First Take SA

The High Court in Pretoria is today expected to deliver judgment in the Democratic Alliance's constitutional challenge of the ANC's cadre deployment policy. In January, last year a full bench heard the DA's application to declare cadre deployment unconstitutional and unlawful. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Legal Expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala...

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and the Department of Education will commemorate International Mother Language Day in East London today. The event will focus on the progress of the Department of Basic Education's Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education programme in promoting multilingual education and intergenerational learning. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor...

The South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring says knowing how good or bad our air is, helps fight pollution and diseases that comes with it. The consortium says it has found a way to sample air quality in real time using what it calls AI_r. The system is said to cost effectively and accurately monitors air quality and then communicates the information digitally. To discuss further Elvis...

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, PRASA has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to institute a Special Investigating Unit, SIU investigation into corruption at the state entity. Ramaphosa signed proclamations authorising the corruption busting unit to investigate allegations of corruption related serious maladministration and the awarding of tenders for the supply of trains. For...

The KwaDukuza local municipality has denied planning a R185,000 celebration party to honour paid volunteers for fixing potholes and cutting overgrown grass. The northern KwaZulu-Natal cash-strapped municipality says the figure has been blown out of proportion but acknowledge planning an awards ceremony to recognize 250 individuals. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Deon Viljoen, Chairpe...

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

The Islamic Medical Association of South Africa, IMASA have raised concern over a proposed ban on hijabs or headscarves for nurses at public health institutions. This after the Health Department issued a communique with a list of changes for nurses' dress code - one of which prohibits hijabs while on duty. IMASA says the proposed ban is an infringement on the Muslim religion and Identity. To elabo...

Researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have found that the older persons grant is insufficient for the needs of elderly people living in South Africa. The study, conducted by Family Caregiving, found that almost three-quarters of all persons aged 60 or older in South Africa receive the grant, which was valued at R2,080 per month in 2023. The study reveals that elderly people predominantl...

The Mphephu Ramabulana Royal House is considering a candle wife to bear their next king for the Vhavenda nation amid a legal battle between the ousted king, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, and his niece, Masindi Clementine Mphephu Ramabulana. The royal council is at a crossroads in choosing a legitimate heir, and will selecting a candle wife be a proper way to settle the long-standing dispute. Ntsieni Ra...

The Inkatha Freedom Party, IFP has accused the ANC of trying to discourage voter participation in this year's national elections. This after Deputy president Paul Mashatile inadvertently announced May 24th as a possible election date. IFP MP and national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa says they do not support having the elections on a Friday

The ANC have until 5pm today to hand over its complete cadre deployment records to the DA. Last week the Constitutional Court ordered the party to make public its complete deployment records dating back to 2013.The ANC approached the apex court to overturn earlier rulings by two lower courts to hand over its records to the opposition. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Member of Parliame...

The Gauteng department of Education will today dispatch its Psycho-Social Support Unit to Primrose Primary School in Germiston following a shooting incident. This after a 13-year-old teenager shot and wounded a 51-year-old principal. The principal has been admitted to the hospital, and the teenager is in custody following the incident that happened on Friday. The teen is expected to appear before...

The Democratic Alliance will lead a march to the Union Buildings to launch its elections manifesto. The manifesto is expected to speak to issues of unemployment, the energy and water crises among other issues. DA Leader John Steenhuisen is expected to lead and unveil the party's Blueprint for a better South Africa. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA National Spokesperson Werner Horn

EFF leader Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to rescind his decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force in the DRC. This after two soldiers were killed and three others wounded during an attack on a South African army base in the war-torn country. The base is part of the SADC mission to bring peace and security in the region as SA-led forces clash with M23 rebel...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with 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

Political rallies and posters on street poles may soon become obsolete, this as artificial intelligence, AI technology is reshaping political campaigns. This according to Glen Mpani, host convener of the International Political Campaigns Expo in Cape Town. The Expo will officially launch a report today about rapid integration of AI and big data into political strategies. To elaborate more on this,...

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is threatening a nation wide bus strike after a wage dispute. The Union declared a wage dispute with employers in the passenger bus sector after wage negotiations failed. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA's National Spokesperson

A Gauteng consultancy firm hired by the provincial government to create 75,000 employment opportunities for unemployed youth has been ordered to pay back R52 million after failing to deliver. Amahlo Consulting Services was employed by the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller in 2016 to create 75 000 jobs. But a Gauteng High Court found Amahlo was only able to create 142 opportunities, despite being paid j...

Deputy Chair of the National Council of Provinces in Parliament, Sylvia Lucas has been criticized for downplaying the impact of power outages on South Africans. Lucas described load-shedding as a sabotage, stating "it is not the end of the world". Lucas made the utterances during the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Syl...

The Supreme Court of Appeal is expected to rule on AfriForum's application for the recusal of one of the five judges hearing the "Kill The Boer" case against EFF leader Julius Malema. Afriforum wants Judge Raylene Keightley to recuse herself from the case alleging bias. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel

Umalusi is urging employers and institutions of higher learning to verify qualifications of their employees and students following a surge in fraudulent certificates. This follows a series of individuals like bogus TikTok doctor Matthew Lani, embellishing their qualifications to secure employment or exploit institutions for other nefarious purposes. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Umalusi...

Hundreds and thousands of Turkish residents remain in shelters - a year after the country's deadliest earthquake. Last week Türkiye commemorated the first anniversary of the earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Türkiye, some 5,900 in Syria and left over 3 million people without housing. Earthquake survivors say they feel neglected by the Türkiye government. For more on this Elvis Pres...

Members of the University of Cape Town Employees Union have embarked on a wage strike at the Institution. The union is demanding a 7.5% salary increase and for the university to implement a unified bargaining forum. The strike follows a wage impasse between the University and union for a non-strike resolution. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Tsebo Litabe, the Deputy President of the Univ...

Prisoners' rights activist Golden Miles Bhudu says reports of poisoning and a sex ring inside Mangaung's G4S Correctional Facility, in Bloemfontein are not far-fetched. This follows media reports of female prison wardens moonlighting as escorts for inmates. Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester was allegedly the head of a prostitution ring and drug syndicate inside the prison. For more on thi...

The Gauteng Health Department has issued a warning about the surge in sexually transmitted infections. The rise in STI's has reportedly been noticed in Johannesburg, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. The health department is appealing to the public to refrain from risky sexual behaviour. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Nombuso Madonsela, Clinical Manager for HIV and AIDS, STI a...