TALKING POINTS:

*** Nigeria Hits 44.30 Percent Broadband Penetration, 84m Internet Subscriptions

*** Zimbabwe: Reserve Bank to Release Smaller Gold Coins in November

*** African e-commerce giant Jumia reported its second-quarter financial performance

ANC NEC member, Nomvula Mokonyane says a criminal case has been opened following the discovery of bogus delegates at the North West provincial conference. Briefing the media yesterday Mokonyane said the alleged duplicates would not compromise the election's outcome. The party's North West Conference has been marred by persistent delays, legal challenges, and allegations of registration rigging. The conference has now been adjourned for two weeks. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to North West Political analyst Prof. Andre Duvenage

The eldest son of late King Goodwill Zwelithini, Prince Simakade has been pronounced the new monarch by some members of the royal family. This after he performed the entering of the kraal ceremony at the Enyokeni palace at Nongoma at the weekend. The ritual was done privately. Entering the kraal is one of the key rituals following the death of an AmaZulu monarch and entails the recognition of a successor. The government has recognized King MisuZulu kaZwelithini as the new monarch, a decision Prince Simakade's legal team is preparing to challenge in court. To discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Gugu Mazibuko, a Cultural Expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has called on the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy to outline how it plans to tackle illegal mining, following the gang-rape of eight women in Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg last month. Parliament visited several abandoned mines following the incident. This as the department says the government needs an estimated R49 billion to rehabilitate about 6 000 mines abandoned by mining companies. For more on what came out of the site visit, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. Sahlulele Luzipo 

Several July unrest suspects have been arrested In an operation by the Hawks targeting alleged instigators of last year's insurrection. The unrest saw a wave of looting, riots, damage to businesses and infrastructure worth over 50 billion rands, and violence that left over 350 people dead in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. In the aftermath of the unrest, the government said at least 12 instigators had been identified. The unrest allegedly stems from the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Hawks Lt-General Lebeya...

State-owned arms manufacturer Denel has announced that all outstanding salaries owed to its employees have now been fully paid, after a two-year battle. Denel has paid 318 million rands in outstanding salaries. Head of restructuring, Riaz Saloojee, says the new restructuring plan will place the embattled arms company at the centre of defence industrial capability and excellence. Saloojee says they have been working tirelessly to get the company back where it was before it was brought to its knees by State Capture. Elvis Presslin spoke to trade union Solidarity's Sector Coordinator for Defence and Aerospace Derek Mans

South African Airways has been given 90 days to provide details on Takatso deal or risk losing licenses. It has been reported that the Air Services Licensing Council wants SAA to address breaches of aviation law - including providing more information about the proposed deal and management changes. The airline, previously grounded for almost two years under business rescue, only resumed operations late last year. Elvis Presslin spoke to aviation law expert Haydn Davies of Webber Wentzel

FOCUS POINTS:

***Central African ministers meeting in Cameroon have agreed to merge two regional blocs in a move to boost trade and growth. 

***The inauguration ceremony of the power generation second turbine of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is underway.

***The US and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to form a working group to protect the enormous Congo basin rainforest and peatlands

With less than four months to go before the ANC's 55th National Conference, the party is racing against time to conclude its provincial conferences. At least six out of the nine provinces have convened their conferences with the North West scheduled to hold its 9th provincial summit in Rustenburg this weekend. The ANC leadership under its former chairperson Supra Mahumapelo was dissolved four years ago and was replaced by an interim structure. The interim leadership says it's all systems go for their provincial conference after a number of postponements. Elvis Presslin spoke to a Political analyst in the North West, Andre Duvenage

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa says the new premier of KwaZulu-Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube is compromised and his party will hold her government accountable. Dube-Ncube became the new premier of KwaZulu-Natal after she defeated the DA's Mabatho Tembe in a secret ballot during a legislature sitting. The DA had fielded its own candidate to contest the position. Legislature members of both the IFP and the EFF abstained from voting. The vacancy emanates from the resignation of Sihle Zikalala last week. Elvis Presslin spoke to IFP leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa...