Judge Nkosinathi Chili of the Pietermaritzburg High Court has refused Advocate Dali Mpofu's demand that State Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan sit in the dock during today's court proceedings. The former president's private prosecution of state prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan is continuing. Zuma is charging them with leaking a confidential doctor's letter during his arms deal fraud and corruption trial. Today's appearance comes as Zuma has filed for leave to appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal against a High Court ruling that set aside the private prosecution. In the run-up to their last appearance in August, Downer and Maughan obtained a court order that first ruling be executed pending an appeal. Zuma lost that case and is now approaching the Constitutional Court.  SABC reporter, Nonkululeko Hlophe has more.

Some economists say the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is facing a difficult balancing act in cutting government spending in the wake of dwindling tax revenue collection. They say country's tough economic situation will make it difficult for the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to deliver a budget that is satisfactory to all. The Minister will deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement this afternoon in  Cape Town. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Dawie Roodt,  Chief Economist of the Efficient Group,

Some economists say the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is facing a difficult balancing act in cutting government spending in the wake of dwindling tax revenue collection. They say country's tough economic situation will make it difficult for the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to deliver a budget that is satisfactory to all. The Minister will deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement this afternoon in  Cape Town. 

 Unisa has approached a Gauteng high court on an urgent basis to challeng the Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's decision to place the university under administration for 24 months, with former University of Johannesburg vice chancellor Professor Ihron Rensburg appointed as its administrator. Nzimande's final decision comes after he was interdicted from placing Unisa under administration following his announcement on the 4th of October. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Ishmael Mnisi, the spokesperson for the Department Higher Education 

One person has been killed in a fire that gutted about 200 shacks in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats. An unknown number of people have been left homeless. The fire ignited in strong winds at the Silver Town informal settlement late last night. Flames were fanned by gusty winds, spreading the inferno through the settlement. The cause of the blaze is unknown at this stage. Relief organisation Gift of the Givers says they will be stepping up relief efforts throughout the day while further assessments are conducted. SABC reporter, Mlamli Maneli.

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

1. South Africa's biggest mining company has already cut a fifth of its carbon emissions.

2. Hillside Aluminium in KwaZulu-Natal is investigating ways of reducing its carbon intensity.

3. A toolkit has been piloted to bring green hydrogen into the realm of community development.

It's now just hours before the 2023 Rugby World Cup final showdown. Defending champions, South Africa, take on New Zealand at the Stade de France tomorrow (Saturday) for the ultimate prize in World Rugby. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to sport reporter Simon Burke, in Paris France

Karpowership has received environmental authorization to connect to the grid. The Turkish company says the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment gave it permission to go ahead with the installation of a 450-megawatt gas-fired plant in the North Eastern port of Richards Bay. Karpowership's environmental authorization applications have been the subject of a number of legal challenges from environmental activists. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Director of Karpowership South Africa, Mehmet Katmer in Türkiye.

In a ground-breaking court judgment for new parents, especially fathers, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that both parents are entitled to maternity leave. The High Court ruled that the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act regulating parental leave are unconstitutional as they unfairly discriminate against mothers and fathers, surrogates, and adopting parents regarding maternity leave. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to legal analyst, Nthabiseng Dubazana. From Dubazana Attorneys 

Cape Town ranks as the country's most violent city in the country, recording over 3-thousand murders in 2022. This is followed by eThekwini (2,815) and Johannesburg (2,121). That's according to the South African Cities Network (SACN). SACN has recently published its latest report on the state of crime and safety in cities in the country, The report outlines the crime and violence trends within South Africa's major metros. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Senior Researcher at South African Cities Network, Siphelele Ngobese.