First Take SA

Leader of the Congress Of the People (COPE) Mosiua Lekota is calling for change to the electoral system. Lekota says the constitution should be amended so voters can directly vote for a candidate of their choice to lead the country. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to COPE acting general secretary, Erick Mohlapamaswi

Former police minister Nathi Nhleko has reportedly lashed out at ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula over his Nkandla fire pool remarks. Nhleko, who served as Minister under former President Jacob Zuma's administration and presided over security upgrades at his private Nkandla residence is reportedly heard on a leaked Whatsapp voice note saying Mbalula is the worst secretary general since the par...

The UN Human Rights Council will today elect its new President from two competing African States - Morocco and South Africa. Moroccan Ambassador Omar Zniber and South African Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi have been nominated for the position of President of the Council. The candidate with the most votes will occupy the year-long term to manage proceedings of the United Nations' premier human rights bod...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS has welcomed the Labour Court's decision to reject its axed CEO's bid for reinstatement. Andile Nongogo was fired after corruption allegations emerged involving four NSFAS service providers who were awarded tenders irregularly. This as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is calling for the resignation of Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzi...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the management of mining company Impala Platinum has withdrawn the suspension notices it had issued against some workers for their involvement in a three-day sit-in underground last month. Employees have been protesting over a number of issues including pension funds and the employee share scheme. Some workers were expected to report back at work last n...

The South African National Civic Organisation, SANCO says its national leadership will meet with former President Jacob Zuma following his decision to support the newly formed Umkhonto Wesizwe party. The civic organization says no SANCO member can campaign for another political party either than the ANC. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to SANCO President Richard Mkhungo

Gold One has fired 401 mine workers following an illegal strike. The miners were dismissed for taking part in the illegal underground strike last year at the company's Modder East operation in Springs, Gauteng. Workers downed tools due to a labour dispute over organising rights at the mine, leading to over 500 workers staging a sit-in underground. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Krister...

The Competition Commission says it is inundated with complaints from parents who are forced by schools to buy school uniform from exclusively selected suppliers. Parents say they are still forced to buy prescribed mandatory school uniforms from exorbitant pre-selected suppliers of school uniform. The Commission says parents must be given options when purchasing uniforms. For more on this Elvis Pre...

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

Four additional suspects are expected to appear before the Soshanguve Magistrates' court today for a New Year's day mass shooting in Jukulyn. 14-year-old Vuyolwethu Ziwela, her uncle Mpho Kgobotlo and  two of his friends including a police officer were shot dead by armed gunmen after ushering in the New Year. The four suspects join two others who have already appeared in the same court on charges...

Political party Xiluva is calling for clarity from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on submission of signatures for this year's national elections. The party says without clear instructions on the process and deadline, new entrants are placed at a disadvantage. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Xiluva President, Bongani Baloyi

The African National Congress, ANC turns 112 today. The party was founded on the 8th of January 1912 in Bloemfontein and is the oldest liberation movement in Africa. ANC members are already gathering for this weekend's 112th birthday celebrations in Mbombela, Mpumlanga. The gathering comes at a time when the governing party - Which has been in power since the dawn of democracy in 1994 - faces elec...

The FF Plus is calling for an urgent meeting with Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education following allegations of corruption at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.  Leaked voice recordings by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) implicates Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa in alleged corruption and bribery claims...

Disaster teams are conducting assessments after inclement weather hit several parts of KwaZulu Natal in December, last year. The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance says 40 people died during the festive season due to floods that battered the province. For an update Elvis Presslin spoke to KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi

The United States has expressed concern following comments by Burundian President General Évariste Ndayishimiye calling on citizens to stone same-sex couples in the country. Homosexuality is illegal in Burundi and punishable by imprisonment for a term of up 2 year. Homosexuality is also illegal in other countries in the region, including Uganda. For reaction to this, Elvis Presslin spoke to South...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says municipalities must be punished for poor budgeting. Outa wants officials to be held accountable for poor financial management and failure to deliver services to communities. The organisation also highlights that municipalities face a R200 billion annual shortfall if the lack of revenue collection continues as it did between July and September. For mor...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will seek leave to appeal the ruling by the High Court in Pretoria that set aside his recognition of the Zulu Monarch, Misuzulu. The Court found Ramaphosa did not follow due processes in accordance with customary law and traditions when issuing the certification to Misuzulu as king. The president has since been ordered to appoint an investigative committee to probe the ma...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today officiate the passing-out parade of new police officers in Kimberley, Northern Cape. Today's parade is one of several ceremonies taking place in seven provinces this week. 10 000 new officers are expected to graduate from various police academies this week after completing their basic training. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to National Police Spokespers...

Political party Xiluva will challenge the appointment of Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as Traffic Officers in court. This after Justice Minister Ronald Lamola granted the wardens dubbed amaPanyaza, the same legal status as provincial traffic officers. Police experts have raised concern over the legitimacy of the 6,000 wardens appointed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi earlier this year. For mo...

A report by American health information provider, Healthline Media, has revealed that social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression, especially during the holidays season. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) says there are a lot of people who feel lonely over the festive season. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tracy Feinstein, Call Centre Manager at th...

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's crime prevention wardens have been granted peace officer status. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has granted the wardens dubbed amaPanyaza the same legal status as provincial traffic officers. This follows fierce debates over the legitimacy of the 6,000 wardens who were appointed earlier this year to assist police. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Gauteng Pr...

Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato will host his Zimbabwean counterpart during a bilateral visit to South Africa today. The visit aims to showcase South Africa's model of administration and border management coordination. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Border Management Authority Commissioner, Dr. Michael Masiapato

Civil society organisations have raised concern over South Africa's efforts to increase nuclear power capacity. This after Electricity Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced a procurement process for 2500 megawatts of nuclear power to form part of additional generation capacity. Briefing the media in Pretoria yesterday Dr. Ramokgopa says the new nuclear procurement determination is in the p...

At least eight senior Eastern Cape government officials are out on bail after appearing in court on corruption charges. The suspects appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrates' Court over a fraudulent R20-million tender for the procurement of 72 temporary classrooms and furniture. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to NPA provincial Spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has called for an end to the discrimination against athlete Caster Semenya. Semenya has been frozen out of the sport for refusing to take medicine to lower her testosterone levels. The commission says there are still many discriminatory hurdles that intersex persons must overcome. This as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made a ruling on the Caster...