Radio 2000 Mixes

In an effort to reduce the crime rate in the country, police will now release crime statistics on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to the annual figures. That's according to the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe. He says the decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting yesterday. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Johan Burger, from the Institute for Security Studies' Crime and Justice Programme.

South African music legend Ray Phiri says SABC's 90% local music across all its 18 radio is a good start.

Speaking to AM Live on SAfm anchor Sakina Kamwendo during the ForumAt8, Phiri says groups like Stimela, Harare, Bayethe, Sakhile and many others, were beneficiaries of the cultural boycott in South Africa under the apartheid government which forced them to produce music that was marketable internationally.

Market Analyst Clive Ramathibela

TALKING POINTS

1. A weeklong rally in global stocks has ended as investors review the outlook for global economic growth?
2. Naspers, which is Africa's biggest company by market value, is planning to sell its Polish online auction website Allegro
3. Disney is launching a Shanghai Disneyland, there could be some cultural faux pas there

Cabinet has distanced itself from a joint media statement by the Department of International Relations and the State Security Agency on the United States' terror alerts. The two key departments released a statement slamming the US saying the information on which the alerts were based was sketchy, and unsubstantiated and that their actions are a cause for serious concern to the South African government. The US Embassy issued a terror alert last weekend that terrorist groups were planning to attack malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town during Ramadan. This was followed by the UK and Australia issuing similar advisories. Briefing the media on the outcomes of Wednesday's (08/09) cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, emphasized that South Africa and the US will continue to co-operate on security issues and that relations between the two remain cordial. Senior political journalist Amos Phago reports

Unions federation COSATU says it will embark on a protest to force the mine to re-open search for the three mine workers still trapped underground. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to COSATU Mpumalanga's Provincial Secretary, Fidel Mlombo.

Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly looks at a new joint action is underway to arrest the devastating decline of the South African mining industry, fuel cell development is bursting out all over the country and petrochemicals giant Sasol is investing R20-billion in neighbouring Mozambique to find more natural gas.

We have had requests from some listeners wanting to know what progress has been made at the Lily mine in Barberton in Mpumalanga. The latest reports indicate that the mine has received an investment of hundred and seventy one million rand from AfriCan Resources Gold Limited, which was to help with its reopening. Lily Gold mine was placed under business rescue, following a shaft collapse in early February. Three workers have been trapped in a container underground ever since. Lily Mine's Business Rescue Practitioner, Rob Devereux however says, the mine still needs more money to start operating. He joins us on the line to tell us more.

The recent registration of ANC members as independent candidates for the forth-coming elections in North-West is posing problems for the ruling party. These include incumbent councillors and high-profile candidates whose names still appear on the candidate list of the governing party. The majority have registered with the IEC under the new Forum 4 Service Delivery. This is after some of them were reportedly left off the ANC list despite being the favourite candidates in their communities. Patrick Dintwa reports

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali will be buried in the US state of Kentucky later today. Since his death last Saturday the world has been paying tribute to the man who managed to transcend the sport of boxing. He influenced and inspired people world-wide with his caring and funny nature. One place he touched was a boxing gym in New York, which he regularly visited and trained at. Our US Correspondent Nick Harper has been along to meet those who knew him. He filed this report

In an effort to reduce the crime rate in the country, police will now release crime statistics on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to the annual figures. That's according to the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe. He says the decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting yesterday. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Johan Burger, from the Institute for Security Studies' Crime and Justice Programme.