Wife of one of the abductees aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, Zaheera Moola says she had a recent call with her husband Reaaz and says they're hoping for the safe return of the abducted South Africans. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi has slammed Advocate Motau for his claims that budget limitations are the behind his reason for leaving the Madlanga Commission and says Motau needs to take the nation into confidence and say exactly what his reasons were. Kubayi says Motau is casting aspersions on her and the department's work. She also says her department has not received any formal requests for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to be extended. Executive mayor of the Polokwane municipality, John Mpe says they are ready to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and provide any documents requested in the investigation into allegations of corruption within the municipality. Mpe says they have now employed qualified managers in accounting, to make sure there's no repeat of corruption.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola says there's currently no confirmations around the circumstances of the death of South African ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, and that investigations are still underway. Lamola says the French authorities have been helpful and cooperative to both the SA mission in France as well as the Mthethwa family. On AGOA Lamola says the government is cautiously optimistic. He says this is based on conversations they have had with the relevant stakeholders including US Congress. Political and governance analyst Sandile Swana, says Corruption is in the dna of the ANC. Swana says young people need to rise up and change the system of governance in the country, like the youth of 1976, but he says, he's positive about the future of the country. Swana has labelled the ANC as a 'criminal syndicate' DA Gauteng health spokesperson, Jack Bloom says, the rot from the top and protection from politicians has made it easy for corruption to go undetected. "We need to see criminal prosecutions, especially the big fish." CEO of Agri SA Johann Kotzè says Agri SA share the government's sentiments of optimism about the AGOA prospects.

Commissioner of the Public Service Commission, Professor Somadoda Fikeni says public servants cannot be absolved from guilt when they implement unethical instructions from their superiors while interfering with operational processes SYNOPSIS: Patriotic Alliance deputy president, Kenny Kunene says he feels vindicated following an investigation that cleared him of wrongdoing. This is after Kunene was found at the house of murder accused Katiso Molefe during his arrest. Kunene says he was there to guide a young journalist who came to interview Molefe.

Member of Parliament and leader of the National Coloured Congress, Fadiel Adams, says General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's testimony against him was full of contradictions and that he is selective in how he places information. Adams says the Political Killings Task Team is costing taxpayers millions. Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, says her department is assisting the Gauteng Province to deal with the issue of informal settlements and hijacked buildings. Simelane says they have made strides in reclaiming illegally occupied properties, including municipal and communal land. National Spokesperson for the Patriotic Alliance, Steve Motale, says they are confident that Kenny Kunene will be cleared of any wrongdoing in his 'relationship' with murder accused Katiso Molefe. Motale defended Kenny Kunene's Gauteng mayoral candidacy and says the Patriotic Alliance is quite confident in Kunene's abilities and track record within the party. Mayor of Mogalakwena Municipality, Ngoako Taueatsoala, says consequence management will be implemented to hold those implicated in the contract that was flagged by the SIU accountable. Taueatsoala says the SIU will open cases against some of the accused. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Crime detection deputy head Shadrack Sibiya's lawyer, Ian Levitt, says they will be putting attention into preparing for the Madlanga Commission following his failed urgent court bid to have his suspension lifted. Executive Manager: Business Turnaround and Recovery at Productivity SA , Justice Sefularo, says SA needs a GDP growth of 5% in order to make inroads for job creation. Sefularo says current interventions in place to recover and create jobs have been effective. Former Minister of International Relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, says the ANC needs to work to strengthen local government. Pandor says the world needs International law and multilateral institutions to guide the new world order. Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Chris Nissen, says they would like to sit with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to discuss solutions to the issue of illegal settlements across Gauteng. Nissen says Home Affairs and border management need to do their work to stop illegal immigration.

SAPS National Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the political task team dockets will be submitted to the Madlanga Commission. Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, and National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, agreed to submit the 121 dockets to the commission tasked with investigating criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system. Mathe says the national police commissioner has always been opposed to the disbandment of the political killings task team and has commended its work. ANC Limpopo Spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka has noted the decision by his party's provincial chairperson, Stanley Mathabatha to step aside. Mathabatha cited unethical behavior in the processes followed at the Vhembe and Waterberg Regional Conferences. Machaka says a task team was established to investigate the veracity of the allegations raised at the regional conferences. Machaka says the values of the ANC in Limpopo remain intact. The Director General at the Department of Social Development, Peter Netshipale, says the media reports surrounding a New York trip are out of context. Netshipale says the trip formed part of a bigger government delegation, and seven officials were sent by his department at a cost of R3 million. He says that about R600 000 was spent on the DDG alone. Netshipale has further denied that the suspension of the Department's Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant, was linked to the leaking of the information about the trip.

Policing and crime analyst, Dr. Chris de Kock, has welcomed the announcement to return over 100 case dockets to the SAPS political killings task team in Kwa-Zulu Natal. De Kock has expressed concern about the safety and integrity of the dockets while in transit. The dockets were allegedly taken under the instruction of the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and are in the process of being returned to the province. Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the National Education and Training Council will not duplicate the work of government but complement it. Gwarube says the council will focus on four priority areas, including reviewing the current school resourcing system. On the outstanding BELA regulations, Gwarube says there are no delays in implementation, and the remaining regulations will soon be released. Former SAT board member, Maija de Rijk-Uy,s has denied that the now dissolved board met on the 1st of August. De Rijk-Uys insists that Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille relied on factually inaccurate information to dissolve it. De Lille dissolved the board, alleging that it acted unlawfully.

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe says the US tariffs are not isolated to South Africa as many other countries have been affected. On cadre deployment, Motlanthe says the abuse and misuse of cadre deployment has led to the destruction and hollowing out of Public Service department. Motlanthe says SA has general lawlessness and people get away with it. On the ANC's renewal agenda, he says it must be tested practically beyond sloganeering. Motlanthe says he will vote for the ANC. Minister of International Relations and Cooperations says government still needs to act in the interest of South Africans and to not display egos when negotiating with the US. He says the loss of jobs from the tariff announcement could have been worse if it wasn't for South Africa's diversified economy.