Deputy Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, says government is drafting a bill that will deal harshly with those involved in running illegal circumcision schools. This emerged at a launch of the circumcision winter season in Bhisho in the Eastern Cape. Bapela says this is one of government's initiatives to put an end to the commercialisation of this ritual and curb deaths of initiates. About 29 initiates died in the Eastern Cape during the same period last year. Lubabalo Dada has more

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian stocks which fell as Chinese trade data showed exports from the world's biggest trading nation dropped. Volkswagen opens talks with unions on how to cut costs without eliminating jobs as the German carmaker grapples with rapid technological change and billions of euros in damages from cheating on diesel-emissions tests and China imported nearly a billion tonnes of iron ore over the past year.

Nerina Vissar, Strategist and Advisor at ETFSA looks at the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Business Confidence Index for May which was released yesterday and South Africa’s economy has had some body blows in recent times

The South African Broadcasting Cooperation's Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng says the cooperation stands by it's decision not to show people burning property on news bulletins. Motsoeneng was part of a panel of discussion, hosted by the National Press Club in Pretoria, to debate SABC's decision not to show footage of people destroying or burning public property. SABC issued a statememnt last month indicating that it has made a decision that it will not show footage of people burning public institutions. Maluti Obuseng reports

Top water experts from Israel are in South Africa to share their successes in overcoming the Middle Eastern country's recent chronic water shortages. The IsraelSA Water week comes at the time when South Africa has been experiencing its worst drought in decades. Professor Eilon Adar a Hydrologist and one of Israel's leading researchers in water sources, use and technology, will be one of the participants. We caught up with him for more on this story...

Mining operations at the Northam Platinum Mine in Limpopo have been halted. This follows the murder of a member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at the weekend. NUM blames members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) for the incident. The situation is tense and police have been deployed. For the latest on this, we spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of Northam Platinum Mine, Paul Dunne.

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian stocks, US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen speech boosts global stocks and Saudi Arabia to Reduce Public-Sector Wages in Post-Oil Plan.

Violent clashes have erupted between mine-workers affiliated to rival unions AMCU and NUM at Northam Platinum Mine in Limpopo. Two mine-workers, reportedly affiliated to the rival two unions, were killed during the confrontations. At least two vehicles belonging to fighting mine-workers were also set alight. Lucas Mothibedi reports

About thirty political parties in the North West have registered with the Independent Electoral Commission, to contest the August 3rd municipal elections. The electoral commission says of these, fifteen are newcomers. Independents from across the province have also registered ninety candidates in all four districts. Political commentators and observers believe the coming elections will be highly contested. Patrick Dintwa reports

Refuse removal entity Pik-it-up has been dragged into the local government elections campaigns with the DA proposing its dissolution. City of Johannesburg Mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba says if he wins the elections, he would privatise the entity which has been going through a hard time in the last few years. Senior Political Reporter Angela Bolowana reports