WIth the countdown having begun towards next year's national and provincial elections, the Electoral Commission is working hard to ensure a free and fair poll. NPE 2024 - as it has been dubbed by the IEC - will be historic as independent candidates will contest seats in the national assembly as well as provincial legislatures for the first time. Recent Constitutional Court judgements require the Commission to amend its requirments for political party participation and engage in voter education on various aspects of the election including number of ballots and voting stations.  Together with political parties the IEC will be seeking to get as many of South Africa's over 26 million eligible voters to register and turn up to the vote in an atmosphere of unprecedented disillusionment. Busi Chimombe reports....

Search and rescue teams have recovered the remains of 27 people following deadly floods in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Mop-up operations are continuing in different parts of the province after heavy rains swept through the area, submerging homes, damaging infrastructure and washing away vehicles. Weather conditions are not expected to ease as the South African Weather Service issued a level four alert for thunderstorms and disruptive rain along the province's coast from last night, going into today. The weather service warned that areas including Durban, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay, Amanzimtoti and uMthwalume will experience heavy rainfalls which may lead to localised flooding. For a look at the latest regarding search and rescue operations, Elvis Pressin spoke to IPSS Medical Search and Rescue spokesperson, Samantha Meyrick.

The death of Dr Donato Francesco Mattera, aka Don Mattera "Bra Zinga", the world-renowned poet, author, and anti-apartheid activist who died at the age of eighty-seven on Monday 18 July 2022 left his family and South Africans with the huge void. Today 29th December 2023 is his birthday and we want to pay tribute to this giant. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Teddy Mattera, Deputy Chairperson of the Don Mattera Legacy Foundation

The South African Weather Services has issued severe weather warnings in some parts of the country as rain continues. The weather service says severe thunderstorms, damaging strong winds and disruptive rains should be expected today across the country. The warning comes as Kwazulu-Natal province is still reeling from disastrous floods. Elvis Presslin spoke to South African Weather Service Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela.....

The Search and rescue teams have recovered two more bodies today at Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, pushing the death toll in the Christmas Eve floods to 15. This follows the devastating floods in Ladysmith on Christmas Eve. Emergency workers have been looking for missing people since the floods. Elvis Presslin spoke to IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, Samantha Meyrick

The South African religious delegation, who spent Christmas in Bethlehem with Palestinian war victims, have returned home. Leader of the delegation, Reverend Frank Chikane described their weeklong trip to Bethlehem as an eye-opener. He says they had an opportunity to engage with the communities affected by war. Elvis Presslin spoke to Reverend Frank Chikane

 It's almost that time of the year, when many people will be considering making resolutions, as a way of improving their lives in the new year, and setting goals for themselves. Although studies have shown that most people fail to stick to their goals over the long term, some believe, resolutions help people become organised and ignite some passion and determination. As the year draws to an end, some people are looking back at the goals they had set themselves during the past year, in preparation for the new year and new resolutions.  Kagiso Keipopele asks if new year's resolutions are really that important.

The World Health Organisation continues to visit overwhelmed hospitals in Gaza. The WHO is concerned about the strain made by escalating hostilities on the few remaining hospitals, with most of the health system decimated. The hospitals are taking in more patients than their capacity and staff can handle, with many not surviving the wait.  The WHO has warned that Gaza has 13 partially functioning hospitals, 2 minimally functioning ones, and 21 that are not functioning at all. Elvis Presslin spoke to Spokesperson for World Health Organization, Tarik Jašarević.

Late acclaimed composer and playwright Mbongeni Ngema has been applauded for his contribution in developing performing arts in South Africa, and fostering unity in the country. The 68-year old was killed in a head-on crash on Wednesday night near Bizana, in the Eastern Cape. Elvis Presslin spoke to actor and playwright, Somizi Mhlongo about the late thespian's legacy.

Tributes continue to pour in for the award-winning playwright, actor, choreographer, singer and composer, Mbongeni Ngema. Ngema died on Wednesday in a head-on collision whilst returning from attending a funeral in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. The 68-year-old was known for iconic productions such as Sarafina. My colleague, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to him in 2017, where he highlighted the impact the arts had on his and the careers of many world renowned thespians.