First Take SA

TransUnion's Consumer Credit Index says the South African Consumer Credit behaviour has improved- for the first quarter of 2017, which showed an improvement on debt repayments by consumers. TransUnion has attributed this to caution exercised by credit markets and easing interest costs. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Tim Frost, Vice President Africa at Innovative Solutions Group, TransUnion...

The police have appealed to anyone who has information regarding the death of an ESKOM employee, Thembisile Yende to come forward. This following the discovery of Yende's body in her office yesterday at in Springs power station situated on the East of Johanesburg, after she was reporterd missing nearly two weeks ago. Her family has since demanded answers from the power utility. Tsepiso akwetla spo...

Tsepiso Makwetla speaks to Author and commentator Victor Kgomoeswana on how leading markets in the African continent are performing

ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe says the party's NEC meeting at the weekend considered calls for President Jacob Zuma to step aside - but concluded the matter by refocusing on other issues affecting the country as the NEC does not focus on matters pertaining to individuals. Mantashe was speaking at a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC Senior Polit...

Department of Social Development says one in three children experience sexual violence and physical abuse before they reach the age of 18. This, as the country observes Child Protection Week. Under the theme "Let us all Protect Children to Move South Africa Forward", the department's campaign seeks to raise awareness and educate society about children's' rights. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to social wo...

Health officials from more than 180 countries have for the first time elected an African as the leader of the World Health Organization. The delegates at the World Health Assembly in Geneva chose Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to be the next director-general. The world looks to the former Ethiopian Health Minister and Ambassador to take the health organisation to greater heights. Today as we celebrate...

The South Africa Chamber of Mines says ex-miners and their families have not collected around two-point-eight-billion-rand in pension funds. The mining industry is under pressure from government to deal with what it calls "legacy issues" from the apartheid era. During the time, the industry relied heavily on cheap, migrant labour from rural areas and neighbouring countries. The chamber's chief exe...

The IFP has won yesterday's by-elections in the Nquthu Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal with an outright majority. The party took fourteen of seventeen wards, leaving the ANC with just three. Nquthu had been a hung municipality after last year's municipal elections and was dissolved early this year following in-fighting between councillors along party lines. Meanwhile, both the ANC and the I...

The Stellenbosch City Orchestra is this weekend presenting its new 'Best of Broadway' show in two performances only, at the Lourensford Wine Cellar. The orchestra, conducted by Paul van Zuilenburg, is joined by baritone Niel Rademan and Fleur de Cap winner soprano, Janelle Visagie. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Stellenbosch City Orchestra, conductor Paul van Zuilenburg

Residents in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats have returned to occupy a piece of land they were earlier evicted from in Town Two following a court order obtained by the City of Cape Town. Three vacant pieces of Land in Makhaza, Kuyasa and Town Two have been illegally occupied by the residents. The Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) has criticised the residents for re-occupying the land. Tsepiso Makw...

The family of Reshall Jimmy, who burnt to death his Ford Kuga in 2016 says their planning to approach the courts against Ford should it fail to table a reasonable settlement offer. This after the CEO of Ford South Africa, Jeff Nemeth allegedly offered the family compensation car up to one-million rand. Family legal team led by forensic scientist and expert Doctor David Klatzow says they also inten...

The Department of Health is on alert following the reported outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organisation says three people have died after the outbreak on the border with the Central African Republic. The health department has advised doctors and nurses to be on the outlook for Ebola-like symptoms. Port Health authorities have also been asked to sc...

Cosatu says from now on, President Jacob Zuma will no longer speak on any of the labour federations' activities. Cosatu says its May Day celebrations in Bloemfontein where President Zuma was heckled, showed the level of frustration felt by the workers about his leadership. Cosatu has also re-affirmed its position calling on Zuma to step down. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Cosatu's General Secretary Bh...

Parliament is to conduct an investigation into the Eskom board, including the re-appointment of Brian Molefe as Chief Executive officer. This follows their rejection of the explanation by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and the board on the matter. Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises says the answers they received have left them with more questions than answers. Tsepiso...

The Black Business Council (BBC) has finally put to an end its 23-year relationship with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). It has been reported that the termination comes as a result of an incident where BBC representatives were kicked out of the meeting, allegedly by the BUSA representatives. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the CEO of BUSA, Tanya Cohen andBlack Business Council secretary general, Geo...

A teenage girl has been linked to a human trafficking syndicate in Springs on the East Rand. The 17-year-old girl was nabbed by police following the arrest of a 42-year-old man, after police received information that he had trafficked women. The suspect was found with four teenage girls and a 19-year-old woman. Police believe the 17-year-old girl was the "mastermind" in recruiting the young girls...

Stellenbosch University's faculty of medicine and health sciences has performed a second successful penile transplant at the Tygerberg Academic Hospital. The 40 year old recipient had been without a male organ for 17 years due to complications from a traditional circumcision. The organ will be tattooed at a later date to match the recipient's natural skin colour. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professo...

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has declared the province a disaster area in response to the current drought crisis. According to the premier's office, the declaration will be formally gazetted during the course of this week after it was adopted by the provincial cabinet last week. The disaster will be classified for a three-month period which can be extended if the need arises. Tsepiso Makwetla...

A child goes missing every five hours in South Africa, this according to the recent stats from Missing Children South Africa. According to the Missing Persons Bureau, between 1 May 2016 and 30 April 2017, 304 adults were reported missing, 167 were found and out of 181 children that were reported missing, 145 were found. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Bianca van Aswegen, the National Case Officer for Mi...

A call has been made for men in the Gauteng area to join a march in Pretoria tomorrow to raise awareness of gender based violence. The men's march themed "not in my name" is set to serve as a platform for men to have a conversation about abuse against women and children. The march follows a number of killings and violence against women being reported. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Not In My Name March...

Dam levels remain critically low in the Western Cape. This as Water Minister Nomvula Mokonyane addressed a dialogue with different stakeholders on how to address the water challenges the country is facing. South Africa has been facing a severe drought which has led serious water shortages in the Western Cape. The city of Cape Town has now called on residents to only use water for washing, cooking...

The minister of Energy, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says those responsible for selling the country's fuel reserves will be investigated - and criminally charged if necessary. Minister Kubayi was delivering her department's eight-point-one billion rand budget in Parliament. About two weeks ago, Kubayi admitted to Parliament's Energy committee that most of the country's strategic fuel stock was indeed sold an...

The National Executive Committee of the South African Council of Churches has urged the ANC to examine their way of governance before the country reaches a point of no return. Speaking at the historic Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto, the Council's secretary-general Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana presented a report from its Unburdening Panel on the challenges of corruption, maladministration and lo...

International relations expert and former South African ambassador to Turkey Tom Wheeler has died. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Chief Executive of South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, where ambassador Wheeler once worked

Power utility Eskom says it is considering reviving a nuclear project that was halted in 2010. Eskom Chief Nuclear Officer Dave Nicholls was speaking at the African Utility Week conference underway in Cape Town. Billions of rand have been poured into the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project, with bulk of the money provided by the government. The technology was designed in Germany, with South Africa...