The National Assembly has passed the Economic Freedom Fighters' motion - amended by the African National Congress - with 248 MPs voting in favour of the closure of the Israeli Embassy until a ceasefire has been agreed on. The original motion by the EFF called for the Israeli Embassy to be closed and all diplomatic ties with Israel to be suspended. The motion was supported by the EFF, the ANC, Al Jama-ah, NFP, ATM and the PAC.  91 MPs  from the DA, ACDP, FF-PLUS and IFP voted against the motion. Executive Director of the Handy Concept for Connecting People Global Think Tank and global affairs analyst, Simon Alain Handy. 

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Finance has decided to allow members of retirement funds early access to their pension funds from next year. The committee agreed to introduce the two-pot pension system from the 1st of March 2024. This is despite the National Treasury recommending that the new system should start in 2025. Other stakeholders feel an extended period will give them enough time to amend their systems and to refine the implementation plan and address potential challenges. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to tax partner at Webber Wentzel, Joon Chong.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has been briefed on the progress of made at the South African Airways by the office of the Auditor general and the Special Investigating Unit following investigations into the national carrier. The Auditor general's office has noted that there is not much progress made regarding SAA's financial statements. Deputy Business Executive at Auditor General of South Africa, Fhumulani Rabonda has also highlighted some of the issues encountered while auditing SAA. 

The South African Association of Freight Forwarders has warned as critical the state of the country's freight industry. The association was responding to a reported notice by Transnet announcing the entity's intention to suspend receiving of all cargo brought to its Richards Bay ports of entry via road. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Director of Maritime Affairs at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, Mike Walwyn, who says the situation cannot be fixed overnight.

Transnet is reportedly circulating a notice announcing that it will suspend the receiving of all cargo that is brought to the ports via road freight (trucks). This comes as the entity announced an urgent programme to acquire equipment for the country's busy ports of entry. The group's chairperson Sandile Sangqu says a long period of under-development and ageing infrastructure are affecting state-owned ports and the railway network. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter, Nonjabulo Makamu.

An alleged gang leader of a notorious Westbury gang, the Varados, has been shot and killed in the parking lot of a shopping complex on 14th Avenue in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. The circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear. However, it is believed to be an apparent hit. Gauteng police are yet to confirm this. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. this morning, as the alleged gang leader was leaving the parking lot of a popular gym on 14th Avenue. Sources say the alleged gang leader was approached by unknown gunmen while sitting inside a brownish-grey VW Polo close to the boom gate of the parking lot, waiting for it to open so he could exit. Sakina Kamwendo on update at Noon spoke to SABC reporter Sashin Naidoo 

Impoverished families are forced to hunt and eat monkey meat in the community of Cwebeni, in the Eastern Cape. This follows a recent report by South African Human Rights Commission which found that over 100 children died from malnutrition in the province between 2021 & 2022. More than 60 starving toddlers in the Port St Johns community are forced to daycare on empty stomachs. In this village many children are malnourished and some of their parents rely on hunting monkeys in the jungle to feed their children. SABC reporter, Nkululeko Nyembezi filed this report 

The Boarder Management Authority has joined forces with the South African Revenue Service to pilot a system that seeks to co-locate in truck canopies at the Lebombo Boarder Post, to ease delays in the movement of trucks. The  Authority says the process will ensure the processing of truck drivers without requiring the  disembarkment of truckers from their vehicles. The news comes days after tensions between taxi and truck driver reached a tipping point at the Boarder Post, resulting in the torching of at least vehicle last week. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy Assistant  Commissioner at the Boarder Management Authority , Stephen Van Neel 

Transnet is currently briefing the media about the rollout of a temporary recovery plan aimed at clearing backlog at its ports.  In a statement on Friday, Transnet said several initiatives had been implemented to clear the backlog but has also cautioned that it will take months to clear Durban port backlog. Durban port handles 60% of South Africa's container traffic. Acting Group Chief executive at Transnet , Michelle Phillips explains....

Tensions between Taxi and Trucks Drivers have intensified at the Lebombo Border Post, in Mpumalanga with at least one vehicle reportedly set alight. Truck drivers are demanding that systems at the border be made efficient. SABC's reporter, Nhlamulo  Mabasa has more details