Bo-Kaap residents were in court today face to face with Blok Urban Developers in the Western Cape High Court. This after the developers were seeking an interdict to stop community members from entering a section of land they are building on. Our reporter Vanessa Poonah is covering the story and now joins us on the line….

guest: SABC reporter Vanessa Poonah

As we report on the spate of accidents around the festive period, reports doing the rounds imply that this is causing strain for blood supply.

Guest: Ivor Hobbs – Spokesperson for the South African National Blood Service

The Gauteng Community Safety Department says a total of 34 people died in 31 road crashes in the province between Friday and last night. The department says the highets number of fatalities involved pedestrians, followed by motor vehicle drivers. Reckless and negligent driving as well as excessive use of alcohol have been the contributing factors to the fatalities. Joburg Metro Police chief David Tembe says drunk driving continues to be a major concern and roadblocks will be intensified throughout this period.

Guest: Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba

A horrible story here of two Eastern Cape sisters who were attacked and burnt to death after being accused of witchcraft. The siblings – aged 53 and 33 – were burnt to death in Ngonyameni village, Emaxesibeni, on Wednesday night before their houses were also razed. Officials visited the women's family and requested counselling from the provincial social development department for them,

Guest: Damon Leff - Director of South African Pegan Rights Alliance – Who also runs Advocacy Against Which-hunts

Distribution of police across Western Cape is discriminatory - court
Judge MJ Dolamo of the Cape High Court (sitting as the Equality Court) has declared that the allocation of police resources in the Western Cape unfairly discriminates on the basis of race and poverty. The ruling came this morning, and is a victory for the Khayelitsha-based social movement Social Justice Coalition (SJC).

Axolile Notywala - General secretary of the Social Justice Coalition

Many people around the country are hitting the road this weekend to their various holiday destinations. The main concern for authorities is the carnage on the roads. This time it is the medical sector that is worried about potential life-long impact of serious head injuries for accident survivors. They say that traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects at least 300 per 100,000 people in South Africa every year, with road accidents a major cause of death, and lasting effects on surviving victims’ mental and physical health, employment and family life.

Guest: Dr Anersha Pillay - Neuropsychiatrist and member of Psychiatry Management Group

The National Union of Metalworkers, NUMSA is today launching its political party. The party is said to be dominated by union members.

Guest: Irvin Jim - General secretary of Numsa

Delays have categorised the start of the national elective conference of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape today. The congress was due to begin this morning but slow arrival of delegates has delayed the start. The conference is expected to elect new leadership for the party which has been dogged by leadership battles over the past decade.

Guest: Neo Bodumela – SABC

The Department of Home Affairs says it has deployed 450 additional employees at its various border posts for efficient services. This as many foreign nationals are making their way home to their countries for the holidays.

Guest: Siya Qoza - Spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has launched the road safety awareness and education campaign at Park Station in Johannesburg. Nzimande was accompanied by Gauteng Transport MEC Ismael Vadi, SANTACO president Phillip Taaibosch, leadership of the Road Transport Management Corporation and law enforcement agencies. The campaign will seek to help to reduce the number of road fatalities this festive season.

Guest: Ishmail Mnisi – Spokesperson for the Department of Transport