Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga says Gauteng e- tolls are now a thing of the past. She announced that from tomorrow, the 11th of April 2024, e-Tolls will be scrapped in Gauteng. South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) will  allegedly also be able to borrow funding from National Treasury to substitute the funds generated by e-Tolls for road infrastructure. Minister Chikunga says all transactions that occurred prior to the 11th April 2024 are required to be paid,  and will be billed accordingly. From the 12th April 2024 road users will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network. Take a listen to this SAFMNews extract from her speech during a media briefing held with various transport stakeholders on Wednesday.

The Hartbeespoort Residents Forum, in the North West, has expressed unhappiness with the poor service delivery in the area and has called for action to be taken against what they call the 'badly governed' Madibeng Municipality. The forum is leading the charge for Hartbeespoort, with a total of 38 wards, to get its own municipality, independent of Madibeng. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Secretary of the Hartbeespoort Residents Forum (HRF), Kokie Mashego. 

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is currently investigation the practices of Piggy Farm Trading. A company that markets "virtual pigs" as investment opportunities. This is as a result of concerns that Piggy Farm Trading may be running a multiplication scheme, exploiting unsuspecting investors. According to the company, participants can purchase between one and 50 pigs per  annum at R2 200 per pig. Each pig gives its owner a minimum of R500 per month over a year as profit. However, skepticism surrounds the sustainability and legality of the returns offered by the company. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to  Company Secretary for the National Consumer Commission, Joseph Selolo.

Advocate Dali Mpofu (SC) has warned that the rights of former president, Jacob Zuma under Section 19 of the Constitution would be infringed if he were to be declared as ineligible to stand for public office.  Mpofu is representing the Umkhonto weSizwe Party before the Electoral Court. The party is appealing the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission to uphold objections to the standing of former President, Jacob Zuma for public office under Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution. Section 47 states that anyone who is convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine is disqualified to stand for public office. Mpofu has lamented the attitude of the IEC towards the former President and says the exclusion of the former President would disenfranchise supporters of the party, Zuma and the MK party. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Zoleka Qodashe.

At least one person has been killed in the Western Cape as heavy rains and gale-force winds continue to wreck havoc in the province. Provincial authorities have urged residents to be vigilant and avoid long trip travels. Some schools have been closed as trees have been uprooted, vehicles blown over and roofs blown off houses and buildings. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Chief Director for Disaster Management in the Western Cape, Colin Deiner.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved guidelines for implementing load shedding up to stage 16. The regulator published the latest revision of the load shedding Code of Practice. The revision was developed by experts from Eskom, the Energy Intensive User Group, among others. They say the code aims to help Eskom and municipal distributors mitigate the impact of high load-shedding stages while preventing a grid collapse. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Vally Padayachee, Chairman of the Management Committee of the National Rationalised Specifications Association of SA and began by asking him why there was a need to revise South Africa's load shedding guidelines.

In the build-up to the 2024 general elections, SABC News and SAFM Current Affairs are inviting political parties leaders to engage with their electorate in an open dialogue on some of the challenges faced by communities and what hopes they have for those they wish to elect into office, come May 29th 2024. This week, the team hosted a two hour long debate where the following political party representatives engaged with the community of eMalahleni: Mpumalanga ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member, Ndumiso Mokako; EFF Nkangala regional command team/RCT member and PR councilor in the eMalahleni Local Municipality, Mahero Sekgala; DA Mpumalanga Provincial Leader,  Jane Sithole; FF Plus Mpumalanga Provincial Leader, Werner Weber; Provincial Leader and Premier Candidate of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in Mpumalanga, Pastor Mr. JJ Scholtz; African Transformation Movement (ATM) Women’s League National Executive Committee Member, Kedibone Ntumba and IFP Mpumalanga Provincial Spokesperson,  Dr. Mthunzi Khumalo.
 

Corruption Watch (CW) says despite the presence of additional players in the anti-corruption space, the levels of corruption have not diminished. The organisation says if anything, more corruption is being exposed on a daily basis through the vigilance of the media, the bravery of whistle-blowers, and the concern of the public. Corruption Watch has just  released its 12th annual corruption report today, titled Changing the Landscape. The corruption watchdog further says the 30 years of democracy has not delivered on the promise of an equal and just society, but instead have resulted in higher unemployment than ever before, rising levels of poverty and inequality, staggering levels of corruption and mismanagement. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Acting Lead Coordinator for Stakeholder Relations and Campaigns at Corruption Watch, Melusi Ncala.

In an effort to drive voter education ahead of the 2024 general elections, SABC News has partnered with the Independent Electoral Commission to bring you a new feature called  Election Matters, where we delve deeper into the processes you, as the voter, need to be knowledgeable about. So join the Elections Matter conversation every Wednesday until the 22nd of May 2024, for a look at everything you need to know before and after election day. Today's focus is on  unpacking the Code of Conduct as political parties and independent candidates will sign it tomorrow, Thursday 4 April 2024. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy Chief Electoral Officer at IEC, Mawethu Mosery.

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, has resolved to cancel the process of interviewing candidates for the position of the Deputy Public Protector. It has described the process as tainted and open to possible litigation once completed. The decision was taken after Parliament's legal services advised the committee that the participation of EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane in the process, has constituted a conflict of interest and bias. SABC reporter, Abongwe Kobokana has more