Gold One mine's plan to resume operations this morning were dashed following violent confrontations between the workers and police outside the mine in the east of Johannesburg. The mine had to deploy a heavy police contingent and private security following the torching of a worker's car. Operations have been halted for almost a week as the mine continues to count the losses by the day. The workers are demanding that the employer expedite the balloting process for the new majority union AMCU. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to AMCU's Head of Department for Organisational Development, Krister Janse Van Rensburg

The Independent Electoral Commission says it has optimised its systems to ensure registration and voting runs smoothly. The IEC was briefing the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on their readiness for the Voter Registration Weekend on the 18 and 19 of November 2023. IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi explains.

 South Africa's unemployment rate has decreased. Total employment increased by 399 thousand to 16,7 million in 3rd quarter of 2023. This increase is the 8th consecutive increase and second-largest increase since 4th quarter of 2021. The official unemployment rate currently stands at 31,9 %, a decrease of 0,7 of a percentage point compared to 2nd quarter of 2023. Statistics South Africa released today for its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter. Earlier this year the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned that South Africa's youth unemployment rate, which stands at a record high, is a potential threat to social stability. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to economics adviser at the UNDP South Africa, Rogers Dliwayo

The suspect accused of brutal murder of a colleague at Leseding Hostel in Carltonville has appeared in the Westonaria Magistrates court. The perpetrator is alleged to have stabbed the victim multiple times outside the Leseding Hostel in Carltonville on Gauteng's west Rand. The suspect then took a selfie next the corpse which found its way to social media. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC, reporter Horisani Sithole

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, Lebogang Maile says a report into loans issued by the Gauteng Partnership Fund to Nonkwelo Investments is not conclusive. This follows allegations that Nonkwelo Ivestments, which is owned by Nceba Nonkwelo, who is the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile's son in law, benefited from loans from the GPF which amount to at least 30-Million rands. MEC Maile addressed the media earlier explaining some of the findings of the report...

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for child malnutrition in the Eastern Cape to be declared a disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act. The commission recently released a report that found that 120 children died of malnutrition in the province between 2021 and 2022. The report also found that over 1 000 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the province, in the same period. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to South African Human Rights Commission Provincial Manager, Dr Eileen Carter.

The National Correctional Services Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale says a total of 54 detainees at the Pollsmoor Correctional Center in the Western Cape have been identified as having contact with the first person who died of Diphtheria at the prison and have been isolated, while a total of 8 have tested positive for diphtheria and 46 have tested negative. The department has also identified 15 correctional service officials with only 3 presenting symptoms who were tested and released to be isolated at home. Thobakgale was briefing the media on the Diphtheria outbreak at Pollsmoor Correctional Facility. This follows the death of a 19-year-old inmate more than a week ago. Thobakgale, elaborates.

 The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

1. Next year's Olympics will be hydrogen driven which is a big boost for South Africa's platinum mining.

2. Critical rare earth minerals being mined in Phalaborwa this week caught the eye of global investors.

3. Renewable energy is poised to save South Africa's biggest gold-mining company a whopping R3.6 billion.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise says anyone in conflict with the law in South Africa, shall and will be dealt with harshly. She was speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing earlier today to update on security issues. This briefing comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 3,300 soldiers in cooperation with the South African Police Service to tackle illegal mining and the construction Mafia under Operation Prosper. The operation seeks to prevent and combat crime and maintain and preserve the law. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to a Policing Expert at Stellenbosch University, Dr Guy Lamb

Teacher union SADTU says it has taken a resolution to suspend its picket in several schools across KwaZulu-Natal. The picket led to internal examinations up to Grade 11  disrupted since Monday. SADTU held a march in Durban in the middle of last month to demands that the KZN Education Department  complaining about non-payment of budget allocations to schools. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to provincial secretary of Sadtu in Kwazulu-Natal, Nomarashiya Caluza.