First Take SA

The South African National Defence Union (SANDU) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that he has authorised the deployed 3,300 soldiers to assist police in the fight against illegal mining.  The presidency says Ramaphosa set out the deployment including the cost of approximately R490-million to the National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Chairperson of the Nati...

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is threatening legal action against Thuja holdings CEO, Mthunzi Mdwaba following allegations of bribery against him. Mdwaba accused Godongwana and other top ANC officials of soliciting a R500 million bribe from a dodgy R5 billion Job creation project with the Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF.  Minister Godongwana has given Mdwaba 7 days to publicly withdraw his al...

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says disbanding the Scorpions was the "worst decision ever" in the fight against corruption. Zondo was speaking at the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council's national dialogue in Boksburg, Johannesburg. The Scorpions, an elite crimefighters unit was established by former President Thabo Mbeki in 1999 to fight high-profile corruption cases. The Unit was eventually d...

The Health Department has assured the public that a Diphtheria outbreak at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Cape Town, is under control. This follows the death of a 19-year-old inmate more than a week ago. Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says public health measures were undertaken to contain the outbreak. 

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories wtih 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,

 A third suspect arrested in connection for theft on President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm is expected to appear in the Bela Bela Magistrate's Court today. The suspect's arrest follows that of two other suspects; Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph. The trio are accused of stealing foreign currency from Ramaphosa's farm in Limpopo in February 2020. For more on this we spoke to Limpopo NPA s...

The African Council of Hawkers and Informal Businesses says government's decision to inspect and audit foreign spaza shops has come too late. This follows concerns over the recent surge in food poisoning incidents among children. The council says the damage has already been done to the local economy. It says government should work with traditional authorities to root out the manufacturing and sale...

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), in KwaZulu-Natal is calling for a motion of no confidence in eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda. This follows the City's failure to spend a conditional grant from national treasury of one-point two billion rand for disaster recovery projects. The IFP in the Durban Metro say Kaunda must resign or face a motion of no-confidence in the metro council. For more on this we s...

More than 20 small-scale famers in Thaba Nchu in the Free State province, are demanding 22 million rand that they say was promised to them by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. The farmers allege that they never received the funds after they were identified as beneficiaries for assistance and support. They say their efforts to engage with the department have yielded...

Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda says he is studying a court judgment which nullified the appointment of City Manager Floyd Brink. The High court yesterday ruled Brink's appointment unlawful. The Democratic Alliance challenged Brink's appointment earlier this year claiming due process was not followed. For more on this had Prince Mlimandlela Ndamase, Communications Advisor to Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council's National Dialogue on building a corruption-free South Africa. The Council appointed by the President last year, is a multi-sectoral partnership to oversee the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. The two-day dialogue will take place at the B...

Police are still searching for suspects who robbed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and her bodyguards on the N3 on Monday. The Minister and her protectors were robbed at gun-point after her vehicle stopped on the N3 highway between Heidelberg and Vosloorus to change a burst tyre. The criminals stole laptops, a phone and weapons from the Minister's bodyguards. To further discuss this further,...

The month of November marks Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM). The theme for this year is 'Consolidate and Accelerate Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the Future'.  South Africa joins the rest of the world in commemorating the Awareness Month annually between 3 November and 3 December. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Vice President of Blind SA, Christo de Klerk

Two suspects arrested in connection with the theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's PhalaPhala farm will appear in the Bela Bela Magistrates court today. One suspect was arrested in Rustenburg on Sunday while the second suspect was apprehended in Bela Bela yesterday. An undisclosed amount of foreign currency allegedly hidden under a couch were stolen in 2020 on Ramaphosa's Limpopo farm. For more on...

The Democratic Alliance says Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi must account to Parliament on the dodgy 5-billion-rand Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) deal. The party has written to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour requesting that Minister Nxesi appear before the committee. The DA want the minister to account for the dodgy job creation deal between Thuja Capital and...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories wtih 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

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has called for an urgent meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa over cabinet's decision to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv. This amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni announced Cabinet decided that South Africa's diplomats in Isreal be withdrawn for further consultation on the situation in Gaz...

With the energy crisis in South Africa, many people have become accustomed to finding alternative ways to source energy from solar panels and generators. However, while many South Africans have become accustomed to the realities of load shedding, many are still concerned and skeptical of alternative modes of mobility. Audi South Africa says the prospect of electric vehicle (EV) ownership and adopt...

DA leader, John Steenhuisen says internal polls shows, that the 8 party coalition - can garner 50% of the votes in KwaZulu-Natal in next year's elections. Speaking at the DA's first 2024 election campaign rally, Steenhuisen says it is within the coalition's reach to win the national election. This as 3 independent polls put the ANC's support nationally between 41 and 45%. The DA kicked off their e...

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says plans are at an advanced stage to release the long awaited Integrated Resource Plan. Ramokgopa was briefing the public on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. He says the electricity infrastructure plan which speaks to multiple sources of energy will help mitigate against load shedding and safeguard the country's economy. This comes amid con...

The Transformation Alliance (TTA) has welcomed the Public Protector's report on the Hammanskraal water crisis. Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found that the City of Tshwane failed to supply Hammanskraal residents with clean water. The TTA says it lodged a complaint with the Public Protector last month, against the City of Tshwane Municipality following an admission by the City's Counci...

Democratic Alliance, DA shadow Public Enterprises Minister Ghaleb Cachalia has been removed from the party's shadow Cabinet, over his views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Cachalia tweeted that he "will not be silenced" and that "Israel is committing genocide". The decision to remove Cachalia was communicated through a leaked letter from DA leader John Steenhuisen. For more on this, Elvis Pressli...

Former University of Cape Town, UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng is considering legal action following a damning report by the University against her. The report found Phakeng and Council chairperson, Babalwa Ngonyama, guilty of serious governance failures at the institution. Professor Phakeng says she will study the report further with her legal team as it is inaccurate and potent...

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

Gold One Mine has reportedly suspended 34 mineworkers who held 500 fellow colleagues hostage underground in the East Rand last week. The miners were suspended earlier this week and will face internal disciplinary proceedings. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Gold One Mine Head of Legal, Ziyaad Hassam