First Take SA

Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago says the recent political instability has complicated the work of the Reserve bank. Governor Lesetja Kganyago spoke to Tsepiso Makwetla at the World Economic Forum in Durban

The 2017 World Economic Forum on Africa, underway in Durban. The three-day meeting takes place under the theme : inclusive growth - responsive and responsible leadership. It's attended by several African leaders and hundreds of business and civil society representatives. Health Minister Aaron Mostwoaledi is attending the meeting and spoke to Tsepiso Makwetla about African health systems

As we mark World Press Freedom Day, human rights organisation Amnesty International says persistent attacks against journalists and media owners are threatening press freedom and the growth of independent media across Southern Africa. The 3rd of May was set aside by the United General Assembly to highlight the importance press freedom and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the...

President Jacob Zuma says the 2017 World Economic Forum on Africa should come up with strategies of how to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. He was speaking to journalists on the side-lines of the three-day meeting underway at the Durban International Conference Centre. The meeting is attended by several African leaders including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and dozens of business le...

Human rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch says armed groups in Central African Republic have killed at least 45 civilians in apparent reprisal strikes over the past three month. The organisation says violence pitted armed groups against one another in the central province of Ouaka, which is at the border of the mainly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south of the country. Bongi Gwala spoke to...

According to a report by Oxfam titled- Starting with people - A human economy approach to inclusive growth in Africa, there are now 50-million more people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa than there were in 1990. The report further states that the poverty levels in Africa have gone down more slower that anywhere else in the world, this despite one point six of the world's ten fastes...

DNA test of the 18 learners killed in the tragic accident near Bronkorspruit have finally been concluded. Family members will be issued with the results and death certificates on Wednesday. At least 20 people died when the taxi transporting the pupils home from school collided with the truck on Groblersdal Road; near Bronkhorspruit. Bongi Gwala spoke to Mpumalanga Community Safety spokesperson Jos...

Speeches at the COSATU May Day rally in Bloemfontein, Free State were cancelled earlier. This after some members of the Labour Federation started heckling and shouting that President Jacob Zuma should not address them and that he must resign. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to COSATU Free State's Provincial Secretary, Monyatso Mahlatsi and political analyst Seven Friedman

The Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) has expressed relief that President Jacob Zuma has signed the FICA Bill into law. BASA has been at the forefront of those urging the President to sign the Bill. Zuma took about two months to approve the Bill after Parliament passed it. BASA says the signing of the Bill will ensure that banks in the country remain on the cutting edge of global best pra...

The African National Congress says what happened in Bloemfontein at the COSATU May day rally is a learning curve for the alliance. This after the rally was cancelled due to some members COSATU heckling and shouting that President Jacob Zuma should not address them and that he must resign. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to ANC's National Spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa..

The South African Cabin Crew Association headed to the labour court this morning to appeal the interdict that's put their strike on hold. Workers went on strike this week demanding better working conditions and that their daily meal allowance be increased. Currently, cabin crew members get a meal allowance of $130 per trip. They wanted $170, arguing that the allowance had not increased in many yea...

COSATU in Limpopo says it supports calls for President Jacob Zuma not to address the May Day rally on Monday- while Cosatu in Gauteng says it's not in a position to say whether President Zuma should address the national May Day Celebrations on Monday or not. Cosatu's biggest affiliate, Nehawu, has written to the federation demanding that he be replaced by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa as the ma...

Thirteen people have been injured after a gas explosion at a scrapyard in Doornfontein. Two people remain in a critical condition in hospital. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha for the latest on the accident...

President Jacob Zuma says a lot has been achieved over the past 23 years of freedom, but admits the democratic dividends have not reached everyone. He was speaking at the Freedom Day celebrations at Manguzi in northern KwaZulu-Natal this afternoon. The event was attended by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and several cabinet ministers as well as Acting Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala. Ts...

According to the National Credit Regulator (NCR) South African consumers are 1.66-trillion rand in debt and the World Bank has also ranked the country number one when it comes to debt. The Credit Ombud says it's a sad reality that South Africans cannot run away from the desperate financial situations they find themselves in. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Deputy Credit Ombud, Reana Steyn...

The South African Airways says most striking cabin crews have reported to work today. This after the national carrier filed an application to request the court to declare the strike unprotected. More than 30 flights had to be cancelled yesterday, after hundreds of cabin crew staff went on strike over meal allowances. The South African Cabin Crew Association, SACCA, says it will ask the Labour Cour...

One of the victims of last Friday's accident in Verena in Mpumalanga, where 20 people died, is recovering at a Pretoria hospital. 15 year-old Omphile Molepo suffered a broken left arml. He says the accident occured when the taxi attempted to make a right turn towards Wolvenkop - colliding with a truck that was too close. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga ab...

The Labour Court in Johannesburg has granted South African Airways an interim interdict ordering striking Cabin Crew Association members to return to work immediately. The union failed to meet a deadline to challenge the interdict and the matter has been postponed to June 23. At least 32 flights have been cancelled after cabin crew started striking this morning over meal allowances. Tsepiso Makwet...

The South African Cheese Festival takes place this weekend in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Festival goers will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrity chefs and treat themselves to gourmet dishes and a selection of some of the best cheeses in the country. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Agri-Expo Chief Executive Officer Johan Ehlers

The African Independent Congress and African National Congress have agreed to ensure that Matatiele is incorporated back into KwaZulu-Natal, from the Eastern Cape. Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a process to reverse the move, which took place in 2005. The AIC expected Matatiele to be back in KwaZulu-Natal by end of November. The two organisations agreed on "politi...

The United Nation's World Health Organisation has called for accelerating scaled-up efforts to prevent Malaria. Malaria remains a major public health threat, killing one child every two minutes worldwide in 2015. As today Marks World Malaria Day, health activists say a much bigger push for prevention, especially in Africa, which bears the greatest burden of the disease, is needed. Tsepiso Makwetla...

There's been no confirmation yet of reports that former HAWKS Head, Berning Ntlemeza has returned a state vehicle and cellphone that he took without authority from Hawks headquarters in Pretoria. Police Minister Fikile Mbalula said that Ntlemeza had acted illegally in going to work in defiance of a court order. Mbalula ordered police to recover the state property and arrest Ntlemeza if necessary....

Eskom board says it has noted the objections raised by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown over the proposal to pay its former Group Chief Executive, Brian Molefe, a 30-million rand pension pay-out. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Eskom Board Spokesperson, Khulani Qoma...

20 children have been killed and several other injured when a taxi and truck collided head-on, on the R25 between Verena and Bronkhorstpruit. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has conveyed her condolences to families of learners who have lost their lives in the accident. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC reporter who was at the scene of the accident, Maluti Obuseng ...

The ANC says it is concerning laying criminal charges against artist Ayanda Mabulu following his latest controversial painting. The ruling party says while it respects Mabulu's freedom of expression, it finds his work inflammatory and in bad taste. The painting which has caused uproar on social media portrays President Jacob Zuma in a supposedly sexual act with the late former president Nelson Man...