First Take SA

Former Prime Minister of Namibia, Nahas Angula, has described struggle icon, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo as a selfless and dedicated liberation leader. He was delivering the eulogy at the memorial service being held in Windhoek this afternoon. Ya Toivo was an activist who took part in the freedom struggles in both Namibia and South Africa. He spent 16 years on Robben Island with 36 other countrymen - a...

As per usual on a Friday we end off with music, on our regular slot Open Mic. Today we profile Afro-Soul sensation, Philisiwe Mavukela. Ronald Phiri spoke to the multi-talented musician from Katlehong, who released her exciting second single titled "Ubuhle Bendalo"

Kwa Zulu Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo says they are prioritizing efforts to improve oncology services at hospitals in the province. MEC Dhlomo says they are receiving assistance from many oncologists in the private sector and they are in the process of permanently employing more. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo about his remedial plans for the province...

Angola is set to hold elections on August 23 to choose a successor to President Eduardo dos Santos after 38 years of rule. Dos Santos, 74, has been in power since 1979 and has announced that he will not contest the election. His ruling party's presidential candidate will be the current defence minister. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Presidential hopeful and Secretary General of opposition party UNITA...

The go-slow that went on for nearly two weeks by the forensic pathology assistance in Gauteng has ended. Workers were demanding extra pay and a danger allowance for conducting autopsies which they say they're untrained to do. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Nehawu Spokesperson, Khaya Xaba

The North West, Northern Cape and Free State have the worst performing municipalities, financially, in the country. Auditor-General kimi Makwetu says the Western Cape however is well ahead of other provinces with an 80% clean audit for its municipalities, in the 2015-2016 financial year. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria earlier on, the Auditor-General said 27% of the 263 municipalities fac...

The ANC has accused Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane of overstepping her mandate. In her latest remedial action, Mkhwebane has recommended Parliament amend the Constitution to change the focus of the Reserve Bank's monetary policy. She says the protection of the rand's value should not be the primary objective of the Central Bank. But ANC says this is tantamount to Public Protector ove...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (saftu) says the recommendations by the public protector to have the Reserve Bank focus on socio-economic issues are a welcomed improvement- however they feel the bank needs to be nationalised. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank has since indicated that it plans to challenge the latest report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke t...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (saftu) says the recommendations by the public protector to have the Reserve Bank focus on socio-economic issues are a welcomed improvement- however they feel the bank needs to be nationalised. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank has since indicated that it plans to challenge the latest report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Earlier on Tsepiso Makwe...

Refugees drawn from the East African region are celebrating in the Ugandan capital Kampala to mark World Refugee day. During the occasion the Ugandan government called on the international community to support the country's efforts to host the refugees in dignity. Uganda is now the top refugee hosting country in Africa and third largest in the world. It is home to 1.3 million refugees 900,000 of t...

The South African Human Rights Commission has found that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health violated the rights of oncology patients when it failed to provide relevant services in the province's two major hospitals. The Commission has completed a report on investigation into the state of cancer treatment equipment in the province. Machines at some hospitals have been out of service for years....

The High Court in Johannesburg has declared that Section 18 of the Criminal Procedure Act is unconstitutional. The court ruled that the Act is invalid to the extent that it doesn't allow for prosecutions in cases of certain sexual offences because of the statue of limitation of 20 years. A group of women, known as the "Frankel 8", accused the late philanthropist Sidney Frankel of sexually assaulti...

The uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, MKMVA, have made a pronouncement on its proposed list for the ANC's next top six leadership. MKMVA president Kebby Maphatsoe says the association has removed Police Minister Fikile Mbalula from their initial proposed list. Last week Mbalula tweeted that having Free State Premier Ace Magashule in the ANC Top six is a definite No No, saying he wil...

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says she will be opposing the application by President Jacob Zuma for a review of the findings of her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, in her State of Capture report. Madonsela recommended that the president appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter, chaired by a judge selected by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. Advocate Mkhwebane has released four re...

The Chamber of Mines has vowed to take legal action against the Mineral Resources Department to force it to suspend the implementation of the new mining charter. This is after Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane announced the new mining charter stating that the 26 percent black ownership has increased to 30 percent. Bongi Gwala spoke to Senior executive for public affairs and transformation...

Former African Union chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has officially accepted her nomination by the ANC Youth League to succeed president Jacob Zuma as ANC president. Dlamini-Zuma has addressed ANC members at the memorial lecture of former ANC Youth League president, Peter Mokaba held in Polokwane, Limpopo. Dlamini-Zuma says she serves the country and the ANC with dignity for her entire life....

As per usual on a Friday we end off with music, on our regular slot Open Mic. Today we profile Jon Magnusson, a song writer, musician, producer and audio engineer from Stockholm, Sweden. Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Jon Magnusson about his brilliant new EP "Psalms for Sinners"....

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it is outraged and shocked by Sibanye Gold mine's decision to dismiss more than 2000 workers after they participated in an illegal strike. Sibanye Gold earlier confirmed the dismissals at its Cooke operations, but not the number. Workers at the mine have been on an illegal strike for more than two weeks, angered by the company's drive to root out illega...

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa have visited the affected communities of Knysna in the Garden Route and Plettenburg Bay areas following the fire. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa

Award-winning chef and food writer Hope Malau has recently launched his recipe book "Johanne 14: Real South African Food". Johanne 14 explores the secrets of simple, home-cooked meals in South Africa's townships. The book features authentic, traditional dishes and has been described as a celebration of culture, resilience, human spirit, community and family - through the shared meal. Tsepiso Makwe...

Bodies are piling up at Gauteng mortuaries as the go slow by forensic officers is on its second week. Bereaved families cannot bury their loved ones as the officers who are meant to assist with autopsies are demanding, among others, better working conditions and danger payment. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to national coordinator responsible for public health at the National Health Education and Allied...

South Africans are saying no to crime one download at a time. Citizens are sick and tired of the violence and intimidation and have taken a stand armed with the one weapon that every person, young and old, can safely and effectively use: A smart phone. Namola Mobile Emergency App is the latest most downloaded safety App in Gauteng with 50 000 downloads since it was first launched last year. It is...

Political parties say while they welcome the resignation of Dr Ben Ngubane as Eskom Board chairperson, the inquiry into governance issues at the power utility should still go ahead. Among the issues they want probed is the sudden reinstatement of Brian Molefe as Eskom CEO last month. While the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for the resignation of the remaining Eskom board members....

The South African National Aids Council is launching South Africa's first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexed (LGBTI) HIV plan. The 5-year plan supports and runs concurrently with the newly launched National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2017-2022. It is a strategic guide tailored for challenges that are more prevalent to LGBTI people and is a milestone in the c...

A truce has been reached between Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and DA leader Mmusi Maimane. Zille has unreservedly apologised for her colonialism tweets following her suspension by the DA. At a media briefing in Johannesburg earlier today, DA leader Mmusi Maimane says Zille will step down from the positions she holds in the party's various structures including the Federal Executive, the Federal...