First Take SA

The Democratic Alliance, DA will today lead a picket outside the ministerial estate, in Bryntirion, Tshwane against the "luxurious" lifestyles of Ministers. The party has accused Ministers and Deputy Ministers in President Cyril Ramaphosa's Cabinet of living like rockstars while ordinary citizens endure load shedding, crime, poverty, and the spiraling costs of living. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA le...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS has promised to intervene in the ongoing accommodation crisis following widespread protests by students at several universities. Students from Wits, UKZN and TUT have been protesting over NSFAS' R45 000 cap for residence, financial and academic exclusion. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to NSFAS spokesperson Slumezi Skosana

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the violent nature of Nehawu's wage strike at various health facilities is unacceptable. Ramaphosa lashed out at the union during his oral reply session in Parliament yesterday. Reports of intimidation against health workers and a recent preliminary report indicate that the death of at least four people can be linked to the wage strike. Ramaphosa has called on striki...

The multi-party coalition in Tshwane is investigating the authenticity of a certificate of rehabilitation submitted by Dr. Murunwa Makwarela. This was after he was reinstated as Mayor after providing a certificate of rehabilitation. Makwarela was disqualified and removed from office this week for failure to present evidence of a rehabilitation process following a 2016 insolvency declaration agains...

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

Gauteng police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following the death of a three-year-old toddler at the Little Ashford Centre in Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg. The toddler reportedly died after a bookshelf fell on him. Our senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane about what the preschool is saying about the circumstances surrounding the incident

Some doctors and patients were barred from entering hospitals by striking workers affiliated with Nehawu as the union's wage strike continues. The nationwide strike has affected various health services at public facilities such as Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where doctors and patients were prevented from entering. The nationwide strike will enter its...

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, PAC will join the EFF's national shutdown on the 20th of March this month. The EFF has been gaining support for its planned protest against load-shedding and service delivery issues from different organizations. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jaki Seroke, the PAC's Secretary for Publicity and Information

Former BOSASA COO Angelo Agrizzi is expected to appear virtually before the Pretoria High Court for an inquiry into his fitness to stand trial. The court will this morning hear arguments on whether corruption-accused Agrizzi, can stand trial. Agrizzi, who is charged alongside former ANC MP Vincent Smith was arrested in 2020 on fraud and corruption charges. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

The City of Tshwane is without an executive mayor yet again - Cope councilor, Dr. Murunwa Makwarela has been disqualified as Proportional Representative Councillor, leaving the City without a mayor. Makwarela was elected Mayor last Tuesday. The disqualification is in terms of section 158 of the Constitution. Makwarela was declared insolvent in 2016 and according to the Constitution, a person who i...

Environmental activists have accused Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe of blocking efforts to bring renewable energy online. Greenpeace Africa activists yesterday disrupted Mantashe's address at the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, urging him to end load shedding by shifting away from coal to renewable energy. For more, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Makhosonke Buthelezi, the Na...

Striking members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, NEHAWU have been accused of disrupting critical health services during their wage strike. Patients were reportedly refused entry at some hospitals and Home Affairs offices were closed down by striking workers. Workers affiliated with the union are demanding an increase of at least 10% while the government is offering 4.7%...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the reconfiguration of his new cabinet. Last night Ramaphosa appointed Paul Mashatile as his deputy president and Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa as Minister of electricity in the Presidency among other appointments. Ministers Nathi Mthethwa, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and Lindiwe Sisulu have been booted out. For reaction to the President's new executive, Elvis Pressl...

Activities on President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo have come under scrutiny once again. This is in the wake of the confirmation by the South African Revenue Service, SARS that it has no record of and cannot find any record that Sudanese businessman, Hazim Mustafa declared the 580 thousand U.S dollars he brought into South Africa in 2019. Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson, Vin...

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...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce the changes to his cabinet this evening at 7 pm. Pressure has been mounting on Ramaphosa to fill vacant positions in his executive, including appointing a deputy president, following the resignation of David Mabuza. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Governance Specialist and Political Analyst, Sandile Swana

The National Education Health Workers Union, Nehawu is going ahead with its planned public service strike today. This after the union appealed a court order obtained by the Department of Public Service and Administration to interdict today's strike. Nehawu and other public sector unions have been locked in a long-standing battle with the government over wages. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spok...

Trade union federation SAFTU will today lay criminal charges against former Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter. This after de Ruyter failed to respond to SAFTU's letter to report information on alleged criminal activities at Eskom to authorities. SAFTU also wants de Ruyter to reveal the identity of the Minister he alluded to during a TV interview - accused of aiding and abetting corruption at the power uti...

Veteran broadcaster Mark Pilgrim has succumbed to his battle with cancer. The 53-year-old former 5FM and SABC television presenter reportedly died peacefully at his home in the presence of his fiancée Adrienne. Pilgrim had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which he revealed last year. For more on Mark Pilgrim's life Elvis Presslin spoke to his friend and former colleague at SABC, Mr. Ash...

Scientists have warned that more needs to be done to treat the cause of the invasive water hyacinth that has exploded on the Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West province. They have called on authorities to tighten regulations on wastewater management in order to deal with the problem. The dam used to attract countless tourists due to its scenic landscapes and recreational water sports. Now, visito...

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says there is a sense of urgency on President Ramaphosa's part to fill vacancies that currently exist in his cabinet and he will do so in the next few days. Magwenya was briefing the media at the Union Building in Pretoria on the president's weekly diary. Magwenya's briefing comes just hours after the resignation of David Mabuza as a Member of Parliamen...

Community members in Gqeberha say they are still struggling to access diabetes medicine in public health facilities. The health department recently said there was no shortage of insulin at its facilities after communities complained of being turned back as there was no stock. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Board Member of Diabetes South Africa PE, Megan Soanes

As South Africans grapple with the reality of the energy crisis, power utility Eskom is today marking one hundred years since its establishment. Eskom has been powering the nation since 1923 when the Electricity Supply Commission was instituted. Currently, with small businesses struggling to stay afloat, traffic lights not working and households frustrated due to the continuous power outages - do...

Cilliers Brink, Leader of the DA caucus in Tshwane lost to Cope's Dr. Murunwa Makwarela at a special meeting to vote for a mayor following the resignation of DA councilor Randall Williams. Elvis Presslin spoke to Cilliers Brink about this...

Former City of Tshwane speaker and Cope councilor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela has been elected as the new mayor. Makwarela received 112 votes while the DA's Cillier Brink got 101 votes. Yesterday the Tshwane council convened a special meeting to vote for a mayor following the resignation of DA councilor Randall Williams. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela