Employment in the formal sector has shed 48-thousand jobs in the first quarter of this year. At the end of March around 9,6 million people were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector. According to figures released by Statistics South Africa, construction and mining are the only two sectors that have shown growth in employment. Most job losses were in the retail and manufacturing sectors. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to mining and labour analyst Mamokgethi Molopyane.

Parliament has refused to be briefed by the Chairperson of the board of South African Airways, Dudu Myeni. Myeni arrived without other board members at Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance to brief it on the entity's quarterly report. She was accompanied by the CFO and acting CEO. The committee said it would be futile to engage Myeni alone while there are allegations that she has not been attending board meetings for some time. Meanwhile, the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) says it plans to lay charges against the SAA board over alleged corruption and irregular expenditure which they claim amounts to more than 1 billion- rand. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the South African Cabin Crew Association's Feroze Kader and Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, Dr Azar Jammine

Thirteen Correctional Services officers are facing suspension for alleged breach of security at the Johannesburg medium B Prison. This after explicit images of female strippers entertaining prisoners went viral on social media. The Department has launched an investigation into how the strip dancers were allowed entry. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to spokesperson for the department of Correctional Services Logan Maistry

Deputy Finance Minister Sfiso Buthelezi has questioned the relevance of inflation targeting in the current economic environment. Buthelezi was addressing a Gordon Institute of Business' Forum in Johannesburg this morning. He has called for more discussions on whether inflation targeting is still the right government policy to pursue. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to independent political analyst Dale Mckinley

The Automobile Association (AA) have called for urgent intervention into the rising number of accidents which occur on South African roads. Figures released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation have shown that 14071 people have died in 2016 from road accidents, with more than a third of pedestrians accounting for the deaths. As a result, the AA have decided to launch a campaign as a way to curb the rising death tolls in pedestrians. The name of this campaign is Lets#SeeYou. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to spokesperson for the AA, Layton Beard

The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture has culled over 20 thousand chickens from a farm in Villiers on the banks of Vaal River bordering the province with Free State. This after samples collected from the farm tested positive for a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8 also called bird flu virus. Dr Mpho Maja, Director of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says in a bid to control the spread of the virus the department has decided to ban the sale of live chickens throughout the country. Meanwhile, in a statement the department says no human cases of infection with avian flu have been reported. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to National Institute for Communicable Diseases' Senior Medical Scientist, Dr Florette Treurnicht

Former Prime Minister of Namibia, Nahas Angula, has described struggle icon, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo as a selfless and dedicated liberation leader. He was delivering the eulogy at the memorial service being held in Windhoek this afternoon. Ya Toivo was an activist who took part in the freedom struggles in both Namibia and South Africa. He spent 16 years on Robben Island with 36 other countrymen - after they were convicted of treason by the apartheid system. Earlier on Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter Noma Bolani, who is in Windhoek, Nambia, for the memorial and funeral services

As per usual on a Friday we end off with music, on our regular slot Open Mic. Today we profile Afro-Soul sensation, Philisiwe Mavukela. Ronald Phiri spoke to the multi-talented musician from Katlehong, who released her exciting second single titled "Ubuhle Bendalo"

Kwa Zulu Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo says they are prioritizing efforts to improve oncology services at hospitals in the province. MEC Dhlomo says they are receiving assistance from many oncologists in the private sector and they are in the process of permanently employing more. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo about his remedial plans for the province...

Angola is set to hold elections on August 23 to choose a successor to President Eduardo dos Santos after 38 years of rule. Dos Santos, 74, has been in power since 1979 and has announced that he will not contest the election. His ruling party's presidential candidate will be the current defence minister. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Presidential hopeful and Secretary General of opposition party UNITA - Rafael Savimbi, who's also the son of Jonas Savimbi...