First Take SA

The Young Communist League of South Africa has condemned statements by ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula as "reckless"  against SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila. The Young Community League criticized Mbalula's remarks on X as part of a pattern of ANC leaders publicly berating their General Secretary. The League has also opposed the ANC's decision to form a government of national unity with...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has described attacks on police officers as equivalent to treason, saying they constitute an attack on the state. Mashatile was speaking at an annual commemoration event honouring police officers who died in the line of duty between April last year and March this year. The Independent Policing Union of South Africa has echoed Mashatile's calls by pledging to campaig...

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says the police service is exploring ways to assist families of murdered officers in pursuing civil claims against the perpetrators. The initiative aims to ensure justice is served beyond criminal proceedings, by holding perpetrators financially accountable for the harm caused. Mchunu made the announcement at a commemoration event for 39 police officers killed in the l...

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) is demanding the expropriation of a farm in Limpopo, where two women were allegedly murdered and their remains fed to pigs. The farm's owner, Zacharia Olivier, and two workers, Rudolf de Wet and William Musora, are accused of the crime. The PAC has instructed its President and Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, to explore t...

The Gauteng Department of Health has issued a warning to parents and caregivers to be highly vigilant due to a concerning spike in food poisoning cases among children. Reports since February this year have exceeded 200 cases, resulting in 10 fatalities. The affected areas include townships, informal settlements, and hostels. To elaborate further on these incidents, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jennifer...

South Africa is launching a historic partnership to combat financial crime and corruption. The Department of Justice, SABRIC, and the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College are signing a landmark agreement today. This comes as the country faces challenges in detecting and addressing white-collar crimes due to limited resources. Elvis Presslin spoke to Neptune Masumbuka, Head of the Brigitte Mabandla Ju...

The Gauteng Provincial Government will today launch a multi-stakeholder initiative to revitalize the Johannesburg CBD. The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, COGTA says the programme is part of the broader Old CBD Revitalisation Strategy and aims to improve lighting, security, and cleanliness, making the area more attractive for investment. Premier Panyaza Lesufi...

The MK Party has welcomed former South African Rainbow Alliance, SARA leader, Colleen Makhubele into its ranks. The party says Makhubele's extensive experience in both the private and public sectors will make her a valuable asset. Makhubele, who previously served as Speaker of Johannesburg and a former member of the Congress of the People (COPE) and SARA, ditched her own party after its poor perfo...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, 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

Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink is facing a potential axe as ActionSA reviews its coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA). ActionSA has announced it is reconsidering its partnership with the DA in the Tshwane municipality, citing concerns over governance and leadership. The DA is currently challenging two motions against Brink in court, brought by the ANC. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to...

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is cautioning against misuse of the new two-pot retirement savings system, set to launch in September. The party urges individuals to only access their savings in genuine emergency situations. The National Treasury designed the reform to provide limited access to funds in cases of financial hardship, without requiring individuals to leave their jobs. E...

Defend Our Democracy, is holding a solidarity picket outside the South African Revenue Service (SARS) offices in Pretoria today. The protest is demanding greater protection for whistleblowers, following a recent assassination attempt on Advocate Coreth Naude in KwaZulu-Natal. Naude was investigating a R37 million tax case involving businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize at the time of the attack. This incide...

Homeowners from the Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville, and Saulsville Civic Association (LASCA) are staging a protest march to Tshwane House today. The demonstrators are demanding action on several key issues, including; service delivery failures, the scrapping of historic arrear bills and the enforcement of by-laws regarding undocumented foreign nationals among other issues. Elvis Presslin spoke to T...

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is urging the City of Johannesburg to develop a plan for emergency housing for victims of building fires. This call comes after a devastating fire in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, which claimed four lives and left over 200 residents displaced. The Commission says the latest incident highlights the need for the City to prioritize safe emergency housing,...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has demanded a full report and briefing from Justice Minister Thembi Simelane, amid allegations of corruption. In a statement, the President expressed concern over media reports linking Minister Simelane to improper payments from VBS Mutual Bank during her tenure as Mayor of Polokwane Municipality. The reports allege that the municipality unlawfully invested 349 million r...

The South African Weather Service is urging the Disaster Risk Reduction community to step up its efforts in providing vital Early Warning Systems to enhance community resilience against weather disasters. CEO Ishaam Abader made the call at a National Consultative Workshop on Early Warnings for All, which concludes today in Pretoria. The three-day event aims to assess the current state of Early War...

The City of Tshwane's multiparty coalition is holding a briefing today on its political affairs, as Mayor Cilliers Brink faces renewed attempts to remove him from office. Last month, the ANC withdrew a motion of no confidence against Mayor Brink, who they accused of allowing the city to deteriorate. However, sources suggest that a new motion is being prepared, putting the mayor's position under th...

A shocking survey conducted by the University of Pretoria and Statistics South Africa has revealed that over 4 million people in South Africa are living with type 2 diabetes, with many not receiving adequate treatment. The University of Pretoria's Diabetes Research Centre warns that the alarming rise in type 2 diabetes, driven by poor diets and lack of physical activity, is exacerbating this crisi...

The ANC Women's League in Limpopo has reiterated its dedication to combating gender-based violence and femicide, following a horrific incident in which two women were shot dead and discarded in a pigsty enclosure. The women were killed while collecting expired food at a farm in Limpopo. The league has pledged to work closely with civil society organizations and community groups to raise awareness...

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has fired 27 officials for various offenses. In a statement, the department revealed that these dismissals are part of 81 appeals recorded, involving cases of fraud, theft, sexual harassment, and abuse of state resources. Elvis Presslin spoke to Kgalalelo Masibi, Chief Director for Communications at the Department of Justice and Constitution...

Only 34 of South Africa's 257 municipalities received clean audits for the 2022/2023 financial year. This according to Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke's report to Parliament. Maluleke is urging all stakeholders to work together to promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and integrity, to improve the lives of South Africans. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Harlan Cloete, Go...

The Democratic Alliance is demanding Justice Minister Thembi Simelane's accountability following allegations of her involvement in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. The Minister reportedly took a R500,000 loan from a company involved in unlawful VBS investments during her tenure as Polokwane Mayor in 2016. DA MP and Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach ha...

A new retirement savings system, known as the Two-Pot system, comes into effect in South Africa from the first of September. The system, designed to encourage responsible withdrawals from retirement funds, divides savings into two portions. The South African government says this system will hopefully promote financial sustainability and reduce reliance on state pensions. Sanlam Glacier, a leading...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has submitted a draft resolution to the Speaker of Parliament, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of rand manipulation by domestic and international banks. This move comes after the Competition Commission dismissed a case against several banks accused of manipulating South Africa's currency. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ATM sp...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a significant shake-up in the management of State-Owned Enterprises, or SOEs. Ramaphosa has assigned shareholder responsibility for each SOE to the respective line-function Ministries. This reform aims to improve governance, oversight, and efficiency within SOEs. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political analyst, Dr. Dale McKinley