Update@Noon

Trade union federation COSATU is staging marches and pickets across the country today to mark International Day for Decent Work. In Gauteng, workers will march to the mayor's offices and Massmart stores in Johannesburg and Tshwane, where they will deliver memorandums of demands. COSATU says workers are facing rising living costs, unstable incomes, retrenchments, non-compliance with the minimum wage and growing casualisation, amid the latest fuel price increase. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew Parks

Anti-illegal immigration activists are threatening to halt asylum application processing at the Department of Home Affairs' Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road in Durban. This follows a Constitutional Court ruling that South Africa's asylum system must reopen to new applicants. In light of the ruling, Home Affairs says Refugee Reception Offices  are now accepting applications from everyone, including people who entered the country without a visa.  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News reporter, Taliesha Naidoo.

The political contest for control of Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley is heating up, with parties like the Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum positioning themselves as serious players ahead of the local government elections. The party, led by councillor Dennis Pienaar, will contest 33 wards in the Sol Plaatje Municipality. Keith Sayster filed this report...

Police say the owner of a house where they uncovered what they believe is a drug laboratory during a raid in Scheerpoort, near Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West, is part of the investigation. The owner had apparently leased the property to the suspects. Four suspects have been arrested and four firearms — including a rifle and three handguns — have been seized. The suspects are a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national and three women aged between 23 and 29. Thabiso Radebe reports.

Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader, Andrew Whitfield, has announced the party's mayoral candidates in the four municipalities in the Eastern Cape, where the ANC failed to submit their Ward candidate and PR candidate list to the IEC on time. The announcement of candidates in Ngquza Hill, Sundays Rver Valley, Port St Johns and Walter Sisulu municipalities is the party's strategic move to topple the ANC from its stronghold municipalities like Port St Johns. Whitfield says the party would not have contested these municipalities had it not been for the ANC candidate submission shortfall. Hlumisa Qabaka reports

The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Review notes that the destruction of oil refineries amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions will keep fuel prices elevated long after peace is restored.  Its comments come as South Africans contend with higher fuel prices which have seen a litre of petrol climbing to around 30-rands today (Wednesday 7 October).  The bank has noted – with serious concern -  the higher diesel prices and the extent to which fuel prices continue to shape inflation expectations. Fuel inflation has increased by nearly 25-percent in the second quarter of this year. Naledi Mabitsela-Ngcobo  reports...

Police say investigations are continuing after a suspected drug laboratory was uncovered at a plot in Scheerpoort, near Hartbeespoort Dam, in the North West. Four suspects, including a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national and three women aged between 23 and 29, were arrested. Police seized four firearms, including a rifle and three handguns, as well as ammunition. Officers also found processed drugs, a drug production mixture and equipment allegedly used to manufacture drugs. The suspects face charges of possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and dealing and manufacturing drugs. They are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court.  Col Adéle Myburgh has more 

Bail has been denied for accused number one, Regan Collis, and accused number two, Jamal Meyer, in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court in Ekurhuleni. Accused number three, Elvino Crafford, and accused number four, McFoolen Ford, have each been granted five-thousand-rand bail. The four are facing charges linked to the killing of two anti-gang police officers and two women in Reiger Park in August. They face four counts of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC reporter Luyanda Danca 

For the first time in years, all asylum seekers, including people who entered South Africa unlawfully or have no visa, are being given access to the asylum system. The Department of Home Affairs will no longer turn away people seeking asylum simply because they entered South Africa illegally or do not have the required immigration documents. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to   Exploreall Immigration Consultancy, Immigration Expert, Velempini Ndlovu....

The 1st test between South Africa and Australia starts on Friday in Durban.
The backroom staff have been working hard on their analysis of the Ozzie bowlers as batting coach, Ashwell Prince. SAfm's Sports Anchor Jon Gericke has more