The National Assembly will today vote on the new Electoral Bill which will usher in changes to South Africa's electoral system. Civil society organisations such as the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend our Democracy and the Rivonia Circle are calling on Members of Parliament to reject the Bill in its current form. They say the Bill does not favour voters, It is unconstitutional and undermines the foundations of our democracy. Elvis Presslin spoke to head of Policy and Research at the Rivonia Circle, Lukhona Mnguni

An alleged kingpin linked to Transnet fuel theft is expected to appear in the Witbank magistrate's court today. The 35-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday during a joint operation between the Hawks and Bidvest Protea Coin for his alleged involvement in a syndicate linked to the theft of fuel from the Transnet pipeline and damages to essential infrastructure. Elvis Presslin spoke to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase...

The Democratic Alliance has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of misusing public resources, saying he should not blur the line between his party and the state. This, was after images emerged of Ramaphosa landing in a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) helicopter in Welkom, in the Free State, where he was to participate in the ANC's Letsema campaign and engage with party branches. SAfm Senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to George Michalakis, DA MP and spokesperson for security and justice in the NCOP, and asked him how this was discovered...

Former DA MPL in Gauteng Makashule Gana says he is building a political alternative to contest the 2024 elections, in order to fulfil the 1994 promise for all South Africans. He says a new formation is needed as current political parties have betrayed that promise. Elvis Presslin spoke to Makashule Gana, a former DA MPL in Gauteng Makashule Gana.

Today South Africa celebrates media freedom and commemorates Black Wednesday. It is on this day 45 years ago after Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko was murdered in detention, the apartheid government arrested editors and banned three publications and 19 Black Consciousness organisations. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Glenda Daniels, associate professor of media studies at Wits University and SANEF Gauteng Convenor...

Billions in assets and properties belonging to former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste have been attached by the South African Reserve Bank. The bank executed the order yesterday after the Western Cape High Court earlier this month granted the reserve bank's application to attach all assets linked to Jooste. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC Economics Editor, Tshepo Mongoai... 

Transnet has signed a three-year wage agreement with the United National Transport Union (Untu), the majority union at the state-owned ports and rail operator. The deal, which comes after a week-long nationwide strike, includes a six per cent wage increase for this year and five point five per cent for the following year. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has not accepted the offer. Elvis Presslin spoke to UNTU president, Steven Leshabane and Satawu secretary-general, Jack Mazibuko...

Ministers will no longer receive free water and electricity after President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the withdrawal of the new Ministerial handbook. This follows public outcry over the amendments which exempted ministers and their deputies from paying for water and electricity at their state-owned houses. The DA gave the President an ultimatum to scrap the Ministerial Handbook or face mass protests. The party accused Ramaphosa of secretly abusing his power by dishing out expensive perks to his ministers. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration, Dr Leon Schreiber... 

TALKING POINTS:

***West Africa Hopes to Strengthen Cocoa Prices With New Members Cameroon, Nigeria

***And in Uganda... Entebbe Airport Records Decline in Passenger Traffic

***And lastly, Kenya Airways Wins 4 Awards at the Prestigious World Travel Awards

Lobby group AfriForum is calling for a boycott of Dis-Chem following its moratorium on hiring white people. This after the pharmaceutical retailer's CEO Ivan Saltzman through a now leaked letter told managers to effect the moratorium to improve the company's employment equity profile and effect transformation. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Ernst van Zyl, a campaigns officer for strategy and content at AfriForum