Update@Noon

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the loss of life in a collision involving a scholar transport vehicle this morning. This as chaotic scenes are unfolding in Vanderbijlpark in Golden highway, where distraught parents are demanding access to the scene of a deadly scholar transport crash. Families are pleading to see the bodies of their children who died when a minibus taxi collided with a truck earlier this morning. 13 learners were killed on impact, while five others sustained critical injuries and were rushed to the hospital. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona

The flood-related death toll in Mpumalanga and Limpopo currently stands at 31. In Mpumalanga, 20 people have died, while 17 died in Limpopo.  Incidents of drowning continue to emerge from the Phalaborwa, Giyani, and Thohoyandou areas of Limpopo. Heavy rains have battered various parts of the provinces, damaging homes, roads, and bridges. For the latest, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Limpopo Cooperative Governance Human Settlements Traditional Affairs MEC, Basikopo Makamu.

The South African Human Rights Commission has flagged deep-rooted failures in the scholar transport system, warning that overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles are putting learners at risk. The Commission has given provincial authorities 60 days to report on corrective action and 90 days to implement consequence management against officials accused of poor oversight. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the provincial manager of the South African Human Rights Commission in the North West, Shirley Mlombo.        

Dr William Mpofu, Senior Research Associate at Good Governance Africa focusing on the SADC region, warns that elections in parts of Africa are steadily losing public trust. He says polls are no longer widely viewed as a credible or fair mechanism to negotiate and share political power, with opposition parties often facing a deliberately uneven playing field. His remarks come as early results from Uganda’s presidential election show President Yoweri Museveni in a commanding lead, amid disputed reports of post-election violence. Museveni, now 81 and in power since 1986, is seeking another decisive mandate after a campaign overshadowed by clashes at opposition rallies. Provisional results from nearly half of polling stations put him on 76.25 percent, while main challenger and musician Bobi Wine follows on 19.85 percent, with six other candidates sharing the remainder.  Dr. William J. Mpofu is a senior researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand Centre for Diversity Studies and a senior research associate of Good Governance Africa (GGA) specializing in the SADC region.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held a commanding lead in early presidential election results announced on Friday as conflicting accounts emerged of violence reported after the vote. Museveni, who is 81 and has ruled Uganda since seizing power in 1986, wants a decisive victory following a campaign marred by violence at opposition rallies. Results announced by the electoral commission from Thursday's elections showed Museveni with 76.25% of the vote based on tallies from nearly half of polling stations. His main challenger, popular singer Bobi Wine, trailed with 19.85%, and the remaining votes were split among six other candidates. Tendai Mbanje - Governance and Elections expert shares his analysis and perspective post Uganda elections 

 Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing former President Jacob Zuma, making his oral submissions in support of a formal application for the recusal of retired Justice Sisi Khampepe. Mpofu argues that perceived bias arising from Justice Khampepe's previous roles makes her recusal necessary for the process to remain impartial. Justice Khampepe chairs the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating delays in the investigation and prosecution of cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission – commonly known as the TRC Cases Inquiry.  Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki are today making their  formal application for the recusal of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Commission of Inquiry chairperson Justice Sisi Khampepe. The application comes after both heads of state expressed their disapproval of Khampepe’s involvement in the commission.

The South African National Parks, SANParks, says due to persistent and heavy rainfall affecting the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, the park has taken a precautionary decision not to allow day visitors into Kruger National Park until conditions improve. SANParks says earlier this week, the park was faced with a challenging situation in which several day visitors were unable to exit the park after a bridge at Crocodile Bridge Gate was covered by water because of rising river levels. JP Louw from SANParks speaks on the temporary suspension of day visitors at Kruger National Park. 

The Johannesburg Magistrate's Court is expected to hand down a ruling at 2pm today, on whether video footage showing the murder of Warrick Stock known as DJ Warras may  be acquired. The State has relied on  CCTV footage obtained from a butchery across the Zambezi building where the media personality was gunned down. Victor Majola has been placed at the scene through CCTV footage as he was seen walking and point  out the deceased to the gunmen. Defence lawyer, Dumisani Mabunda says it would be a miscarriage of justice if Majola is not given an opportunity to see the footage. SABC reporter Nontsikelelo Mthabela has more details