THE Independent Electoral Commission has flagged violence as a major concern ahead of the local government elections. At today's lucky draw for the first position on the ballot, the IEC vice-chairperson Terry Tselane reminded political parties that they must lead in ensuring that the political process towards and during election is free and fair. Senior Political Reporter Angela Bolowana filed this report...

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) group of countries is signing off on an economic partnership agreement with the European Union. The deal will amalgamate South Africa's free trade agreement with the EU which has stood for over 15 years. Our Europe correspondent Jack Parrock has more.

South Africa needs to promote an environment conducive for local and foreign investors, while ensuring there is no capture of state institutions or different corporations. This is according to the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan who was addressing delegates at the Gauteng Economic Indaba currently underway in Johannesburg. Gordhan says for higher growth to be achieved, South African has to be passionate about getting the economy out of the doldrums. Morafe Tabane reports.

The IFP hopes to fill the King Zwelithini Stadium this weekend when it launches its election manifesto. Party leadership led by iNkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi will deliver the party's election promises while also taking stock of the party's performance in the 2011 municipal elections. Then, the IFP retained only two municipalities - Ulundi and Umsinga. But during by-elections that followed, the party managed to reclaim municipalities such as Nkandla, Hlabisa and Ntambanana. The IFP's Head of Election Campaign Narend Singh believes the party is better positioned to change things around and do well in the upcoming elections.

Economic Freedom Fighters Deputy President, Floyd Shivambu, says his party will focus on building health care centres and government run creches for each municipal ward. He says this will not only improve service delivery but also create job opportunities. Shivambu was addressing hundreds of Zamdela residents in Sasolburg in the northern Free State as part of the EFF's municipal election campaign. Zamdela residents have in recent years sparked violent protests over poor service delivery and corruption in Metsimaholo Municipality. Noma Bolani reports...

The South African Police Service is on a recruitment drive to get former members to re-enlist. SAPS spokesperson, Vishnu Naidoo, says this is a follow up to last year's recruitment drive, in which only slightly more than 500 applicants were successful out of about 3-thousand. Naidoo says the police force has more than 600 vacant posts.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has dismissed claims that they are not planning to take part in a meeting between the management of Northam mine in Limpopo, the NUM, and the Police. The President of AMCU Joseph Mathunjwa says instead, the police in Polokwane stood them up after postponing a meeting from Monday which was meant to resolve the situation at the mine. This follows violent clashes that broke out during the weekend after one mine worker was killed and another critically injured. To get an update on this, we spoke to AMCU President, Joseph Mathunjwa.

The South African Communist Party and its alliance partner the African National Congress, have finally met to iron out their political differences. The two organisations have been at loggerheads over a number of issues, including the Gupta family's dealings with the state. The SACP second Deputy Secretary General, Solly Mapaila, has the details...

There has been an outbreak of rabies in Gauteng. Two people are reported to have been exposed to the viral disease, but received treatment. Areas that are affected so far are Muldersdrift, Kromdraai and Lanseria, north-west of Johannesburg. The Deputy Director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Professor Lucille Blumberg joined us for more details on this story.

Tributes are pouring in following the death of Stephen Keshi, the former coach of the Nigerian national soccer team, the Super Eagles. The family of Keshi and the Nigerian Football Association say the 54-year-old soccer icon died of cardic arrest early this morning. Keshi was recently linked to local team, Orlando Pirates. Hasiya Suleiman is the director of news at the Voice of Nigeria...