First Take SA

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The National Union of Mine Workers at the Optimum Coal Mine in Mpumalanga says they will meet with a business rescue expert to try to find a possible solution on the challenges the mine is faced with. Workers of the Optimum Mine were not paid their salaries this month due to financial challenges. Meanwhile, today the striking workers were dispersed by the police after their protest action started to turn violent. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), President, Joseph Mathujwa.

Independent researcher and violence monitor, Mary de Haas says an adequate and functional Crime and Intelligence unit, would have been able to prevent the attack on a police station in Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape. Speaking to us earlier on, de Haas says authorities should have paid more attention to the suspicious activities at the Seven Angels Ministry church.....

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams has received the recommendations from a team of prosecutors considering former president Jacob Zuma's representations on why he shouldn't be prosecuted. The National Prosecution Authority earlier gave the team dealing with the matter until today to provide its recommendations. Shaun Abrahams is expected to advise on a way forward. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter Aldrin Sampear...

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.