Drama/Umdlalo womoya

The ANC says the Dr Petrus Molemela stadium has now been cleared for its 111 year celebrations to be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday. This is despite earlier reports that the just over 15 000 seater stadium was vandalized with no running water, no operational lifts, no VIP rooms with no electrical and safety certificates. Briefing the media on the preparedness to hold its annual January 8 celebrations at the stadium, the governing party said there was no sinister on the part of the municipality to raise the red flag on the safety of the stadium. Ntebo Mokobo has more.

Two men, accused of assaulting a Pretoria East man in a suspected racial attack, have each been granted 8- thousand rand bail at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Karel Prinsloo and Johannes Stassen are facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and crimen injuria. The two allegedly assaulted Thato Lepinka and damaged his vehicle in a parking lot of the Willoway Shopping Centre in Garsfontein. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC reporter Phumzile Mlangeni on what transpired in court.

Alleged Limpopo serial rapist linked to seven rape cases is back in the Bolobedu magistrate's court today. The 33-year-old man was arrested at the Tzaneen CBD after police received a tip-off. The police have been probing at least seven rape cases that were reported between 2015 and 2016. Police say he targeted hitch-hikers and shoppers. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC reporter Justice Shipalana on what transpired in court today.

Tribute to Shadow Mbonani

The ANC says preparations are in place for the holding of its annual January 8 celebrations to mark its 111 years. Crafted in 1972 to celebrate the ANC's 60th anniversary, the then ANC President Oliver Reginald Tambo used the occasion to call for the building of a nation - a theme adopted to push ahead with the struggle for non-racialism and a democratic South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the governing ANC's 2023 January 8 statement at the Dr Petrus Molemela stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday. Our Political Correspondent Ntebo Mokobo looks at the history of the ANC January 8 Statement since the Tambo era.

Presenter: Big Joe

Activist and founder of the Callas Foundation, Caroline Peters, is challenging a law that prohibits publicly naming an accused charged with rape or other sexual offences before they have pleaded in court. Peters wants the relevant section of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) declared unconstitutional and invalid. She has filed her application in the Western Cape High Court against the Minister of Justice and Correctional services. Elvis Presslin spoke to Caroline Peters on what necessitated the initiative.

The Bolobedu Magistrate's court outside Tzaneen has postponed to Wednesday a case against a suspected serial rapist. The matter was postponed to allow the accused, Bonolo Seoka, to apply for legal aid representation. Seoka is facing two counts of rape and attempted murder after he was positively linked to the cases through DNA. He allegedly targeted hitch-hikers and shoppers between 2015 and 2016. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC reporter, Justice Shipalana on what transpired in court.

The family of a 43-year-old woman who died after being mauled by two pit bull dogs in Vivo a farming town, in Limpopo, now wants justice. Melitah Sekole, from Ga-Makgato village, was attacked while walking from her rental place to work at Vivo on December 23rd and died at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital last Friday. The owner of the dogs has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide. Mahlatse Phaladi reports.

A Prisoner rights activist will be approaching the South African Human Rights Commission to lodge a complaint of abuse of inmates by prison guards. The National Task Team of the Correctional Services Department has been carrying out an operation at the Boksburg prison searching for contraband, including cellphones. And in the process, some of the inmates were wounded when prison guards fired rubber bullets at them. Families of the inmates have described this as inhumane and are worried about the safety of their relatives. Tshepo Phagane has more.

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Organisers of the iconic Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Parade say they have put numerous safety measures in place as the event returns to Cape Town today. The carnival has not been able to take place for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Elvis Presslin spoke to chairperson of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association, Muneeb Gambino.

January 2nd marks a year since the devastating fire that gutted the Old Assembly and new National Assembly buildings. Zandile Mafe who remains in police custody, is accused of starting the fire. The National Assembly building remains unsafe to enter as it was totally destroyed when the fire re-ignited on the third of January after 4 PM. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent who was on the scene, recaps some of the moments and filed this report.

Political parties have vowed to intensify their efforts in holding government accountable in the year 2023. In delivering their New Year's messages, parties have called on South Africans to set their eyes on the 2024 elections. They say 2022 was marred by challenges that included load shedding, increases in food and fuel prices, gender-based violence cases and high unemployment rates among others. Zoleka Qodashe reports...

Findings from four-day work week pilot programme conducted in several countries by the organisation, 4 Day Week Global, have revealed that participating companies experienced increased revenue, while employees experienced a significant increase in health and well-being. According to the report, workers felt less stressed and burnt out and reported higher rates of life satisfaction. The pilot is expected to start in South Africa this year. Elvis Presslin spoke to Director of 4 Day Week South Africa Karen Lowe.

