First Take SA

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put forward the close coordination of African countries in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic as an example of multilateral best practice in dealing with the challenges facing the world today. He was speaking in an informal virtual United Nations Leaders Networking session to take stock of the global challenges that confront the multilateral system while setting out...

The South African economy shrank by 7 per cent last year, the biggest decline in 75 years. This comes as hard lockdown measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic took their toll on various industries. New figures released by Statistics South Africa show all major sectors recorded declines for the full year.

How easy is it to shun traditional African cultural practices that have defined a community? Can national laws work where tradition has hindered an end to traditional harmful practices. Tough questions with no easy answers. In Kenya, Samburu community elders have closed ranks with the government and vowed to stop circumcising their girls. This is a major victory in Kenya's fight against the harmfu...

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has urged both parents and guardians to support the new proposed national changes to admission policies for schools. The policies propose that no learner should be refused admission based solely on the language policy of a public school. The new amendments also seek to uphold the principles of no discrimination on race, gender social origin, cultural beliefs...

Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula hopes a report into sexual misconduct and exploitation within the South African National Defence Force will finally bring an end to sexual abuse in the force. The ministerial task team which looked into the reporting ,management, and finalisation of sexual harassment and sexual abuse cases in the force has finally handed over the report to the Minister aft...

Eskom former CEO Brian Molefe has told the State Capture Commission in Johannesburg he visited the Gupta residence in upmarket Saxonworld numerous times when was still then CEO of Transnet. Molefe says he lost count how many times he visited them. His claims his visits were mainly to attend the Gupta's family functions and attend what he called "meetings". The Guptas have been repeatedly implicate...

Reaction has been mixed about the decision of the Judicial Conduct Committee against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. The JCC has ordered the Chief Justice to apologise unconditionally and retract statements relating to SA's stance on Isreal he made during a webinar hosted by the Jerusaleum Post, in June last year. While the local chapter of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement and the SACP welco...

While calls by some opposition parties in Parliament for the removal of the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane increase -- the ruling ANC has kept mum about allegations that Luthuli House has instructed its deployees not to vote with the opposition. Weekend news reports stated that ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule told the party caucus in Parliament not to endorse the removal of Mkhwebane, so...

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has met with representatives from twenty four hour news channel ENCA, following recent incidents involving one of its journalists. The senior reporter Lindsay Detlinger has faced a backlash following a video montage, selected from some of her work during the post-budget interviews in parliament last month, which sparked allegations of racism due to...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's office has told the state capture commission's legal team that the President will wait until after Molefe has completed his testimony to respond to possible allegations Molefe made about him. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says President Cyril Ramaphosa is not compelled to respond to allegation made about him at this stage. Zondo confirmed that the 14 day period offered to...

Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts has resolved to investigate allegations of racism against Eskom CEO, Andre De Ruyter. The allegations are contained in a letter by the company's Chief Procurement Officer, Solly Tshitangano. He accuses De Ruyter and other officials being biased against black suppliers. The committee says it has a responsibility to investigate the allegations as th...

The bereaved Maluleke family at Maphophe village outside Malamulele in Limpopo has expressed sadness over the killing of their son, allegedly by the police. 16 year old Wisani Maluleke was shot and killed during the protest outside the Saselamani police station on Sunday evening. The community has been protesting to demand the arrest of the motorist who allegedly shot to death 20 year Adoly Malule...

Unions at the SABC say the retrenchment process at the public broadcaster has been flawed. The Section 189 process was meant to be completed at the end of February, but unions say that key positions in the coporation's new structure have not yet been advertised. The public broadcaster had indicated that it wants to cut just over 300 permanent jobs as part of its restructuring plans. Unions however...

Some former Lily Mine workers in Barberton, Mpumalanga YESTERDAY blockaded the R38 road demanding that the potential investor, Arqomanzi to withdraw its case against Vantage Goldfields and business rescue practitioners. Last week, Arqomanzi obtained a court interdict against the implementation of an amended business rescue plan.

The independent review panel, appointed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise, has found that prima facie evidence exists to institute removal proceedings against Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Chaired by Justice Bess Nkabinde, alongside Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza and Advocate Johan de Waal, the panel had to investigate whether there is proof of incompetence or misconduct by M...

Cosatu has vowed to convene a Special Central Executive Committee meeting soon to review its support for the ANC in the forthcoming local government elections. The labour federation says it will also have a bilateral meeting with the SACP with a possibility of supporting the party in future elections should its planned meeting resolve to withdraw support for the ANC. This is part of the resolution...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on private sector corporates to help government in growing and developing small-to-medium and micro-enterprises or SMMEs in South Africa through capital support, skills development and access to markets. Ramaphosa was addressing entrepreneurs and cooperatives during an SMME focused webinar hosted by the Department of Small Business Development this afternoon. R...

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has expressed optimism about the country's economic recovery. Mboweni tabled the 2021-2022 budget in Parliament, with revenue projected to be 1.35 trillion rand. He says non-interest spending will remain steady at approximately 1.56 trillion rand over the next three years, but will decline as a share of GDP to 26.2 percent in 2023/24.

Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has made four changes to her cabinet. The new members are Nkangala ANC chairperson, Speed Mashilo, responsible for Human Settlement. Former Deputy Speaker of the Legislature, Vusi Mkhatshwa is now MEC for Finanace, Economic Development and Tourism, while ex-Speaker Busi Shiba presides over Co-operatives Governance and Traditional Affairs. Mohita Latchmin...

Economists and the business community at large have welcomed Finance Minister Titio Mboweni 's2021 budget. Many industry experts who were interviewed said the budget was balanced and showed compassion for the corporate sector that is struggling. Markets also reacted positively to the minister's speech in late evening trade (wednesday 24 February)

Economists say Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is unlikely to increase taxes in order to finance the country's vaccine rollout programme. Their comments come as Mboweni is expected to table the 2021 Budget THIS AFTERNOON. Experts say Mboweni should rather focus on keeping spending low in order to make fiscal room to fund an effective vaccination programme. Other experts say the minister should lean...

Opposition parties have expressed doubt over the ability of government to address the country's economic crisis. This comes as Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is set to table his much-anticipated Budget Speech TODAY (24 February). Mboweni's 2020/21 budget will be the toughest ever presented to Parliament - as the country is still reeling from the prolonged COVID-19 lockdown which has caused an econo...

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has set May 17th as the start of the corruption trial of former President Jacob Zuma and the French arms company Thales*. Zuma and Thales are facing corruption, racketeering and money laundering charges linked to South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal in 1999. By agreement with the state, Zuma and the Thales representatives were not present in court when Judge...

The pass rate for the Class of 2020 is 76.2%. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, says although the national pass rate dropped below 80%, with a drop of 5%, it is much better than she expected. She announced the pass rate in Pretoria.

The community of Doornkop in Soweto is reeling from shock after the body of a mother of four was found buried in a shallow grave inside a shack on Friday. Last Sunday, the body of the woman's husband was found inside the couple's other shack. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths. On Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that from October to December last year,...