The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West has been accused of corruption after spending 38 million rand for a small prefabricated structure it uses as a call centre. According to the City Press, the municipality is also alleged to be spending about one-point-four Million rand a month for the equipment in the call centre. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to City Press reporter on this story, Norman Masungwini.

Concerns have been raised about the increasing number of places of worship that are being targeted by criminals. Congregants are held at gunpoint and robbed of their money,  phones and some cases end in assault.  Last month, Pastor Dwayne Gordon, a guest preacher, was shot and killed when six men stormed in at  the Eagle Christian Center in Newlands, Johannesburg.  Officials are now warning churchgoers to be vigilant as criminals see churches as soft targets. While churches are calling for government to act. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Archbishop Thami Ngcana, General Secretary of Council of African Independent Churches

In his opening address at the Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg , President Cyril Ramaphosa told delegates that the 20th AGOA Forum is taking place in Africa, a continent with significant potential for industrialization and job creation. The US is working with African countries to diversify international supply chains of critical minerals, focusing on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The forum aims to ensure the legislation achieves its objectives and reaches its full potential, with reforms to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses. The forum also aims to promote work and bring the voices of American and African workers together. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Auto Motive Council CEO Michael Mabasa

President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa,  The forum aims to strengthen economic partnerships between the US and eligible African states, focusing on fostering resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. The forum will include discussions on enhancing trade and investment ties, addressing challenges in export diversification, and improving AGOA utilization. The AGOA, which expires in 2025, is expected to promote inward investment in Africa and support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The forum will also showcase successful beneficiary stories. Sakina Kamwendo Spoke to chartered accountant and former fnb easy plan CEO Gift Manyanga 

Digitalization is driving economic growth and innovation in Africa, with private sector companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon investing in African data centers. By 2025, the data center market is expected to reach over $3 billion. However, further efforts are needed to boost digital trade and digitalization. Challenges include increasing internet access, building digital infrastructure, cultivating digital skills, and promoting digital services. To bridge the gap, investments in traditional access, reducing data service costs, and establishing robust data protection laws are needed. Sakina Kamwendo Spoke to Senior Manager for government affairs & Public policy at Google - Abongile Mashele

Yesterday, on the first day of the Agoa Forum, over 160 businesses were exhibiting at AGOA 2023. Update At Noon spoke to exhibitors present at the AGOA forum currently underway at the Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg in terms of how these opportunities present themselves and whether they are actually able to penetrate the US market in any meaningful way, with a special focus on small and medium enterprises. Sakina Kamwendo Spoke to exhibitors Medical devices Manufacturers of Sa Treasure Anton Coetzee and Managing Director of Makhamisa foods Terence Leluma

AGOA extension tops the agenda at the US-Africa trade forum in South Africa, a trade forum to discuss AGOA's potential extension as officials' meet with African leaders to address compliance issues. AGOA, providing duty-free access to the US market for sub-Saharan African countries, The forum kicks off days after US President Joe Biden announced his intention to boot Niger, Uganda, the Central African Republic, and Gabon off the list of beneficiaries as they have failed to comply with the eligibility criteria.

All eyes are on Johannesburg as it hosts the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum from Thursday to Saturday. US officials and their counterparts in Africa will discuss Washington, DC's flagship trade program for the continent. AGOA provides duty-free access to the US market for most agricultural and manufactured products exported by eligible African countries. The trade pact has also been renewed twice and is due to expire in September 2025. Sakina Kamwendo Spoke to US Embassy Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves 

Today is the first day of the USA-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, which brings together the governments of the USA and AGOA-eligible countries, the private sector, civil society, and labor to discuss trade and investment issues. AGOA is American legislation that allows Sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Economist Miyelani Mkhabela 

The South African government, in partnership with the United States government, is hosting the 2023 African Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum in Nasrec, Johannesburg. Agoa is a United States Trade Act that greatly enhanced the US market for beneficiaries of sub-Saharan African countries. Currently, there are 35 African countries. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator Mathew Parks and Economist Miyelani Mkhabela