Update@Noon

This Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo once again spoke to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly, delving deeper into the world of mining and engineering.

KwaZulu-Natal police say looting in Estcourt has been contained, with calm now restored and no injuries reported. Six shops owned by foreign nationals were targeted as groups moved through parts of the town earlier in the day, forcing some traders to shut down and others to lock up for safety. Authorities say investigations are underway, with increased police visibility. Sakina Kamwendo spoke earlier to SABC reporter Mlondi Radebe

The Department of Small Business Development and Trade, Industry and Competition will today outline the implementation of the R500 million Spaza Support Fund. Recently, the fund has faced calls for transparency from civil society groups like the Township Economic Commission of South Africa (TECSA). They are demanding accountability regarding application processing speeds and exact disbursement figures. The fund was launched in April 2025 by the Ministers of Small Business Development (DSBD) and Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), to support South African owned community convenience shops, including spaza shops, to increase their participation in the township and rural areas' retail trade sector. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to founder and president of Township Economic Commission SA (TECSA) and Executive Director of SA Spaza, Bheki Twala....

The Zambian government has argued in the Supreme Court of Appeal that it relies on the common law of the country and the agreement that was reached between them and the family of former president Edgar Lungu. The agreement was to repatriate Lungu's body from South Africa for a state funeral and burial in Zambia. Advocate Ben Stoop for the Zambian government contends that all the country's presidents are buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka. The family of the 6th president of Zambia seeks to overturn the decision of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The ruling found that Zambia is entitled to repatriate Lungu's remains for the purposes of a state funeral and burial. Advocate Stoop also contends that it is ill conceived to say the agreement was breached. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter Masiteng Makgala

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund is calling for urgent, coordinated national action to strengthen prevention, reporting, psychosocial support, child-friendly justice, digital safety and community-based protection systems. According to the National Child Protection Register's first to third quarter statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, 8,984 cases of child abuse and 3,258 cases of sexual abuse were recorded. The figures paint a deeply troubling picture of the realities facing children daily in homes, schools, communities, and digital spaces. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Child Safety & Protection Programme Manager, Anzio Jacobs .