The Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches, Malusi Mpumlwana, says South Africa is just inches away from becoming a mafia state. Mpumlwana was speaking at a Council of Churches briefing at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto. The SACC is releasing a report from its 'Unburdening Panel' which was created after former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas made allegations of state capture corruption by the Gupta family. The Panel is a moral response to the Promise of a free post-apartheid South Africa. Mpumlwana says it's their responsibility as the church to protect South Africans. Tshepo Mongoai reports

Economist and Managing Director at ETM Analytics George Glynos says General Motor's disinvestment from South Africa is a sign of how tough business is to conduct in the country and a clear message to policy makers?

President Jacob Zuma has expressed shock at the manner in which the police handled the investigation into the disappearance and death of three-year-old Courtney Pieters from Salberau in Elsies River on the Cape Flats. The three-year-old's body was found in a shallow grave in Epping last weekend after being missing for more than a week. Zuma visited the Pieters family at at their home to convey his condolences. Lynne Arendse reports

Market Analyst, Maudi Lentsoane of Lehumo Investments looks at Asian markets with Shares trading lower, following a heavy sell off on Wall Street; China's Home Price growth easing in April and Tencent's revenue soaring to 55%

Mourners at the memorial service for Karabo Mokoena have pleaded with men to stand up and protect women and children . The 22-year-old's burnt body was discovered in an open veld in Lyndhurst north of Johannesburg. Mokoena's boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, has been charged with her murder and defeating the ends of justice. In recent incidents involving gender-based violence, four Soweto women have been murdered and allegedly raped since Friday last week. Mokoena's memorial service was held in the Diepkloof community hall, Soweto on Wednesday. Ditaba Tsotetsi was there...

Recent studies indicate that by the age of 17, one in three young people experience a sexually abusive incident. Last year at least 784 900 young South Africans were sexually abused. For years Childline has been playing a big role in the lives of vulnerable children. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Director of Childline in Gauteng, Lynne Cawood...

The number of bodies of illegal miners retrieved from the Eland Mine Shaft in Welkom in the Free State has increased to 25 from the 24 reported yesterday. Nine surviving illegal miners - known as Zama-Zamas - have also been arrested. Police says a 25th body was found yesterday and more bodies still remain underground. Thabiso Radebe filed this report

The Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane says she is shocked by the return of Brian Molefe as Eskom CEO. Molefe announced his departure from Eskom in November last year, citing the interests of good corporate governance as one of the reasons. This followed a public outcry against Molefe following the release of the former public protector's State of Capture Report. Mkhwebane was in the Bhisho in the Eastern Cape, meeting provincial lawmakers, the executive and the civil society. Yanga Funani reports...

Former Minister of Mineral Resources Ngaoko Ramathlodi has told a forum that former ANC President and struggle icon Oliver Tambo fore sore the difficulties being faced today. Ramathlodi was speaking during a critical thinking forum, held at the Wits University on Tuesday, alongside ANC stalwarts Barbara Masekela and Sheila Sisulu. Mbali Sibanyoni filed this reports….

The United States has rejected claims from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that Washington is trying to assassinate its leader Kim Jon-Un, as the UN Security Council weighs tougher sanctions against the rogue state. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired its latest ballistic missile on Sunday in violation of several Security Council resolutions, a move that was immediately condemned by the international community. The Council has stressed that it was vital for North Korea to show a sincere commitment to denuclearisation through concrete action and stressed the importance of working to reduce tensions. Sherwin Bryce-Peace reports...