Workers at the Cape Town Office of the State Attorney are enraged that one of their colleague has been on sick leave for seven years while receiving full pay and benefits. Despite being watched by coworkers while on regular holiday trips Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Solicitor-General within the department of Justice and Correctional Services Fhedzisani Pandelani

Individuals wishing to establish and operate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and religious institutions may soon undergo mandatory vetting by state security services to evaluate whether they pose a threat to national security. President Cyril Ramaphosa's Cabinet recently adopted the 2023 General Intelligence Law Amendment Bill (Gilab), which makes numerous substantial changes to the laws governing the State Security Agency (SSA), South Africa's leading government intelligence and security body. Gilab is part of Ramaphosa's government's response to the SSA's deeply rooted problems, including political factionalism, mismanagement of millions in clandestine funding, and a general disdain for the law and the Constitution. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Daily Maverick freelancer Heidi Swart

Russia-Africa Summit aims to foster mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent. This 2nd Summit is expected to consider four declarations and a three-year Action Plan, which will be presented for consideration. Russian president Vladimir Putin has welcomed African leaders at the 2nd Humanitarian and Economic Russia/Africa summit currently ongoing in St' Petersburg. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Professor of International Relations and Director at the African Centre for the Study of the United States at Wits University, Professor Gilbert Khadiagala

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Topic: Legislation of albinism as a disability/Umthetho ohlathulula i-alibhinizimu ukuthi kukhubazeka Guest:Dieketseng Motloung

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The Ad Hoc Committee to Nominate a Person for Appointment as Public Protector has shortlisted eight names from 38 nominees. Those nominated include the Acting public protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka. The interviews will now take place over two days next month. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC news' senior reporter Mercedes Besent...

Pressure continues to mount on the leadership of the Road Accident Fund following calls for its CEO, Collins Letsoalo and RAF board members to resign. Various stakeholders made the call within the legal fraternity after writing to the government seeking urgent intervention. The lawyers highlighted in their letter what they described as a state of chaos and ineffectiveness in servicing road accident claimants. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo...

Presenter: Big Joe

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Workers at the Office of the State Attorney in Cape Town are furious that one of their coworkers has been on sick leave for seven years while getting full pay and benefits. This is despite being observed by co-workers while on routine vacations. The employee is accused of posting herself on social media while on vacation and appearing well. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to spokeperson for Public Servants Association, Ruben Maleka

Various stakeholders within the legal fraternity have called on the government to urgently intervene in what they have described as a deteriorating situation at the Road Accident Fund. Long queues, unprocessed claims and poorly administered block settlements have shaped the fund's head offices in Pretoria. Now a collection of the legal fraternity, including the Law Society of South Africa and the Black Lawyers Association, has called for the immediate dismissal of the current RAF board and CEO. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the president of the Black Lawyers Association, Advocate Bayethe Maswazi...

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Presenter: Big Joe

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DA Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield is expected to lay criminal charges against Police Minister Bheki Cele and the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. The charges are in connection with the illegal possession of spy equipment, known as "grabbers," by the South African Police Service. Whitfield says Minister Cele admits to unlawfully purchasing grabbers without obtaining the required exemption certificate under the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to DA Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield...

The ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned the Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, that he could be moved from his portfolio if he doesn't carry out the ANC transport policy. During his address at the ANC Women's League Conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre, south of Johannesburg, over the weekend, Mbalula said the ANC expects performance from its deployees to the government. A few hours after this threat was issued, the ANC issued a statement saying Gordhan's job was not on the line, as alleged by Mbalula. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Political Analyst Sandile Swana...

Amid diplomatic tensions with the US over an alleged sale of arms to Russia, South Africa continues to make a case for its ongoing designation as a beneficiary of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which extends preferential trade access to the American market on certain goods. South Africa is having virtual oral representations with the US government beginning today to keep the trade benefits provided by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). Agoa is due to expire in 2025, and there has been much speculation that it might be replaced with new trade agreements between the US and African countries. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Senior Researcher at Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, Dr Mmatlou Kalaba..

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Presenter: Big Joe

It's that time again on a Friday when Update At Noon presents another Update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly. 1. This week, The big Impala Platinum mine took steps to generate its own electricity for its mining operations. 2. Gold in Gauteng's old dumps must be recovered to boost the economy, a meeting in the Golden City heard this week. 3. South Africans were this week urged to go all out to promote platinum globally as a climate crisis saviour. Martin Creamer speaking to Sakina Kamwendo

Authorities are scrambling to find answers regarding the recent Joburg CBD explosion that killed one person and injured 48 others. The City of Johannesburg's preliminary investigation has identified three possible scenarios that could have led to Wednesday's blast in the CBD. These ongoing explosions have raised serious concern among many that urgent interventions are seriously needed. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Hulme Scholes, Director of Melan Scholes Attorney.

