First Take SA

The Democratic Alliance ( DA) in the Eastern Cape, will today hold picket about the pro-longed closure of the district office of the Department of Social Development in East London. It has been nearly two years since its closure together with six local service office. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Social Development, Kobus Botha

Independent candidates will no longer need 15 000 signatures to contest next year's general elections. The Constitutional Court found the signature quota to contest elections unconstitutional, ruling 1 000 signatures were sufficient. But the Independent Candidates Association failed to convince the Apex court that the 200/200 split in the Electoral Amendment Act - which governs the threshold for s...

The Gauteng Liquor Traders Association is calling for the rejection of the Tobacco Bill. The Association says the Bill will cause great harm to small business in the township economy. The Bill proposes a total ban on the display of all tobacco products, a ban on vending machines and a ban on the sale of single cigarettes, or 'loose draws'. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Jongikhaya...

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

Community leaders in Diepsloot are calling for members of the community to work with police and not take the law into their own hands. The call comes after seven young men accused of criminal activities in the area were burnt to death over the weekend. The leaders say vigilantism needs to stop as it may affect innocent people. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Sicelo Shezi, Community...

Police in the North West province have arrested a 29 year old woman for registering a false rape case against her former boyfriend. Police say Ayanda Jim claimed that the man had raped her but later confessed that she had lied. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to North West Police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone

The Constitutional Court will today deliver Judgement on challenges to the Electoral Amendment Act. The new Act - Signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa allows independent candidates to stand in provincial and national elections next year. The Apex court heard arguments on the matter in August by independent candidates seeking to contest next year's election. The 2024 election will be the fi...

The South African Communist Party, SACP has reiterated its call for the reconfiguration of the Tripartite Alliance ahead of next year's elections. The party was briefing the media at the weekend on outcomes of its Central Executive meeting. The SACP says next year's national and provincial elections should be contested within a preferred framework of a reconfigured alliance. For more on this Elvis...

The Border Management Authority is investigating why 443 children were being trafficked through the Beitbridge border without guardians. Over the weekend 42 buses carrying 443 minors under the age of 8 were intercepted whilst trying to traffic the children into South Africa. The Authority is currently trying to ascertain where the minors were being trafficked to and for what purpose. To further di...

The family of one of the seven mob justice victims killed in Diepsloot over the weekend say he was not a criminal. It's alleged the suspects were terrorising the community with various crimes. Talent Moyo was among the people killed by community members in Diepsloot. His aunt Sibonginkosi Moyo, who is in Zimbabwe told our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri, that she feels her nephew was merely targeted...

Essential services will now be exempted from loadshedding. This after a Pretoria High Court ordered Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Eskom to prevent loadshedding at certain public institutions such as schools, healthcare facilities and police stations among others. Earlier this year, Action SA and various political parties took government to court to ensure public institutions we...

As the country continues to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, it's been reported that in South Africa, about 34% of reported common assault cases this year are linked to domestic violence, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in the country. Somila Gogoba, Team Leader at Milaw Legal, spoke to Elvis Presslin to shed light on the...

A senior Hamas delegation is in South Africa to attend the fifth global convention of Solidarity with Palestine. Three Hamas leaders; Dr. Basem Naim, Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi and Emad Saber are in the country to attend the three-day event, which starts this Saturday In Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the government has nothing to do with the presence of Ham...

The Gauteng Health department says there are discrepancies in City Power's billing system for the province's hospitals. This after City Power threatened to disconnect power to a number of Johannesburg hospitals. The power utility says Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Baragwanath Hospital collectively owe the entity more than R40 million. The department says they h...

The 1st of December marks World Aids Day. The day is observed annually, dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, commemorating those who have lost their lives to the virus, and showing support for those living with HIV. This as data has recently emerged from the Human Sciences Research Council 2022 South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey, indicating that K...

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

The Special Investing Unit says those found guilty of looting millions from the Road Accident Fund risk being disbarred or losing their licenses. The unit is probing over 100 law firms, including sheriffs for road accident duplicate payments. The SIU is also looking into ambulances and doctors who may be involved in illegal activities with regards to RAF claims. To further discuss Elvis Presslin s...

The leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters in Limpopo says it has met with the school management of Hoërskool Ben Vorster following racist utterances by a student at the school, Erhard Vorster. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Mopani regional Chairperson Simon Mangena 

The passing of the National Health Insurance, NHI Bill by the National Council of Provinces, NCOP has been moved to next week. The NHI Bill seeks to achieve universal health coverage for all South Africans. However, those opposed to the Bill in its current form feel its not in the best interest of patients and the role of private medical schemes. The debate and vote on the NHI Bill was deferred to...

Cabinet members were in discussions last night to consider the approval of the National Logistics Roadmap. The roadmap seeks to address challenges facing the freight and logistics sector. This as state-owned enterprise Transnet struggles with increased congestion and delays at its ports. To discuss this matter further, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprise, Dr. Mimmy Gond...

The Democratic Alliance will by challenging Floyd Brink reappoint as Johannesburg's City manager. Brink was reappointed yesterday after an in-committee report was tabled at a council meeting. This after a court found his appointment as city manager unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid. DA caucus leader Belinda Echeozonjoku told our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri the party will challenge Brink's re...

Civil rights organisation AfriForum is demanding the removal of a BBBEE status as a condition for water use licence applications. The Department of Water and Sanitation's new transformation water license regulations requires new applicants to allocate shares of up to 75% to Black South Africans for such a licences to be granted. Afriforum says new applications online are not able to be processed i...

Gauteng Finance MEC, Jacob Mamabolo has emphasised that the R13-billion required from the province to settle the e-toll debt presents a major risk to the province's fiscus. Mamabolo says the province will be approaching the national government to discuss a possible long-term payment arrangement to bring the matter to finality.  He says an agreement with the national government should result in the...

Thousands of jobs are at risk in the mining, metal and engineering sector as companies struggle to stay afloat. The National Union of Mineworkers, NUM estimates 10,000 job losses to the industry by January next year. While steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa is set to shed 3 500 jobs at its Newcastle and Vereeniging operations. To examine the knock-on economic effect of retrenchments, Elvis...

The National Union of Mineworkers, NUM say there is a possibility of 10 000 mineworkers being retrenched by January next year. The union says mining companies have issued retrenchments notices in recent months in the gold and platinum sectors. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to NUM's Media Officer, Luphert Chilwane