First Take SA

Two of the main opposition candidates in Democratic Republic of Congo's December presidential election have called for a protest tomorrow, when President Felix Tshisekedi is due to be sworn in for a second term. Tshisekedi and his party won the general election in December last year, by a landslide, but the vote was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, logistical shortcomings and disruptions...

The suspects arrested in connection with the taxi violence in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape will appear in the Port St Johns Magistrate court today (Thursday). Police arrested eleven suspects in connection with the incident. Three people were killed and five sustained gunshot wounds, following a shoot-out between Uncedo Taxi Associations and Border Alliance Taxi Association on Tuesday. For mor...

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga will release the National Senior Certificate results for the class of 2023 today. This as the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) attained an overall pass rate of 98.46% in the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. For analysis, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Mary Metcalfe

Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane residents are warned of an impending water supply interruption going to take place this Sunday. Rand Water says residents will experience low pressure to no water supply for eight hours starting at eight in the morning to three in the afternoon. This is because Eskom will be carrying out maintenance work on the transformers that supply power to the Zuikerbosch...

The Independent Examinations Board matric candidates obtained a 98.46% pass rate for the 2023 academic year. This is up from the 98.42% pass rate in 2022. More than 15 000 candidates wrote their matric exams set by the IEB. For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to St John's College Top Achiever with 10 distinctions and a 98.5% pass average, Julian Kuni and Jozi Nupen who started her journey at...

The advancement of digital technology is having a major, and often detrimental impact on the mental health of internet users. This is according to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rani Samuel. Dr. Samuel says recent reports of a teenager from the UK being gang raped in a virtual reality game are some of the consequences of the Metaverse. Reports in the UK say a girl identified only as being under the age...

Former DA and Gauteng Provincial Legislature member, Khume Ramulifho says he has doubts about the official opposition's performance at this year's polls.  Being a member of the Democratic Alliance for nearly three decades, Ramulifho announced his resignation from the party to join Rise Mzansi, which was formed last year.  He served as the DA Youth Regional Chairperson, the Gauteng Provincial Youth...

The Mayor of Port St John's in the Eastern Cape, Nomvuzo Mlombile Cingo, has called for calm and peace after a shooting allegedly between taxi operators. Heavily armed men allegedly invaded the town and fired shots towards taxi operators. It is alleged that there were bodies on the floor which included people wearing security guard uniform that are seen lying on the street. For more on this Sebenz...

Experts say there are several ways of dealing with stress and depression as a result of unfavourable matric results. This comes as matric class of 2023 is anxiously waiting for their matric results with concerns whether they performed well in their exams. The IEB and the NSC matric results are expected to be released tomorrow and on Friday respectively. To discuss this further Sebenzile Nkambule s...

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for more disruptive rains that could lead to localised flooding in KwaZulu Natal, from today (Wednesday). This, as recovery operations were still under way following the deadly floods in the province.  For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Siyabonga Hlatswayo, South African Red Cross Society KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Manager, who talks t...

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Blade Nzimande has announced a new student loan scheme for missing middle. Nzimande says government has set aside R3.8 billion to fund the country's 'missing middle' students who were not covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Nzimande, also announced the appointment of Professor Lourens van Staden as acting chairperso...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is accusing the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of double standards for its alleged failure to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable over the Phala Phala farmgate scandal. This after SARS opened a criminal case against Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa, who bought buffalos from President Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. In December 2019,...

ActionSA in Tshwane has announced Dr. Nasiphi Moya as its nominee for the position of deputy mayor of Tshwane. ActionSA has been advocating for the position to ensure the principles of co-governance were applied. But the EFF has rejected the proposal citing wasteful expenditure and political expediency. To discuss this further Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to ActionSA's nominee for Deputy Mayor of Tshw...

Anti-poverty group, Oxfam International's latest report points to a widening gap of inequality between the haves and have nots. This as five of the richest men having more than doubled their fortunes to nearly 860-billion-dollars since 2020, while five-billion people have become poorer. The report comes as some of the world's most influential people and business elites gather for the annual World...

Sebenzile Nkambule 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

Sanlam Investments says it investigating one of its employees after a Cape Town motorist was reportedly attacked for displaying pro-Palestine posters on her vehicle. The woman wrote on X that she was a target of hate speech by another motorist who confronted and attacked her for showing solidarity with Palestine as the conflict between Hamas and Israel rages on. Her post has since gone viral with...

The Department of Basic Education says it is aware of the challenges that confront schools in KwaZulu Natal due to floods caused by heavy downpours. Schools are opening on Wednesday nationwide for the start of the academic year. At least ten people are feared dead in the province. Search and rescue teams were still looking for at least two bodies of people who were washed away in oThongathi.  Four...

The death toll in the latest KwaZulu-Natal floods has risen to six. Another four people are still missing in areas north of Durban. This follows a level 2 warning by the South African Weather service of disruptive rainfall and thunderstorms. For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to South African Weather Service Forecaster, Lehlohonolo Thobela

The Democratic Alliance has slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to deploy the South African National Defence force to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. The DA says the deployment to the eastern DRC to neutralize the M23 rebels is reckless and must be reversed. For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kobus Marais, DA Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Defence an...

The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu has called on teenage mothers to return back to school to break the cycle of poverty. She was speaking during her visit to the local SASSA office in Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga on Wednesday. Teenage mothers had visited the SASSA office to apply for Child Support grants for their new borns. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Minister Lindiwe Zulu

The ANC will mark its 112th anniversary in Mbombela, Mpumalanga tomorrow. President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the party's January 8th statement to ANC supporters in attendance at Mbombela stadium. Ramaphosa is also likely to use the event as an opportunity to unveil the party's manifesto for this year's national and provincial elections. For the party's state of readiness, Elvis Presslin s...

Some political analysts believe South Africa's genocide case against Israel will likely bolster its International standing and garner support for the ANC ahead of a crucial election this year. South Africa has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Hague accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. More than 20, 000 people have been kil...

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

Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that more than 1 700 official police firearms were stolen between April 2021 and July 2023. Minister Cele was responding to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA). The party says this amounts to 61 firearms stolen every single month, over the last two and a half years. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Shadow Deputy Minister of...

The International Court of Justice will today hear South Africa's genocide case against Israel. South Africa's 84-page submission, filed in December last year, accuses Israel of  genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel in October last year. Oral proceedings on the matter will take place today and tomorrow at the Hague...