As the festive season draws to a close, scores of motorists are expected to hit the road, returning from their holiday destinations. Increased traffic volumes are expected with possible emergency situations. Elvis Presslin spoke to Simon Zwane , spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)

Officials from the Department of Correctional Service have been conducting raids at prison facilities to ensure safety and security this festive season. In a recent raid at the Drakenstein prison officials confiscated a number of illicit substances and other illegal items such as electrical wires, cell phones, chargers and cash. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Singabakho Nxumalo, National Spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has conducted the department's Safer Festive Season campaign in Gauteng. The campaign which will run through to the end of January next year aims to mobilise maximum resources to ensure that communities feel safe and secure this festive season and beyond. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Lirandzu Themba, Spokesperson for Police Minister Bheki Cele.

Missing Children South Africa says at least 23% of children who go missing are either never found, trafficked or found deceased. The organisation has teamed up with the SAPS in a call for parents and caregivers to be vigilant over the festive season. According to research done by the organisation 77% of missing children are found. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Bianca van Aswegen, National co-ordinator for Missing Children SA...

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have arrived at four Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga. The soldiers will be deployed at the Camden, Majuba, Thuthuka and Groetvlei power stations. Their deployment follows allegations of sabotage at the stations which led to escalating levels of loadshedding. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the SANDF at several Eskom facilities over the weekend. SABC reporter, Eric Lubisi filed this report.

Women make up over 50 percent of the ANC's 80-member National Executive Committee. The NEC has been selected from the 252 names chosen during the branch nomination process for the 55th national conference. Young people also constitute a sizable part of the governing party's highest decision-making body. The Head of ANC Electoral Committee, Kgalema Motlanthe, announced the new members in Johannesburg on Wednesday. SABC Senior Politics Reporter, Ntebo Mokobo was there and filed this report.

As the festive season gets underway many South Africans will be looking to their stokvel savings to purchase groceries, fund vacations or pay for school essentials in January. However experts say while Stokvels continue to grow in this traditional form, the stokvel industry is taking on bigger and more sophisticated investments. Stokvels remain a popular saving and investment solution estimated to be worth around 50-billion-rand. SABC reporter, Naledi Ngcobo filed this report.

With just 24-hours before the KwaZulu-Natal government's extended deadline to relocate all flood survivors expires on December 22nd, families in a community hall in Ntuzuma say they have been neglected. Initially, the government promised that they would be relocated by December 15th, but this was subsequently extended by a week. Over a hundred families are still in this community hall. SABC reporter, Fanele Mhlongo filed this report.

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Victims of apartheid have been sleeping outside the Constitutional Court for a month now demanding reparations for human rights violations under apartheid. According to Dr Marjorie Jobson the victims outside court are part of a group of people who never got an opportunity to submit their statements to the TRC but qualify to receive the grant from the Presidents Fund. The fund was established in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act of 1995 and is administered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) unit within the department of justice and constitutional development. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Dr Marjorie Jobson, National Director at Khulumani Support Group.

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

Presenter: Big Joe

The Department of Social Development has launched an expert panel report on Basic Income Support Grant today. The expert panel was established as a part of an international labour organisation initiative to examine the feasibility of a Basic Income Grant option for South Africa. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Brenton van Vrede, Executive Manager for grants administration at South Africa Social Security Agency

There was a hive of activity outside the Parliamentary precinct and at the City Hall in Cape Town on Tuesday ahead of debate on the report of the Section 89 Independent Panel into the Phala Phala saga. National Assembly will this afternoon vote on whether to accept the findings of the Panel Of Experts which found that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have a case to answer regarding the theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.

ANC members under the banner of Kgalema Disputed NEC list have filed an urgent court application in the High Court in Johannesburg, to compel the ANC to provide raw data of all branch nominations for the NEC additionals. They want the matter to be heard by the court on Wednesday. The group says should the information it seeks from the Electoral Committee not be delivered to it by the start of the ANC National Conference on the 16th, then the matter must be placed on the agenda of the National Conference to be heard by plenary before the election of officials. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to senior SABC reporter, Busi Chimome.

The South African Weather Service issued a yellow level 2 for rain in KwaZulu-Natal as heavy rains continued to hit parts of the country. On Thursday, Johannesburg Emergency Services called off the search for a three month old baby who got swept away during a baptism ceremony at the Jukskei River near Sandton last weekend. Fifteen bodies have since been recovered. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC Meteorologist, Joel Guy