Today marks the official launch of the Sovereign Africa Ratings agency and the publication of its first sovereign rating. Dubbed a pan-african ratings agency with the aim of telling African economic stories, the agency aims at bringing some change into the narration about the continent's economies. This as the global credit-rating landscape is dominated and monopolised, by three main players, namely Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch; Moody's and S&P. Jon Gericke spoke to COO, Zwelibanzi Maziya

The multi-million Rand Asbestos fraud pre-trial case involving suspended ANC Secretary General, Ace Magashule has been postponed to January. Magashule, ten others and five companies appeared at the Bloemfontein High Court. The suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has told the High Court in Bloemfontein that the postponements of the case are affecting his political career. Here is Judge Phillip Loubser delivering  the postponement...

The African Rail Industry Association says that by moving freight from road to rail, our roads will be freed of massive trucks that cause havoc. The association is calling on the government to immediately implement their proposed third-party freight rail access policy. Just recently in oPhongolo school children, road users and two essential service personnel were killed by trucks. Jon Gericke spoke to Chief Executive Officer at the African Rail Industry Association, Mesela Nhlapo

Multi-Party government in Johannesburg has rejected Eskom's application for a 38.1% increase in electricity price. The power utility was making its presentations at Nersa that were attended amongst others by officials of Johannesburg City Power. The Eskom application comes on the back of Eskom implementing Stage 5 and 6 electricity blackouts.Jon Gericke spoke to City Power's manager for Tarrifs and Energy management, Frank Hinda... 

South Africa is facing an existential threat due to increasing rates of murder, extortion and kidnapping. This is according to a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime that has highlighted that murder has risen 38% since 2010. The organisation further says there is also a R187 billion annual impact from infrastructure theft such as the looting of copper-power-cables. Jon Gericke spoke to Director for the East and Southern Africa observatory, Julian Rademeyer.

Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says South Africans should not act as an Island in a global world. He was responding to a question that was expressing the level of frustration South Africans feel when it comes to the latest challenges of loadshedding in the country. Mantashe was speaking at the signing ceremony with three wind power suppliers in Centurion earlier today. The agreements are part of government's effort to curb the worsening energy crisis which saw the country entering stage 6 loadshedding. The wind power projects fall under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme launched in April 2021. Mantashe says he understands that the country is upset...

Sentencing procedures in the Pretoria High Court into the trial of four men convicted of the murder of North West businessman Wandile Bozwana are expected to kick-off today.The accused are Sipho Hudla, Robert Mutapa, Bonginkosi Khumalo, and the notorious Mamelodi businessman Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela. The men are also charged with the murder and attempted murder of Bozwana's colleague Mpho Baloyi.
Baloyi escaped with multiple gunshot wounds in the October 2015 attack at Grasfontein East of Pretoria. Jon Gericke spoke to reporter, Ofentse Setimo...

Five government officials in the Free State are appearing in court today on charges of corruption. The five suspects were arrested in relation to the alleged fraudulent activities around the Winnie Mandela Brandfort. One of the suspects in the case is a former Head of Department of Sports, arts and culture. Jon Gericke spoke to reporter Kamogelo Seekoei

Burials are becoming more and more expensive as mortuaries now have to heavily rely generators. The Southern African Chamber of Undertakers says mortuaries are now forced to use generators to control the temperature in the cold rooms. It says the rising cost of fuel only adds fire the already burning problem of loadshedding. Jon Gericke spoke to Chairperson of the Southern African Chamber of Undertakers, Nhlanhla Bembe

The South African Federation of Trade Unions says its members will be taking to the streets after it was granted a certificate to strike following a collapse of salary negotiations with government. The union has rejected a 3% salary increase offer by the employer and instead led a small group of its members in a picket outside the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council offices in Centurion. The union is demanding that government increases the wage hike to a baseline figure of 8%. Jon Gericke spoke to SAFTU Spokesperson, Trevor Shaku...