First Take SA

Tomorrow (21st August) marks World Entrepreneurs' Day. The day traces its roots back to 2010 when it was first established by the United Nations. August 21st was chosen as the official day to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of entrepreneurs globally. In South Africa alone, small businesses contribute roughly 36% of the total country's gross domestic product. For more on this, Elvis Pre...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, author of "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo

Former president Jacob Zuma's daughter Nomcebo Zuma is reportedly facing hostility since it was announced she would marry King Mswati of eSwatini. The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) says Swati citizens have to revolt against the unholy alliance and that ordinary people are up in arms accusing the king of being busy on his escapades using money belonging to poor Swatis and enriching the Zuma fa...

The ANC's national working committee (NWC) will today conclude its visit to KwaZulu-Natal. The NWC is evaluating the party's performance following the May 29 elections after significant losses in the province. This weekend saw key leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, and Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, meeting with ANC structures. For more on this Elvis Press...

The 2024 Grade 12 preparatory exams will commence today until 18 September 2024. According to the Mpumalanga Department of Education these examinations will provide an opportunity for Grade 12 learners to gauge or measure themselves using similar tools as the end of the year examinations. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor Ramodungoane Tabane from Department of Psychology of Educat...

The Pretoria High Court will today hear former Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's urgent application to compel the Public Protector South Africa to pay her a R10 million gratuity she claims she is entitled to. However, the office of the Public Protector argues that Mkhwebane is not eligible for the payment. Current Public Protector Koleka Gcaleka, in her affidavit, says that Mkhwebane...

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) Group says it has noted with concern recent allegations in a Sunday publication that there is a battle between Minister Gwede Mantashe and Minister Kgosientsho Ramakgopa over the control of the Central Energy Fund. The CEF says its Mandate is to contribute to the security of energy supply of South Africa and reports to the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources....

The South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC),a national group of 9 medical, dental and allied healthcare practitioners' associations representing more than 25,000 dedicated private and public sector healthcare workers, says it will not be signing the President's Health Compact. It says the compact is nothing more than an attempt to lock in support for the NHI Act. The SAHPC believe...

The Department of Cogta in the Eastern Cape has denied allegations that the cost of a taxi rank in Tsomo has escalated from R5.8 million to over R20 million. The taxi rank, which was completed in 2019, remains unused because taxi operators claim it's too small for their vehicles to turn around. The Intsika Yethu Local Municipality has stated that Phase 2 of the project is currently in the design p...

It's now time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by Victor Kgomoesoana, author of "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo....

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has released a study examining women's access to communal land in the North West, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape provinces. The findings reveal that patriarchal norms and traditional structures often limit women's land ownership, frequently requiring them to rely on a male relative or child. Elvis Presslin spoke to chairperson of The Commission for Gender Equali...

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has unveiled the key findings of the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey for the Eastern Cape province. The survey results revealed Between 2017 and 2022, HIV prevalence in the Eastern Cape stabilized, decreasing slightly from 15.9% to 13.7%. This equates to around 980,000 people living with HIV in the province in 2022, dow...

The Department of Justice has refuted claims that it blocked the NPA's Investigative Directorate from obtaining vital evidence from the State Capture Commission. This response comes after reports surfaced, alleging that the NPA had been unable to access key state capture digital evidence for more than two years. The reports further indicated that the NPA and the Investigating Directorate had compl...

Gauteng police are probing the deaths of four learners in the province. This after three siblings fell ill at the Evaton Primary School in Sebokeng and one grade 8 learner from the Tsakane Secondary School. According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the learners from Evaton Primary, who were in Grades 3, 4 and 5 were rushed to a local medical facility, where they were declared dead. Simphiw...

The Msunduzi Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal has cut off water and electricity to 23 schools due to unpaid bills totaling over R32 million owed by the provincial education department. This action, which comes just two weeks before the Grade 12 trial exams, is part of a broader crackdown by the municipality on overdue municipal services and rates. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mzimkhulu Thebolla, the mayo...

The Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron says he welcomes the dismissal of the head of crime intelligence in the Western Cape, Mzwandile Tiyo, from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The dismissal follows a Section 34 inquiry to establish his fitness to hold office following allegations that he lost both a laptop and a firearm and also used crime intelligenc...

Thousands of patients are reportedly bearing the brunt as Gauteng's two largest cancer-treatment hospitals; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, continue to buckle under the sheer number of patients requiring urgent care. The situation was thrust into the spotlight after the Cancer Alliance, which represents 30 groups of cancer advocates, launched a cou...

The Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco's) inspectorate team, in collaboration with police, is intensifying efforts to combat ticket fraud. This crackdown has led to the apprehension of 28 individuals involved in fraudulent activities, including one suspect who was caught with multiple counterfeit tickets, allegedly trying to sell them to passengers. This comes on the heels of February's c...

South African and Lesotho officials have been accused of enabling sex trafficking. The damning 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US State Department reveals how corrupt officials in both countries are complicit in the sex trafficking of Basotho women into South Africa, allowing the illicit practice to persist with "impunity". For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Kekeletso Moto...

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency on the continent. The health body says over 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been recorded on the continent, with a total of 18 countries affected by the outbreak. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Foster Mohale, Spokesperson for the National Department of Health

Outgoing Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has blamed his predecessor, Herman Mashaba, for the poor state of service delivery in the city. This follows Gwamanda's resignation yesterday as Mayor. Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA Gauteng provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni

The Democratic Alliance will today stage a protest outside the North Gauteng High Court, where the accused in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal will face pre-trial proceedings. The party is demonstrating against the alleged embezzlement of pensioners' savings and municipal funds, which were reportedly used to finance the extravagant lifestyles of politicians and officials. To discuss this further Elvis...

Build One South Africa (BOSA) Leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, will today lead a protest against gun violence at the Motherwell Police Station in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The community has been plagued by a recent surge in gun violence, leaving families shattered and demanding justice. In a recent brazen attack a gang of armed men stormed a school's awards ceremony in Motherwell at the weekend, firing mul...

The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in a case by lobby group, My Vote Counts, challenging the Electoral Matters Amendment Act, which permits political parties to accept unlimited donations.  They argue that the annual donation limit should remain capped at R15 million, with all contributions exceeding R100,000 being declared. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Joel Bregman, sen...

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg is expected to hear a legal challenge by former President, Jacob Zuma and the Umkhonto Wesizwe party, against the use of the term 'Government of National Unity' by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). In papers before the court, they have argued that the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) and...