It's time now for our regular Friday feature Open Mic. Today we profile a Soweto born talented and versatile artist known as "Cheese Boy". Ronald Phiri spoke to Cheese Boy, who is releasing his single today, titled "Jacob Zuma"...

Four suspects have been arrested for Wednesday's brutal killing of police officers at the Ngcobo police station, this according to Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Major-General Liziwe Ntshinga. For the latest update Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni.

The UK government has issued a travel advisory for South Africa following the kidnapping of two Britons earlier this month in KwaZulu-Natal by a couple suspected of having links to the terrorist group ISIS. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in London, Paul Barber and defence analyst, Helmut Rohmer-Heitman.

Optimum Coal Mine workers in Mpumalanga, say their future is in limbo given the current financial problems at the mine. Workers handed over a memorandum of grievances to mine management demanding to be addressed about the future of the mine. It's alleged that some contractors at the Gupta-owned Optimum Coal mine have also not been paid. Earlier on we spoke to one of the mine workers at Optimum who says this will Impact on his lively-hood drastically...

Trade union federation Cosatu says its against raising the VAT rate and increasing income tax rates for working and middle class South Africans. Cosatu says government should not throw the working and middle classes under the bus with VAT and income tax hikes. The federation vows that will not support any attempt by government to balance budget shortfalls and deficits upon the backs of struggling workers. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Cosatu general secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali and Arnaaz Camay, a National Tax Committee member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Senior Executive at Baker Mckenzie...

The Democratic Alliance says Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba must not remedy the country's massive budget hole by reaching into the pockets of ordinary South African people, especially the poor. The DA says it has identified that tax increases are not necessary. DA Deputy Shadow Minister of Finance says government can implement expenditure cuts and sell off certain entities to save billions.

16:30 Econ Update with Dirk Pieters of FNB securities

Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba has announced an increase in Value Added Tax to fifteen percent, which will be implemented from the 1st of April. This is the first increase in 25 years in order to cut the budget deficit and stabilise debt over the next three years. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Chief investment officer at Makwe Fund Managers Makwe Masilela...

17:30 Econ Update with Herman Lloyd of FNB securities.

The nationwide state of emergency in Ethiopia has entered its forth day. The Ethiopian government says the state of emergency will remain in place for six months. This is the second time in less than two years, the country declared a state of emergency. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Coletta Wanjohi..