Drama/Umdlalo womoya

The official unemployment rate was 32,7% in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is according to results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey just released by Statistics South Africa. The report indicates that the total number of persons employed was 15,9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the number of unemployed persons increased by 28 000 to 7,8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. For reaction to the latest unemployment figures, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Zwelinzima Vavi, secretary general for The South African Federation of Trade Unions.

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Pressure is mounting on former Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter to open criminal charges against those he alleges are responsible, through corrupt activities, for the dilapidated state of the Power Utility. Minister in the presidency, Mondli Gungubele says De Ruyter has a responsibility as a public official to name the alleged corrupt minister that saw the ANC allegedly feeding at the trough at Eskom. De Ruyter made the allegations shortly before he left Eskom with immediate effect on Wednesday. In a shorted chat I had earlier with Minister Gungubele, the minister says a self respecting CEO should approach law enforcement agencies over such serious allegations.

Presenter: LadyB

ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula has echoed the sentiments of the Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan in lambasting former Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter. Mbalula, together with Minister Gordhan says CEOs of state-owned entities should steer away from what he called open political debate. De Ruyter has left the power utility with immediate effect. Meanwhlie, Mbalula has challenged de Ruyter to name and shame those he alleges have links to the ANC and are corrupt at Eskom.

Civil society organisations and political parties alike have not minced their words in reflection to tenure of outgoing Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter after he parted ways with the embattled power utility. Among those who have expressed gratitude to de Ruyter is the Democratic Alliance's shadow minister for Public Enterprises, Ghaleb Cachalia, who says the de Ruyter has been removed because he has touched the African National Congress in its studio. The UpdateAtNoon also got comment from Economic Freedom Fighters Spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo who says de Ruyter added to the demise of the already troubled utility. Congress of the People Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says the party is not surprised by de Ruyter's sudden exit and leader of the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), Dr Pieter Groenewald has called for a full investigation to be launched.

Eskom Group CEO André de Ruyter has left the power utility with immediate effect following a special board meeting at the utility. Both the power utility and de Ruyter reached a mutual agreement to terminate the CEO's contract. Eskom says it will announce the acting Group Chief Executive as soon as possible. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha.

Presenter: LadyB

The Central Energy Fund has come out guns blazing against allegations leveled against the fun by the outgoing Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter. In a statement, Central Energy Fund says it considers it reckless for Mr de Ruyter to go on National television and make wild allegations about the request for collaboration with Eskom on the coal fired power stations that Eskom intends to decommission as he could be heard in the interview. The statement further says the intention though from Mr de Ruyter is a sinister one, which has nothing to do with addressing the debilitating effects of load shedding on the South African economy through ensuring the optimisation of the capacity that sits within the South African state to address this challenge. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Central Energy Fund CEO, Dr Ishmael Poolo

Pretoria high court Judge Tintswalo Makhubele has come under scrutiny as she appears under the Judicial Conduct Tribunal. The Judicial Conduct Tribunal hearing commenced on Monday at the Southern Sun hotel in Rosebank, north of Johannesburg following complaints leveled against her by #UniteBehind with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) against Judge Makhubele. She's been implicated in gross misconduct for allegedly holding a dual status as a Judge and as Chair of the PRASA Board of Control. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Pearl Magubane.

Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwna was expected to table his 2023 budget speech in a short while. Civic organisation, Budget Justice Coalition (BJC) says it hopes that the Minister will not use the social budget to fund the current crises caused by the government's bad spending habits. It cautions that the allocation of funds and reduction in spending to address the R400 billion Eskom debt, must not be implemented to the detriment of other rights found within the Constitution. For more we are now joined on the line by Motlatsi Komote , Chairperson of the Budget Justice Coalition

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research says the year 2022 was by far the most load shedding intensive year on record. The Council's experts have been giving their annual statistics on power generation since January 2022 to December the 31st. The annual statistics on power generation also included the effect that the rolling blackouts have had on the water supply. CSIR's Principal Researcher Warrick Pierce explains.

The Democratic Alliance's mayoral candidate in the City of Tshwane, Cilliers Brink says the Patriotic Alliance's toxicity has caused the failures of many coalition governments within the Gauteng province. Brink was speaking at a media briefing by the Tshwane Coalition government which backed the resigned mayor of the City, Randall Williams. SABC reporter, Patricia Visagie spoke to some of the city's coalition partners including, the FF+, ActionSA and the IFP.

U.S. Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump is expected to announce an intention to sue to the New York Police Department for the alleged assassination and fraudulent concealment of evidence surrounding Malcolm X's murder. The late civil rights icon was assassinated on February 21, 1965 while speaking at the Audobon Ballroom in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Tuesday marks the 58th anniversary of his death. And as Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports, he was killed after he split from black nationalist organization the Nation of Islam which added to speculation around his demise.

Presenter: Big Joe

As homeowners are finding alternative sources of electricity like generators and solar panels to mitigate the energy crisis , private security group Fidelity ADT says they may also be attracting criminals. Fidelity ADT says there is a new trend emerging, where criminals are targeting solar panels. The company says it has received reports of solar panels being stolen from properties. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Head of Marketing & communication for Fidelity ADT, Charnel Hattingh.

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) is planning a stay-away in the Western Cape tomorrow. The taxi association says there are several reasons for this decision and has advised operators to refrain from engaging in acts of violence. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Western Cape, general secretary of the South African National Taxi Council (santaco), Ryno Saaiers