First Take SA

Economists say it is highly likely that the Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee will increase interest rates on the back of rising inflation in both local and international markets.  Eighteen of the twenty-three economists - polled by Reuters - said the central bank would add 25 basis points (bps) to the repo rate TODAY, pushing it up to four percent.  Five of the remaining economists said the central bank would leave rates unchanged. For further expectations of the MPC, we shift focus now to the property market with CEO of Jawitz Properties, Herchel Jawitz

Tributes continue to pour in for the oldest District Six claimant, Sharifa Khan who died yesterday at the age of 100. Forced to move from District Six back in 1966 as the apartheid government declared the area a whites-only area, Khan was forcibly moved from her home together with 74-thousand other residents. Aunty Khan as she was affectionately known, once expressed the pain and dehumanization of watching her home being bulldozed in front of her very own eyes. She died without moving back into her apartment despite receiving her keys back in April last year. For more on her life story and anguish, here is her granddaughter, Rifdah Da Costa

The NWU Business School has officially become the first school on the African continent to receive international accreditation from the Business Graduates Association (BGA) and the prestigious Association of MBAs (AMBA) renewed the school's international MBA accreditation for five years. Only 2% of recognized business schools around the world have AMBA accreditation. Prof Anet Smit - Deputy Director of the NWU Business School and the Manager of international accreditations tells us more

The United Nations Secretary-General has publicly denounced the coup d'état in Burkina Faso. This after a statement from the global organization yesterday condemning the action of the country's armed forces and expressing concern at the whereabouts of President Roch Kabore. This was UN Chief Antonio Guterres says the role of the military should be to protect its people and country and not to fight its government for power. Some experts believe the chorus of criticism is unlikely to have much effect on Burkina Faso's new military leaders. Over the past 18 months, there have been two coups in Mali, one in Guinea, one in Chad, and one in Sudan. For more on this here is Senior Researcher at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, Dr. Emmanuel Matambo

Corruption Watch is calling for stricter oversight of government procurement services. This comes after a report by the Special Investigating Unit or SIU revealed that 62% of the finalized investigations into COVID-19 related procurement by the government have been found to be irregular. President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the public release of the final report of investigations by the SIU into procurement by all spheres of the government of goods and services associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, published on Tuesday does not include details of ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption. Director at Accountability Now, Advocate Paul Hoffman on the latest report

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa, has given President Cyril Ramaphosa seven days to explain what he knows about the abuse of state funds for party-political campaigns. This follows a letter by ANC MP Mervyn Dirks that the committee summons the President to appear before it to explain leaked remarks where he apparently admits to knowing about such abuse of state funds. The committee has concluded that a summons can only be used as a last resort where the President fails to comply with a request. For a look at what the SCOPA process means for the Dirks and Ramaphosa moving forward, here is Author and Political Analyst, Dr. Ralph Mathekga

In an address on state television, mutinous soldiers in Burkina Faso say they have dissolved the government and suspended the constitution. SABC International News Desk journalist, Khayelihle Khumalo tells us more about what is going on in that country

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back".

The ANC and its alliance partners have once again strongly stated their support for the country's Constitution and the judiciary. This follows tit-for-tat statements between the Minister of Toursim, Lindiwe Sisulu and the Presidency over an opinion piece she penned earlier this month entitled 'Hi Mzansi have we seen justice?'. COSATU has warned that ANC NEC resolutions may become another talk show that is merely held for the sake of tradition without any concrete measurable outcomes. COSATU national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla

Working on Fire personnel have been battling raging fires in the three provinces of the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape. The veld fires have been caused by heatwave conditions which gripped the western parts of the country over the weekend. More than 50 firefighters including three aerial resources had to be dispatched in attempts to contain the fires. One of the notable fires has been that at Ou Kaapse Weg, the Wetlands area, and in Atlantis which saw visitors to the Silvermine areas being evacuated. For the latest on this here is Working On Fire spokesperson, Limakatso Khalinyane