First Take SA

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 Joe Biden is expected to announce U.S. support for the African Union's admission to the G20 group of the world's largest economies as a permanent member. It has been reported that Biden will make the announcement during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit which begins tomorrow in Washington. The US says the summit will demonstrate its enduring commitment to Africa and underscore the importanc...

The City of Johannesburg says its disaster management teams remain on high alert as the South African Weather Service forecasts more rain in Gauteng over the next few days. This follows the devastating floods and thunderstorms that lashed Gauteng on Thursday.  Johannesburg's City Power has called for understanding from residents as it battles to keep up with the high demand for reconnections. A nu...

The ANC's Electoral Committee vetting process has disqualified several party bigwigs from contesting for the top six positions or running as additional members of the NEC. Former ANC Women's League President Bathabile Dlamini and former party Chief Whip Tony Yengeni are not eligible to stand for positions in the national executive committee due to their respective criminal convictions. Key ANC lea...

The South African National Editors' Forum, Sanef, and the Helen Suzman Foundation have applied to be admitted as friends of the court, in support of News 24 journalist Karyn Maughan and Advocate Billy Downer. This is as former President Jacob Zuma's private prosecution case against the pair continues today and tomorrow at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg. Zuma launched the prosecution against Ma...

Disgruntled ANC members have lodged disputes with the party's electoral committee objecting to the National Executive Committee list, announced last week. The members who failed to make it onto the list for the 200 nominations for the NEC are demanding access to the total number of branch nominations received per candidate. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Chief Livhuwani Matsila, Head of...

The Koeberg power station's unit 1 will be shut down for normal maintenance for six months, starting today. This as the power utility will continue implementing stage six load shedding until five am tomorrow morning; whereafter it will be reduced to stage five. Eskom says numerous units at power stations have gone down and it is also conserving its emerging diesel reserves that are intended for ba...

The South African Communist Party says it is demanding a full inquest into the assassination of Chris Hani to seek full disclosure of the truth, accountability, and justice. The party said this after it was revealed that Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus has been released on parole. The party further says it will together with its allies and other interested South Africans, continue with its progra...

The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Minister Nathi Mthethwa in collaboration with the Free State government will today officially hand over the Winnie Mandela Museum. The handover will take place in Winnie Mandela town formerly known as Brandfort. The event earlier had to be postponed twice, due to protests by residents against the town name change, citing poor service delivery in...

Parliament has lodged an urgent application to the Constitutional court to ask for another extension for the finalization of the Electoral Amendment bill, until February next year. This is as the Independent Candidates Association contends that the proposed legislation is unconstitutional and plans to challenge its constitutionality in the Constitutional Court. The bill, which came about after a C...

South Africa has less than half the ambulances it needs to meet the country's population service delivery requirements. This was revealed by Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla In a written reply to parliament. According to the minister, 967 ambulances are not in use due to accidents or maintenance and repairs. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to National Health Department Spokesperson, Foster M...

Members of Parliament were today supposed to vote on whether to adopt the section 89 independent panel report. But Parliament's special sitting has now been postponed voting to next week Tuesday. The report found that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have a case to answer with respect to the theft at his Phala Phala farm in 2020. Opposition party leaders in the multi-party forum say they will vote in...

Members of the ANC Women's League in the Western Cape were to picket outside Parliament in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa this morning. This as the National Assembly was expected to debate and vote on the possible establishment of an impeachment committee to probe Ramaphosa today. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC Women's League Western Cape provincial task team spokesperson...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, OUTA has referred a criminal complaint against Deputy President Mabuza to the NPA. The referral asks the NPA's Investigating Directorate to investigate charges of organized crime against Mabuza in connection with an alleged land restitution scam. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage

The EFF in the Western Cape has closed the Hanks Olde Irish Pub due to an alleged racist incident over the weekend. The Hank's Olde Irish is allegedly turning away people of colour unless they are accompanied by a white person. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson Dr. Wandile Kasibe

The fate of Cyril Ramaphosa as President lies in the hands of the ANC - As the party's National Executive Committee will deliberate over the Phala Phala report today. The ANC NEC will discuss the section 89 independent panel's report that found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer regarding the theft on his Phala Phala farm, in Limpopo. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Fikile Vilakazi,...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed he will challenge the section 89 panel report in the Constitutional Court - according to reports. Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the President was seriously considering taking the report on legal review. The section 89 panel report found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer regarding his Phala-Phala Farm robbery in 2020. Magwenya says the pre...

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) has called for a full investigation into the conduct of two members of the Phala Phala panel. SADTU says it will lodge a formal complaint with the Judicial Services Commission against Justices Sandile Ngcobo and Thokozile Masipa. The union says the panel made findings based on hearsay evidence in circumstances where the evidence is wholly inadmi...

The search for missing church members who were swept away in the Jukskei River continues today. 14 people drowned during a baptism ceremony when they were caught by flash floods. Several church members are still missing. For the latest on the search, Elvis Presslin spoke to Johannesburg Emergency Services Spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi

Domestic workers will soon be able to claim compensation for work injuries or diseases as a result of labour - If President Cyril Ramaphosa signs into law the compensation bill. Prior to the bill, domestic workers were excluded from occupational monetary benefits until the Constitutional Court ruled in 2020 that a section of the Compensation Act was invalid. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin...

The National Executive Committee of the ANC is now scheduled to hold a special meeting today. The virtual meeting was meant to take place yesterday to deal with the Phala-Phala Farm saga surrounding President Cyril Ramaphosa. The NEC is set to discuss the Section 89 Panel Report, handed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke t...

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the decision President Cyril Ramaphosa makes has to be informed by the best interests of the country. This follows the release of a scathing Phala Phala panel report that found Ramaphosa had a case to answer for the 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. Ramaphosa did not address the nation last night, contrary to previous expectations. In...

Business Unity South Africa, BUSA says the country cannot afford further erosion of confidence and instability following the release of the scathing Phala Phala report against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The report compiled by the Section 89 panel states there's prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have acted inconsistently with his oath of office. BUSA has called on leaders to be statesmanlike...

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

Janusz Walus, the killer of former SACP General Secretary Chris Hani, will officially be a free man today. The Polish immigrant Janusz Waluś, convicted for the 1993 murder of Hani, was stabbed in prison, on the eve of his release on parole. Last week the Constitutional Court set aside Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola's March 2020 decision to refuse Walus parole, ordering his release wi...