The controversy surrounding the costly construction and use of nuclear power in South Africa is back in the spotlight. This as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has begun consultations in preparation for the development of the proposed 2,500 megawatt nuclear power plant building programme. The department says through the consultation process it aims to get some insight into the costs, possible ownership structures, cost recovery, the end-user cost and sustainability of the nuclear programme. The programme has faced opposition from environmental campaigners. Earthlife Africa says it does not believe that South Africa should build any more nuclear plants.

News and Current Affairs show between 5 & 6 am on SAfm 104 to 107 anchored by Tsepiso Makwetla

South Africa's capital city remains under administration pending a court battle in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. MEC for Cooperative Governance, Lebogang Maile, has petitioned the Supreme Court of Appeal to appeal the Pretoria High Court ruling dismissing their appeal against the ruling declaring the decision to put the City of Tshwane under adminstraiton was illegal. The city was placed under administration on the 4th of March.

Men are being called out to end the abuse and murder of women as Tshegofatso Pule is laid to rest. Pule was found murdered and hanging from a tree in a veld in Roodepoort - west of Johannesburg - on Monday. The 28-year-old, who was 8-months pregnant at the time, was found with a stab wound to the chest. She was buried at the Roodepoort Cemetery yesterday.

The Constitutional Court has declared parts of the Electoral Act unconstitutional - meaning independent candidates are allowed to contest for national and provincial elections without being a member of a political party. The case was brought by civil society organisation the New Nation Movement and others. They sought to have the Electoral Act declared unconstitutional as it did not make provision for individuals to be elected to the national and provincial legislatures outside of a party list. The judgement has been welcomed by various political formations both established and emergent.

Smokers in South Africa are waiting anxiously for the High Court in Pretoria to deliver judgement in the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Assocation (FITA) case against a ban on the sale of tobacco products. FITA took the government to court saying Regulation 27 of the Disaster Management Act was irrational its impact on people's lives was not considered. A full bench of judges reserved judgement in the matter.

Eight people have been died in a crash involving a truck and nine other vehicles in the town centre of Jozini in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The truck driver is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol and has been detained by the police. It is alleged that he lost control of the truck and ploughed into the other vehicles. The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department has instituted an investigation into the crash.

28-year old Tshegofatsho Pule is expected to be laid to rest today following the discovery of her lifeless body hanging from a tree in Rooderport, Johannesburg on Monday. Pule was eight months pregnant and found with stab wounds to her chest. In another gruesome killing in Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape, 26-year old Naledi Phangindawo was butchered to death with an axe by her husband and father of her two children who has since handed himself to the police. Meanwhile, the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, under the Social Department says request for help from women who remain trapped in their homes with their abusive partners during the national corona virus lockdown continues to soar.

South African repatriates, who were forced into mandatory quarantine after arriving back into the country, say they were treated like prisoners while under isolation. They allege they were ill-treated and forced to live in unhgienic conditions, where they did not receive medical care. Now civil rights group -- Afriforum -- is taking their plight to court and wants repatriates to be allowed to self-quarantine.

The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) will ask the Pretoria High Court to unban the sale of tobacco products. FITA consists of 7 independent tobacco companies. They are asking the high court to declare Regulation 27 of the Disaster Management Act, irrational and illegal saying it infringes on the rights of smokers.