Update@Noon

Iran has vowed to fight back against the latest American sanctions — warning Washington that its response would not be purely defensive. Iran's Economy and Finance Minister -- Ali *Madanizadeh -- told a local news network in Tehran that his government had been preparing for this moment, with a two-year plan to withstand the new pressure. But, he also acknowledged that the Iranian people were already suffering badly from inflation, currency pressure and shortages. U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, yesterday unveiled an "economic d-day" for Iran -- a new sweeping effort to economically isolate the country after six months of war. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports...

Economists maintain that Treasury cannot afford the Social Relief of Distress grant on the current tax base. They argue that the economy is not growing fast enough to pay for this grant. Currently, the 370 Rand per month grant is paid to about 8.3 million people at a cost of just under 40 billion Rand per year. Earlier today, the Supreme Court of Appeal heard an appeal regarding a High Court ruling that found the SRD grant system unconstitutional for excluding millions of eligible individuals. Economics Reporter, Liabo Setho, reports...

A police captain, investigating former Knysna Mayor and African National Congress (ANC) Ward Councillor Aubrey Tsengwa’s murder, has been gunned down in a shootout with a suspect in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa says the 50-year-old officer had been part of the provincial Tactical Response Team (TRT) and was executing an operation following a tip-off about illegal firearms in the area. Potelwa says a shootout ensued between the police and a suspect, resulting in the death of both the officer and the assailant. Potelwa says, “At the time of his death, the team of police officials was following up on information about illegal firearms when they came under fire from a shack in the Sewende Laan informal settlement. The alleged suspect also died in the shootout, and two illegal firearms were found in his possession.”

Police say cocaine worth more than R200 million has been seized at OR Tambo International Airport. The drugs were intercepted in two separate operations on Tuesday. In the first, two suitcases containing about 84 kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized. In a separate cargo operation, four boxes containing about 250 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted. Police says no arrests have been made, with investigations underway to identify those behind the consignments. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe is national police spokesperson 

The Special Investigating Unit says it has secured acknowledgments of debt worth more than R3.3 million from service providers accused of overcharging the University of Fort Hare for student accommodation. The SIU says two companies acknowledged overpayments, while another repaid R103,829.96 in full. Tshongwane Trust has repaid R1.62 million but still owes more than R1.66 million, including interest. The investigation found service providers were paid amounts exceeding their lease agreements. The SIU has also referred nine disciplinary cases involving current and former university officials linked to student accommodation leasing.

Attempted-murder accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission that he first met businessman Hangwani Maumela around 2015 or 2016 through their shared interest in sports cars. Matlala says they later became friends and pooled money to secure RFQs from the Gauteng Department of Health for medical consumables between 2018 and 2019. He says each would take what he needed, purchase the goods, repay the capital with profit, and share the remaining gains. Matlala says the deals totalled less than five-million rand.

SIDSSA 2026 is underway in Cape Town, bringing together delegates to focus on economic growth through infrastructure, ports and logistics corridors. Sakina Kamendo spoke to The Group Chief Executive Officer of Zutari, Teddy Daka, who says South Africa’s infrastructure challenge is not a shortage of capital or projects, but a lack of capacity to turn plans into investment-ready projects. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says the government’s focus this year is on improving infrastructure delivery at local level. He says this is where people experience infrastructure most directly through water, roads, electricity and sanitation.

SIDSSA 2026 is underway in Cape Town, bringing together delegates to focus on economic growth through infrastructure, ports and logistics corridors.  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Deputy Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala says infrastructure investment must create jobs, provide training and support small businesses in local communities.

SIDSSA 2026 is underway in Cape Town, bringing together delegates to focus on economic growth through infrastructure, ports and logistics corridors. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to The Construction Industry Development Boards' Chairperson Khulile Nzo who says the board has deregistered 52 contractors since last year for non-compliance and fraudulent practices. 

SIDSSA 2026 is underway in Cape Town, bringing together delegates to focus on economic growth through infrastructure, ports and logistics corridors. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to The Group Chief Executive Officer of Zutari, Teddy Daka, who says South Africa’s infrastructure challenge is not a shortage of capital or projects, but a lack of capacity to turn plans into investment-ready projects.