Radio 2000 Mixes

There will be no escapes from prison by ambitious prisoners who want to spend Christmas at home. The department of correctional services says it is beefing up security at all 243 correctional facilities ahead of the festive season. Operation Vala, translated operation close or lock up aims to put a complete stop to prison escapes in the country. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela...

The South African Police Union says they are happy that no police official or community member was killed in the recent Krugersdorp shootout. Khulekani Mpanza was shot dead when a shootout occurred between him and four police officers. The police officers have since been arrested and face a charge of murder. The police union believes that the eight police officials responded to the shoot out as they should. Sakina kamwendo spoke to the President of the South African Police Union Mpho Kwinika.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South African companies operating outside the country's borders to observe the laws of the countries in which they operate. Ramaphosa says the heavy fine imposed on cellphone company MTN in Nigeria will deprive South Africa of valuable tax revenue. He was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces. Joseph Mosia reports...

1. China's ruling party released its 13th 5-year plan, revising its growth projections to 6,5%. Was the market expecting this?
2. South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry released the monthly Business Confidence Index. Positive news. What should we read into this?
3. The funding of higher education came into the spotlight yesterday in parliament. Are there short term and long term solutions on the table?

Chaos erupted at the University of Johannesburg's Kingsway campus in Auckland Park yesterday, as police clashed with protesting workers and students. The situation turned ugly as the crowd tried to rescue some of their fellow protesters that police were holding. The protesters, including older women were manhandled. The crowd managed to rescue those who were captured, after violent clashes with the police and private security guards. Wisani Makhubele reports

Farmers specialising in live stock and citrus in the Lowveld in Mpumalanga have started to reduce the number of farm workers because of the drought. Although water levels in many rivers have dropped, most irrigation dams are still between 70 and 85 percent full. But not all farmers have access to these water resources and many depend on rain to make their crops grow. Vusi Twala reports

It will be yet another anxious wait for paralympian Oscar Pistorius. His fate now lies in the hands of five judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. Pistorius was released on parole a month ago, after serving almost a year behind bars. He was found guilty of culpable homicide following the death of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But the State wants him convicted of murder, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Maryna van Wyk reports

African National Congress in the North West, has disbanded the embattled Ngaka Modiri Molema Regional Executive Committee with immediate effect. Among the reasons the provincial leadership has given for disbanding it, is the infighting within the regional executive which has made the committee dysfunctional. This is the second regional structure to be dissolved in less than three months. Patrick Dintwa reports

1. Risk-taking has returned to global financial markets, as beaten-down energy shares and emerging markets help equities extend a 10-week rally
2. European equities extended a rally that has helped them recoup about half the losses from a summer rout
3. South Africa's rand slips to 1-month low ahead of U.S. jobs data

With South Africa facing water shortages as a result of the worst drought in at least two decades, the focus is now on alternative ways to produce the precious commodity. Saudi Arabia, a country also classified as water scarce, has turned to the sea as one solution to its water problems. The country is the world's largest producer of desalinated water. A water expert says in the long run, desalination can be an option for South Africa. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Paul Fairall from the Wetland Society of South Africa and Mayor of iLembe District in KwaZulu-Natal, Welcome Mdabe, to share their plans to deal with the water crisis. Ilembe is one of the country's worst-hit districts and has only enough water for three months.