First Take SA

The South African agricultural sector is being warned to prepare and plan as forecasts indicate a higher probability of an El Niño state developing. Scientists say all indications are that Southern Africa should expect to feel the heat of another El Niño spell in a few months to come. The El Niño climate pattern is characterized by drier conditions with less rainfall and warmer weather and can lea...

The ANC has rejected comments made by expelled former Secretary General Ace Magashule that he had not received any communication from the party that he provide reasons to the national disciplinary committee why he should not be expelled. Magashule missed the deadline to oppose disciplinary findings against him on charges of misconduct and bringing the party into disrepute. This relates to his unsa...

South Africa could import up to 1000 megawatts of electricity from Mozambique which could see load shedding reduced by one stage in terms of long-term power plans. This comes after South Africa secured 100 megawatts of electricity from Mozambique in the short term. The latest cross-border power purchasing agreement between the two countries is one of the three emergency procurement programs aimed...

Time to take 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...

Parents in the Eastern Cape have urged the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to reconsider a clause in the Basic Education Laws Bill that provides for the possession, consumption, and sale of liquor on school premises during any private or religious function. The committee held public hearings on the bill over the weekend in Komani as part of its three-leg hearings. Teachers have also highlig...

Police in Gauteng are investigating the death of a 12-year-old girl who was shot in Westbury, west of Johannesburg. The girl was believed to have been at a friend's birthday party when the suspects began firing shots. On Friday,  National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, revealed that there has been a notable decrease in gang-related crime in the area, since the Ministerial interventi...

The Council for Geoscience has urged the public to be vigilant as there is a likelihood of aftershocks following yesterday's earth tremor. The council says the seismic event was moderately larger with a 4-point-4 magnitude. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Manager of Minerals and Energy at the Council for Geoscience, Dr. Taufeeq Dhansay

The Free State has recorded a second cholera death. A woman from Parys is the second person confirmed dead by the provincial health department - Bringing the death toll from the cholera outbreak in South Africa to 32. At least 29 deaths occurred in the Hammanskraal area north of Pretoria. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Free State Department of Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi

Staff and students at the University of Cape Town have started a petition to prevent Kenyan scholar Professor Patrick Lumumba from addressing the EFF's upcoming 10th-anniversary lecture. The EFF invited the academic to give a lecture at UCT. The party is now facing backlash for its decision after Lumumba publicly endorsed the signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, which the EFF marched...

The road freight industry says the decision to extend the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits may further exacerbate tensions between local and foreign truck drivers. The special permit was due to end on the 30th of June - but has been extended to the 31st of December this year by Home Affairs. The ZEP permit allows its holders and their children temporary legal status to live, work and study...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has welcomed Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana's withdrawal of Treasury's decision to exempt Eskom from comprehensively reporting on irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure in its financial statements. The federation says it appreciates that the government listened and conceded to the public outcry against the decision. For more on this,...

Time to take 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

There has been a new twist in the parliamentary inquiry into the fitness of Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold the office of Public Protector. She has once again called for the recusal of inquiry chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi. This follows allegations that he and two senior ANC members, the late MP Tina Joemat-Pettesson and Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina had solicited a bribery from her. It has also been reveal...

ActionSA has filed a motion of no confidence proposing to remove City of Johannesburg Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda. The party says Gwamanda cannot be allowed to continue governing a city with an R70 billion budget because of the fraud allegations he faces. Allegations against Gwamanda, surfaced in which his entity allegedly scammed innocent residents into investing in a funeral-investment scheme. His ed...

The Independent Electoral Commission, IEC has warned job seekers not to fall victim to online job advertisement scams in the name of the Commission ahead of next year's general elections. The Commission says various online scams are currently circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms trying to trick unsuspecting job seekers into revealing personal information. To discuss this furthe...

The South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union, SACCAWU has finally reached a wage settlement with Massmart. SACCAWU has accepted a salary increase of R450 a month or 4.5%, whichever is greater for the period 2022 to 2023 and a 5% increase for the 2023 to 2024 period. The union and the Massmart Group subsidiary have been locking horns for over a year over Saccawu's wage demands. S...

About 45 municipalities across the country could face criminal charges after the Water and Sanitation Department issued them with notices of lack of compliance. According to the Interim Blue, Green, and No Drop Watch Reports released in Pretoria, these municipalities failed to supply clean, quality drinkable water to communities. They also failed to maintain their wastewater treatment plants as re...

The Transport Department has fired PRASA Board Member and Chairperson, Leonard Ramatlakane. Ramatlakane's dismissal follows an investigation into the misuse of one of the state-owned enterprise's properties in Cape Town by the Chairperson without due process being followed. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Transport Ministry Spokesperson, Collen Msibi

Farmers have voiced their concern that the proposed water licensing regulations will have a devastating effect on South Africa's commercial agricultural sector if adopted in their current form. This as civil rights organization AfriForum and its legal team are preparing comments against the intended changes to water legislation. This is after the Department of Water and Sanitation published revise...

Former cabinet Minister and ANC MP Tina Joemat-Petterson has died at the age of 59-year. Joemat-Pettersson was currently serving as a Member of Parliament and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police. The cause of her death has yet to be announced. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri

Two educators and a Principal from Bonkolo senior secondary school in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape, have been suspended by the Department of Education. The trio are accused of being involved in the impregnation of learners at the school. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson, Mali Mtima

Time to take 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.

The African Christian Democratic Party, ACDP will today meet with the Mayor of the Magareng Local Municipality about the water crisis in Warrenton, in the Northern Cape. The area of Warrenton has reportedly been without a stable water supply for almost four months. The ACDP delegation plans to visit the Vaal River bank as well as the Warrenton Wastewater Treatment Plant ahead of their meeting. For...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU is calling for the arrest of an Eskom executive suspected of sabotaging power stations. This follows reports that police are looking to arrest an Eskom executive working in cahoots with auditors and engineers to ensure breakdowns are various power stations. SAFTU further demands that all assets of those involved implicated should be attached to r...

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development intends to establish a special fund for whistle-blowers facing financial troubles arising from their decisions to expose corruption and wrongdoing