Breakfast Edition: 12 August 2015

MARIKANA FAMILIES TAKE POLICE TO COURT: The Minister of Police has 20 days to respond to a civil claim by the families of mine workers killed during the Marikana massacre three years ago. The families also claim a formal apology from the Minister of Police for the loss of their loved ones. An apology will bring much needed closure to the families who feel they have been abandoned by the South African government. They are represented by The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Wits Law Clinic. Kathleen Hardy speaks on behalf of one of those: the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa. 

GOLD MINE WAGE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE: Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers will again today meet with the Chamber of Mines, after their members rejected the latest wage offer despite fears of major job cuts in the industry. The NUM's Livhuwani Mammburu says they are not considering strike action, yet.   

 

S.A. IS ON THE RIGHT PATH, SAYS ZUMA: Amid the worrying financial realities in the country, President Jacob Zuma reckons that South Africa is on the right path and actually doing well - especially when taking our past into consideration. He was giving an update of developments since his State of the Nation address in February, when he was asked about the economic doom and gloom. The president said it was unfair to single out South Africa, as the whole world was still recovering from the global economic crisis of 2008. Maryke Vermaak has more. 

RAND TAKES A DIVE: However, the state of the local currency is showing a different reality. Efficient Group Economist, Francois Stofberg says the further weakening of the rand since yesterday afternoon, can be directly attributed to the president's comments. 

FINANCIAL INDICATORS:

POWER ALERT: The power system was stable on Wednesday morning and should enable Eskom to perform maintenance without load shedding, the power utility said. "However, as a result of increased electricity demand in the evening and power stations' units being on maintenance, the power system is expected to be constrained during the evening peak period (5pm - 9pm)," Eskom said.

MIDO MACIA CASE RESUMES: The judge in the trial against eight former officers accused of killing Mido Macia says he wants an inspection in loco of a police van to see how the Mozambican taxi driver ended up hooked behind the vehicle. Macia was dragged behind the van in Daveyton in the East Rand in February 2013. He was later found dead in police holding cells. Four of the accused have testified in the High Court in Pretoria so far. As the fifth accused, former officer Bongumusa Mdluli, was being cross-examined, prosecutors asked him how Macia ended up hooked to the back of a police van, and how he was eventually put into the vehicle. Slindelo Masekane reports.

RAMEEZ PATEL'S BAIL BID CONTINUES: It's day two in the bail application for murder accused Rameez Patel. Patel took to the stand yesterday called by his defence attorney - to give testimony. The state called on investigating Officer Lt William Ramogobedi to testify on his findings. Patel is already awaiting trial for the murder of his wife Fatima Patel. Maidi Monareng has more.

For more breaking news follow us on twitter @JacaNews