President Jacob Zuma launched a scathing attack on opposition parties as he began the final push for votes ahead of next Wednesday's elections. Zuma told residents of Ga-Seleka village in Lephalale, Limpopo - that voting for opposition party is a wasted vote as they only help the politicians to get parliamentary seats. Deputy political editor Mahlatse Gallens was there and filed this report…

Economic Freedom Fighters' leader Julius Malema has called on party supporters not to destroy public property during protests. He was speaking during the party's election rally at Zamdela township in Sasolburg. Zamdela in the freestate has seen violent service delivery protests in the past. Malema says residents should rather express their unhappiness through the ballot in the upcoming municipal elections by voting the EFF into power. Senior political journalist Amos Phago reports.

Inkatha Freedom Party leader iNkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi says there are death threats directed at party candidates allegedly by people who want to force bi-elections soon after elections. Buthelezi was addressing the party's mini-rally in Nongoma on the northern KwaZulu-Natal. The veteran leader also said they sympathise with the National Freedom Party (NFP) for being disqualified from contesting the next month municipal elections. Vusi Makhosini reports....

SAfm's passionate listener and a regular caller Desmond Makhaya has died at the age of 80. Mr Makhanya passed away on Saturday last week after a battle with cancer. He was born near Adam's Mission in Amanzimtoti in Kwazulu/Natal, on 14 September 1935

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

1. Turning Joburg’s mine dump sand into gold is adding R14-billion to the South African economy a year.

2.The new Taxation Laws Amendment Bill has muddied the waters just as hopes of tax reform were beginning to rise

3. A new ruling shows that the courts won’t easily endorse the new Mining Charter’s blunt arithmetical quotas.

Eskom's board has been criticised for its apparent decision not to sign on new Independent Power Producers (IPP). Eskom's National Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says the power utility is consulting with the Department of Energy on whether to sign new Independent Power Producers (IPP) beyond this 4.5 face. He joins us on the line to tell us more.

A movement called 'Keya Rona' based in the Vaal is calling for grave fees in the area to be scrapped. Dubbed 'grave fees must fall' the campaign demands free burial spaces, free tombstones and an end to privatisation of basic services, among other grievances. A spokesperson for the movement says poor people are forced to pay as much as R4000 to bury their loved ones. Bricks Mokolo, spokesperson for Keya Rona Movement joins us on the line

South African Airways has cancelled its deal with boutique financier BnP Capital. BnP was appointed to advise the SAA how to restructure its 15 billion rand debt at a fee of 256 million rand. Last week the airline said it had placed the deal on hold following legal threats by lobby group, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse -outa. Speaking to my colleague Ike Paahla on PM Live yesterday SAA spokesperson Tladi Tladi refuted claims that there was corruption in the appointment of BnP, citing that all due processes were followed. OUTA Chairperson Wayne Duvenage has the details...

Market Analyst, Clive Ramathibela looks at Asian stocks drop after weak corporate results have put a stop to Wall street's record run, U.K Retail sales fall by 0.9% and Apple's Chinese revenue could fall by up to 20%.

Mohammed Nalla, Head Strategic Research at Nedbank CIB looks at SARB keeps rates on hold as growth outlook deteriorated significantly, the European Central Bank holds back on stimulus and the Bank of Japan says helicopter money is not an option.