The first recession in almost a decade could cost SA its remaining investment-grade rating, with disastrous consequences for the country and consumers who are already under strain from tax increases and near-record petrol prices.Moody's Investor Service on Thursday halved its 2018 growth forecast for the country and said the economic contraction in the first six months of the year was a "credit negative.Growth fell by zero-point-seven per cent in the second quarter, following a two-point-two decline in the first quarter of 2018. The largest contribution to the slowdown in growth came from agriculture. Elvis Presslin caught with University of North West school of Business, Professor Raymond Parsons and started by asking him to explain what is a technical recession.

There was joy and disbelief after almost 40 previously outsourced cleaning staff in Parliament, learned they will become permanent employees. The contract between Parliament and the Bidvest cleaning company ended recently. The workers will now enjoy the same benefits as other Parliamentary employees. Nehawu which has been calling for the insourcing of services in Parliament, has welcomed the move. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent reports

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, has reiterated that buildings that are not compliant with safety standards, must be demolished and rebuilt. This follows a blaze that ripped through the Bank of Lisbon building in the Johannesburg CBD on Wednesday. Three fire-fighters died in attempts to extinguish the blaze. The fire, which reignited last night, has been extinguished. There've been concerns about the building - which housed three Gauteng Departments - and its failure to adhere to safety regulations. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Executive mayor of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba...

We started this week with the defeated Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa ruling out working with ZANU-PF in a coalition or government of national unity. Chamisa insisted that President Emmerson Mnangagwa rigged the election. His MDC Alliance has decided to file a petition with the AFrican Commission on Human and People's rights. Juanita Williams, is the managing editor at All Africa News.com had this to say about this week's top stories on the African continent. Juanita Williams, is the managing editor at All Africa News.com & Busi Chimombe, Acting political Editor here at the SABC had this to say...
had this to say about this week's local & top stories on the African continent

The commission of inquiry into State Capture in Johannesburg has heard how former Communications Faith Muthambi used to bully acting GCIS head, Phumla Williams in 2014. Williams who was giving evidence to the commission on friday also explained how former Head of GCIS, Themba Maseko was dismissed from his job and replaced with Mzwanele Manyi the same day. Williams says the abrupt changes at the GCIS had a big impact on the morale of staff. Abongile Dumako, Ivor Chipkin author of the book, Shadow State ,Politics of state Capture.& Political analyst at UNISA Professor Lesiba Tefo looks at the state capture inquiry

It has been a very busy week at Parliament, with the deputy president answering oral questions, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, visiting President Cyril Ramaphosa at Tuynhuis and Steinhoff executives appearing before a joint committee of Parliament. Zalene Merrington has more..

IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi says he will be in peace - if President Cyril Ramaphosa can sort out what he calls - the unfinished reconciliation between the ANC and the IFP. He was asked about how he viewed the Presidencies of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and now Ramaphosa - since he has been an IFP MP from 1994. Buthelezi spoke in an exclusive interview with our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent ahead of his 90th birthday tommorrow(monday) and his retirement from Parliament later this year ........

We take a look at Zimbabwe ahead of the inauguration of president elect Emerson Mnangagwa as well as the opposition MDC's reaction to the constitutional court ruling that upheld Mnangagwa's election victory. There's also this week's edition of The Editors

We take a look at counterfeit food products, the upsurge of racism in the country as well as information for first time home buyers

We started the week with the family and friends of the co-author of the tell-all book 'The Lost Boys of Bird Island saying they don't believe he committed suicide. It is alleged that the ex-policeman, Mark Minnies committed suicide on Monday at his friend's farmhouse in Theescombe near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The book details allegations of a paedophile network that included Apartheid era defence minister Magnus Malan. Elvis Presslin spoke to Nwabisa Makunga, Editor for the Herald newspaper in Port Elizabeth about her big stories for the week and the week ahead