It has been reported that the Emfuleni Local Municipality has been paying a salary of about R40-thousand a month to a senior engineering technician who hasn't been to work in four years. This was revealed by Gauteng cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC, Mzi Khumalo, in a written reply to DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala's questions tabled in the legislature in May. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Emfuleni local municipality spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni...

The parents of the Enyobeni Tavern victims are meeting with the Eastern Cape health department officials at their forensic laboratory in East London. They are demanding a release of the documents citing the cause of death of their children. This follows the end of 21 patrons at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London, in June last year. The parents were informed verbally last year that asphyxiation was the cause of death, and they were not given any form of documentation. Sakina Kamwedo spoke to reporter Lubabalo Dada

All parties in the DA case have agreed that the matter should no longer proceed in the High Court in Pretoria. The DA initially launched an application to compel the government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he arrive in the country after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The decision comes after confirmation that Putin will not attend next month's BRICS summit in South Africa. Sakina Kamwendo spoke reporter Canny Maphanga...

Presenter: Big Joe

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Topic: Donation of wheelchairs to empower people with disabilities Guestn:Anna Skhosana -Social worker

Families of the 79 people who were exhumed by Eskom at Manogeng near De Hoop dam are taking the power utility and its implementing agent to the High Court in Polokwane High Court, for not following the correct procedures when the remains were exhumed. The remains of 79 people were exhumed five years ago and they have been kept in the shipping containers since then, until they were re-buried in Apricot this year. The families accuse Eskom of mixing up the remains without profiling them as per individual and that Eskom refused to conduct DNA tests on the remains, to determine their relatives and profile the remains. It's understood that Eskom didn't inform the families when they exhumed the bodies and it's now accused of burying them without identifying them. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Lawyer representing these families advocate Martin Moela

Motorist have been advised to use alternative routes as Lilian Ngoyi Street remains closed in central Johannesburg following the explosion where 48 people have been injured, and one person has died. Videos seen on social media showed cars and minibus taxis toppling along Bree Street. Bongiwe Zwane Spoke to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla

speculation is rife as some have linked Joburg gas explosion disaster to the illegal mining zama-zamas as an underground gas line explosion could be the main source of this catastrophic ordeal that has left Bree and Rissik Street cracked open. Videos making rounds have depicted huge and lengthy cracks that have pierced through the roads causing what appears to be a large sinkhole and uneven surface in that part of the JHB CBD. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Former employee at Joburg Roads Agency and now an independent Consultant Conel Cassius McKay

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

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South African consumers can breath a sigh of relief, for now. Consumer price inflation for June, has gone down to 5,4% from 6,3% in May. This is the first time the inflation has been in the South African Reserve Bank's target range of 3% to 6% since April 2022. Also this is the lowest inflation the country has seen since October 2021. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Elize Kruger independent Economic analyst

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, will no longer be present at the BRICS Summit in August. Instead, the Russian Federation will be represented by Sergey Lavrov, its foreign minister. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa had earlier claimed that detaining Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is sought by the International Criminal Court, would constitute a declaration of war in an answering affidavit to a DA suit in the Johannesburg High Court. According to Ramaphosa, it is his constitutional duty to uphold the republic's peace and national sovereignty. If Putin showed up for the Brics conference, which South Africa will host in August, the DA had petitioned the court to order the government to place him under arrest. South Africa's relations with the West have recently deteriorated. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Gustavo de Carvalho Senior Researcher at South African Institute of International Affairs

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Student organization's at the North West University, Mahikeng Campus are embarking on a donation drive for the defunded students. The campaign, called "fund the defunded" seeks to help students that are reportedly defunded by NSFAS. The donation seeks to solicit needs like food and toiletries for students who are said to be wrongfully defunded. While the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says processes are under way to withdraw funds from undeserving students, some of those defunded at the North West University says it is not true that they do not qualify. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to EFF student command NWU Mafikeng campus its chairperson Phemelo Liagile

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan ways of exporting Russian grain via routes "that would not be susceptible to Kyiv and the West's sabotage", Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. A year-old deal to permit Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports despite Russia's war in Ukraine lapsed on Tuesday after Russia suspended its participation. Russia says the West failed to meet its obligations under a parallel agreement to facilitate exports of Russian grain and fertilizer in the face of Western economic sanctions. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to, Agricultural Economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council Thabile Nkunjana