Eastern Cape schools continue to battle with high numbers of teenage pregnancies, with allegedly more than 4,000 girls aged between 10 and 19 having given birth at public healthcare facilities since April 2024. According to Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase, 94 girls in the province between the ages of 10 and 14 have given birth at public health facilities since April, while 3,961 girls and women between the ages of 15 and 19 have given birth during the same period. Nkululeko Nyembezi reports.

We also spoke to Petros Majola- Children's Rights Activist  at Khula Community Development in the Eastern Cape.

Nehawu in the North West says the Brits Forensic pathology Mortuary in the Madibeng Local Municipality is not compliant with occupational health and safety measures. Workers argue that the mortuary's standards are not up to stretch and that it should be closed. For more details on this we are now joined on the line by NEHAWU's regional secretary in the province, Shadrack Ramaru

80% of individuals within agrarian households in South Africa are said to be poor and vulnerable. This is according a study by Tshintsha Amakhaya and conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). These are people living in different rural areas such as commercial farms, communal areas of the former 'homelands' who engage in agricultural production, for their own consumption or to sell. This poverty metric is worse for female-headed households. This has been made worse by  cost-of-living increases, climate crises and the Covid-19 pandemic. For more on this matter we're now joined on the line by the Lead Researcher of the study Dr Peter Jacobs...

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says over twenty suspects were involved in a shootout with police last night in Khayelitsha township in the Western Cape. Mchunu says he welcomes police's actions when they intercepted a cash-in-transit robbery where 8 suspects  were killed and 5 others were arrested. Mchunu says criminals who shoot at police will be met with the full might of the law.

We also spoke to researcher at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane about the proliferation of firearms on South Africa

A church believed to belong to Pastor Paseka 'Mboro' Motsoeneng in Katlehong, South-East of Johannesburg has been vandalized, set alight and is currently on flames. This follows a violent altercation which was circulating on social media yesterday where Pastor Mboro was captured on video wielding two pangas while another man, believed to be his bodyguard, was carrying an assault rifle inside the premises of a local primary school. Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu says at least four people have been arrested in relation to this incident...

Families of the six Mpumalanga learners who died in a collision between a scholar transport bus and goods train have called for justice to prevail ion the wake of the tragedy.  This as investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident.  Six learners died and the 19 others seriously injured are receiving treatment in different hospitals.  Deputy Transport Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa and provincial MEC's visited the school, the scene of the accident and the victims in hospital.  Motsebi wa Monareng reports.....   

Tensions are brewing at Alexandra township, North of Johannesburg as Power Utility, City Power and law enforcement officials are currently disconnecting and confiscating cables used in unlawful electricity. Technicians began operations at London Road, an area that is traditionally problematic for the power utility, as the utility intensifies its load reduction strategy, with the hope to achieve lower electricity consumption. SABC News reporter, Chriselda Lewis caught up with Power Utility spokesperson, Isaac Mangena. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Pearl Magubane

The Gauteng Education Department says all contracts for the province's Gauteng Youth Brigade (GYB) candidates were part of a short-term programme and did not constitute permanent job offers. This as affected individuals - mainly young people -  have been protesting outside the education department offices saying they are going anywhere, as they were promised jobs under this program which would lead to them being placed permanently within government.  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Gauteng Youth Brigade spokesperson, Mamelo Sekgale and Gauteng Education Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona 

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has expressed shock and extended condolences to the families of six children, who lost their lives in the crash involving a bus and a train at a level crossing in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Twenty learners were taken to the nearest hospitals in Middelburg. This is one of the biggest crashes involving a scholar transport bus in the country. SAFMNews Motsebi wa Monareng reports...

Judgement has been reserved in the dispute over the logo and name of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.  The Durban High Court was in session today, where the ANC is challenging the MKP's use of the MK trademark. Meanwhile...ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula speaking at the party's NEC meeting says former president Jacob Zuma's matter is almost final. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SAFMNews reporter, Zoleka Qodashe