First Take SA

Former General Secretary of COSATU, Mbhazima Shilowa has expressed his concern following tensions among senior leaders of the South African Federation of Trade Unions SAFTU. This as the federation holds its second elective conference in Boksburg, East of Gauteng. During his address to delegates at the conference yesterday, Shilowa urged union members to introspect on where they are as an organizat...

The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) says its members, who are employed by the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) will today officially start their strike action. Nehawu and the Public Servants Association (PSA), are demanding an across-the-board wage increase of 7%. Wage talks between the union and the employer are deadlocked. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

South Africans continue to mourn the death of veteran TV actor Jamie Bartlett. The multi-award-winning actor best known for his role as TV villains Mike O'Reilly in Isidingo on SABC3 and David Genaro in Rhythm City on e.tv died Monday night at the age of 55. For more on Jamie Bartlett's life, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jack Devnarain, a renowned actor and chairperson of the South African Guild of Act...

As the continent marks the annual commemoration of Africa Day today, we focus on the status of migration on the continent and try to find ways how to integrate Africans. Africa's mass migration and displacement are exacerbated by wars, conflicts, politics, famine, and environmental factors such as floods, droughts, and other natural disasters. How can we find a lasting holistic solution to the cha...

The Democratic Alliance says it has learned with dismay of a proposal by the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa the name of the Afrikaanse Taal Monument in Paarl Western Cape province, changed. The DA says the Monument symbolizes the diversity and growth of the Afrikaans language, and changing the name would take away from its historical value. For more on this, Elvis Presslin sp...

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says he supports Sanral's decision to cancel tenders worth over 17 billion Rands. Briefing the media yesterday, Minister Mbalula said the South African National Roads Agency acted in the best interests of the company to maintain good governance in its decision to cancel the tenders. For the latest, Elvis Presslin spoke to Sanral's National spokesperson Mr. Vusi Mo...

A young Russian soldier has been sentenced to life after being found guilty of war crimes by a Ukrainian court. 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin pleaded guilty to killing a 62-year-old Ukrainian man in the northeastern Sumy province during the war between Russia and Ukraine. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Irina Filatova, Professor Emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN...

Time to take 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..

Former Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize has accepted a call by some traditional leaders to run for ANC President. The embattled former Minister was endorsed during his son, Dedani Mkhize's traditional wedding at Willowfontein, Kwa Zulu Natal at the weekend, ahead of the ANC's National Elective Conference in December this year. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst Dr. Levy Nd...

eThekwini municipality, in KZN has activated its disaster management plan after the South African Weather Service upgraded its weather warning for heavy rains and floods to the highest possible level. At least 440 people died in last month's flooding that hit the municipality particularly hard. Parts of the Metro have again suffered massive damage including uMdloti. For the latest update, Elvis Pr...

Israel and Switzerland have become the latest countries to confirm cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of nations reporting outbreaks to 14. More than 80 cases have been confirmed in the recent outbreak in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia. The World Health Organization says another 50 suspected cases are being investigated and warned that more infections are likely to be confirmed....

The Foreign Press Association Africa has expressed its displeasure against media outlets using images of black people alongside stories of the Monkeypox outbreak in America and Europe. The association says it condemns the perpetuation of this negative stereotype that assigns calamity to the African race and privilege or immunity to other races. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Kennedy Wan...

The Portfolio Committee on police has adopted a report on the Criminal Law Forensic Procedure Amendment Bill. When enacted the Bill will see mandatory DNA samples taken from inmates convicted of crimes under schedule 8 offenses which include rape, murder, human trafficking, robbery, and culpable homicide. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Ian Cameron, the Director for Community Safety at A...

The alleged Stellenbosch University student rapist, who was arrested yesterday (Thursday) morning, is out on 1-thousand rand bail. The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that the student made a brief appearance in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on two counts of rape. His case was postponed until 29 June 2022 for further investigation.  This, as students at the University, have...

The Reserve Bank has after a meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee decided to increase the repo rate by 50 basis points. The bank revised its headline inflation forecast to 5.9 percent from 5.8. Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago defended the MPC's decision to hike rates by 50 basis points by arguing that the bank cannot act when inflationary pressures are out of control. The increase also...

Time to take 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

Rape and murder accused Abraham Mtsweni is expected to know his fate in the Western Cape High Court next week. Mtsweni - a Pastor's son, stands accused of raping and killing his girlfriend, Sesi Sibanyoni, inside her flat in Maitland, Cape Town in July 2019. For more on the trial, Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate Jonas Sibanyoni, the father of Sesi Sibanyoni

Two former City of Ekurhuleni officials and a businessman have been jailed for tender fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The two former officials; Nilesh Singh, Andrew Mphushomadi, and businessman Velero David were sentenced and convicted yesterday for an I.T tender fraud amounting to 21-point-8 million rands. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Kaizer Kganyago, Spokesperson for the Sp...

The Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs says more than 60 municipalities have been deemed dysfunctional and 100 or more others in danger due to financial distress. Speaking at the budget tabling in Parliament, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said about 43 municipalities need to be put under mandatory administration. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Independent...

The office of the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has laid charges against the City of Johannesburg over the appointment of Head of Anti-Corruption Unit Shadrack Sibiya. The Public Protector has accused the city of concealing critical information with regard to Sibiya's appointment to the unit. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to City of Johannesburg Mayoral Spokesperson, Mabine Se...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) says the 300 million rand remuneration package paid by Sibanye Stillwater to its Chief Executive Officer CEO, Neal Froneman, is a typical indicator of why the wage gap between workers and directors is wide. Neal Froneman has meanwhile defended the payment, saying the package consists mostly of long-term share incentives and the process was trans...

Great North Transport employees have reportedly been left high and dry as they found out that over R300 Million in their pension funds have disappeared. The company is reported to have failed to pay their contributions to the pension fund administrators for over 17 years even though they were deducting from employees salaries. About 800 employees are said to be affected by the money loss. To furth...

The South African government is reportedly planning to donate a quarter of a billion Rands instead of the initially reported 50 million to Cuba. This was revealed after Afriforum's legal team requested the court record as part of its review application case against the R50 million Cuba donation. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance, DA says they will write to the Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsa...

Stellenbosch University has suspended a white student caught on video urinating on a black peer's belongings. The Incident captured on a cellphone reportedly happened in the Huis Marais residence on the University's campus at the weekend. Stellenbosch University say they "strongly condemn the destructive, hurtful and racist incident". Students have since been protesting against racism at the Insti...

The Automobile Association (AA) says petrol is expected to Increase drastically by up to R1.97 a litre and diesel by up to R1.62 a litre in June. When we speak about fuel hikes, the focus is predominantly on the Impact it will have on motorists and commuters, but what impact does this eminent hike have on Indivdiuals or businesses in the fuel industry, particulary someone who owns a fuel station?...