Several provinces across the country are expected to experience hot, dry conditions during the festive season. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) warned last month that the current El Niño weather phenomenon would add to the damage being done by global warming. To elaborate further Sakina Kamwenso spoke to the CSIR Principal Researcher, Dr Francois Engelbrecht,

Eskom has issued a notice of intention to disconnect power to residents in the Dikgatlong Municipality in Barkley West in the Northern Cape if they do not settle their debt. The municipality owes Eskom 8 million rand and has until December 14 to settle their bill. Neo Bodumela reports.

1. Big sell off in commodity stocks yesterday leads JSE down
2. U.S. Q3 GDP data at 1.5% largely in line with expectations, stronger dollar
3. SA food prices on the increase as PPI ticks higher and as drought clouds outlook

The candidate of Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, John Pombe Magufuli, has been declared the winner in the Presidentail elections. He garnered 8.8Million votes while his main opponent, Dr. Edward Lowassa, secured 6, Million votes. Magufuli with 58% of the total votes cas,t will now become Tanzania's 5th President succeeding Jakaya Kikwete who retires after ten years in office. However, the opposition has rejected the results, alleging massive vote rigging. Sarah Kimani reports

The National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed the sentence handed down on two men who killed eight members of the same family by the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The two brothers, Thulani and Sibonelo Mncwabe, have been sentenced to seven life imprisonment terms each for the killing of seven Mncwabe family members. They were also sentenced to an additional twenty years for killing 72-year-old Mantinga Mncwabe at eMaBheleni on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The family members were hacked to death eight days ago. Nonkululeko Hlophe reports

South African Post Office has won a court interdict to restrain the Communication Workers Union from striking today. The Labour Court has granted a final order stopping the Union from picketing at the SA Post Office's work premises, retail outlets, mail centres, depots, regional offices and hubs. The Union's demands include that contract workers become permanent Post Office employees. To tell us more, we are joined on the line by the Spokesperson for the Post Office, Khulani Qoma

Provincial Secretary for the Communication Workers Union in Gauteng Jabulani Mncube tells Sakina Kamwendo that Post Office workers do NOT have endless patience, “they cannot be held accountable for what happens" during the strike.

Despite growing risks facing the financial sector, South African banks remain viable and profitable. This is the finding of the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Review. The review identifies any potential risks to the financial system. Tshepo Mongoai reports...

Wits University management has described as unreasonable the students' demand for the university to be closed until Monday. The demand was made when vice chancellor Adam Habib came out to engage the protesting workers and students in the scotching heat at the main campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg yesterday afternoon. The students joined the workers in their protest against the outsourcing of workers. Some lectures were disrupted. Meanwhile, incoming SRC President Nompendulo Mkhatshwa aslo faced the wrath of the striking crowd as she tried to address them. Wisani Makhubele reports

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has denied that there's a crisis in its branches following yet another postponement of the long-awaited eThekwini regional elective conference. The conference which was scheduled to take place this past weekend, has now been set for November after the provincial elective conference. Provincial Secretary Sihle Zikalala addressed the media in Durban following the party's provincial executive meeting. Zanele Buthelezi reports.....