Radio 2000 Mixes

SABC Chairman Bongumusa Makhathini says the public broadcaster's turnaround strategy is being guided by what is best for the corporation. Makhathini was speaking in Parliament this morning where the SABC is presenting a plan that will see the organisation become viable again. He says the salary bill has been increasing over the past five years and currently stands at 42 percent of the revenue. He says the company has been engaging with employees and unions on possible retrenchments. SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe has also told the Portfolio Commitee on Communications that improving on the commercial aspect of public broadcaster is important if the other key operational factors are to be addressed successfully.

A group of protestors are demanding the release of eight fellow protestors who were arrested this morning in Bonteheuwel in Cape Town. They have gathered at the Bishop Lavis police station. Earlier police used stun grenades to disperse those blockading the roads and arrested others. Residents are demanding among others, an end to gang violence, poverty and unemployment. Community members of Hanover Park have dispersed peacefully after this morning's shut down of main roads in the area. Our reporter, Chris Mabuya is following the story.

The community of Mamelodi west in Pretoria says it seems one of the country's iconic historic figure Dr. Fabian Ribeiro is forgotten. Dr Ribeiro played a pivotal role during struggle for liberation. He is accredited for treating patients who were injured during stand-offs with apartheid police but couldn't go to the hospital. It is this role that turned him and his family enemy of the apartheid regime. Dr. Ribeiro was shot dead in 1986 after an earlier attempts on his life failed. He and his wife survived a bomb thrown at their house years before he was killed. Maluti Obuseng reports.

As part of celebrating South Africa's heritage and preserving its history through stone and metal, Social activist and artist Professor Pitika Ntuli has unveiled his latest sculpture in Johannesburg. The 19-ton statue dubbed: QUANTUM PEOPLE took four years to complete and commemorates our heritage as a people and it is one of the 23 life sized statues by the same artist that depicts the 300 years of colonialism. During this month of September - South Africa celebrates Heritage month. Zoleka Qodashe attended the sculpture's unveiling and compiled this report..

Police Minister Bheki Cele says people who commit crimes against women and children should not pardoned. He was addressing the Phoenix community, north of Durban, that is still reeling with shock, following the discovery of the bodies of a mother and her two daughters. The bodies of 44-year-old Janelle Govindsamy and her daughters Rackelle and Denisha were found at their flat in Phoenix on Friday. A 45-year old suspect who is known to the family has been arrested for the murders. Minoshni Pillay reports.

Deputy President David Mabuza has admitted that the indigenous Griqua community, Khoisans and the San communities have not been rightfully recognised. Mabuza was speaking at the unveiling of the statue of the 19th-century Griqua leader, Adam Kok the Third, located at the entrance of the Greater Kokstad municipal offices in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. Adam Kok the Third led the group of Griquas who moved from the present-day Northern Cape and settled in the Kokstad area in 1863, becoming the eastern Griquas. The Kokstad municipality has also renamed its municipal building after him.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa PRASA, says it will do all it can to protect its workers. The Metrorail has suspeded its services in KwaZulu-Natal until further notice, following a violent unrest at the Umlazi station on Friday. Four cars were set alight and station buildings vandalised, when hundreds of frustrtaed commuters ran riots because trains were running late. Today the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda is meeting with the management of PRASA in Durban and the community of uMlazi to find a solution to the problem. Krivani Pillay spoke to PRASA KwaZulu Natal's Zama Nomnganga.

The Commissiong for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural and Linguistic communities (CRL), has highlighted the lack of accountability amongst religious and traditional leaders as a major concern. The commission is in dialogue with both traditional and religious leaders in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. It is believed that there are more than 200 000 traditional healers across the country and some are of the view that government's proposed regulations are unrealistic and unworkable.Krivani Pillay spoke to Phephsile Maseko who is the National Coordinator of the Traditional Healer's Organization.

Media Monitoring Africa says today’s ruling of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa which is in favour of the SABC, shows that the system is working. This comes after the DA claimed that the public broadcaster had contravened the broadcasting Act by allowing president Cyril Ramaphosa, to address the country in his capacity as ANC leader. Ramaphosa was giving an update on his party's position on land. The DA insisted that its own leader should have been given same platform during prime time. It was not satisfied with being afforded a change to do an interview on another SABC prime time show. In a statement, the public broadcaster says ruling has upheld the editorial independence of its news division and affirms its independence and impartiality. Krivani Pillay spoke to William Bird from Media Monitoring Africa.

Senior Lecturer at School of Economics and Business Science of the University of the Witwatersrand, Lumkile Mondi, says president Cyril Ramaphosa's recovery plan annouced earlier today, brings hope that the economy will be revived. However, Mondi has warned that the ANC government will have to implement the plan successfully and not do as it has done with other failed ones before. Ramaphosa highlighted the five measures of the stimulus package which focus on youth, women, small business, infrastructure and local government during a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. He says the aim of the plan is to stimulate various sectors of the economy with the intention of creating more jobs.