First Take SA

Former SABC acting CEO Jimmy Matthews was responsible for the sacking of eight journalists in July 2016. This is according to Former SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng's legal representative Thabani Masuku. Masuku argued in the Labour Court in Johannesburg today that his client should not be held be personally liable for the wrongful dismissal of eight journalists. Masuku made reference to the SABC's for...

There are unconfirmed reports that Lesotho's army commander has been killed in a gunfight with two rival military officers who also died. It is reported that Defense Minister Sentje Lebona confirmed the death this morning. Witnesses say the gunfight happened after the two officers forced their way into Motsomotso's office at a military barracks. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter in Lesotho, R...

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says IntelliMali managers need to get to the bottom of a blunder that resulted in a NSFAS student receiving 14 million rand. The Walter Sisulu student went on a frivolous spending spree, spending more than 800-thousand rand of the amount. Nzimande says he has commissioned an investigation into the matter and wants IntelliMali to deal with the employees resp...

Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has ordered Eskom to sign the independent power producer (IPP) power purchase agreements (PPAs) by the end of October. Eskom refused to sign the agreements in 2016 because it said it had an over supply of electricity and would be paying for more electricity it did not need. Elvis Presslin spoke to Deputy Minister of Energy Thembi Majola...

As Highway Africa conference wraps up, one of the issues that have become topical in SA, the emergence of "black Twitter" was on the spotlight. In one of the plenary sessions this morning, Dr Shepherd Mpofu from the University of Johannesburg made a presentation titled, Jesus Comes to South Africa: Black Twitter and Politics. Black twitter is widely considered a community of users that tweet about...

Kenya's Supreme Court has ordered the a re-run of presidential poll. The court found that the electoral board committed irregularities and illegalities during last month's presidential vote harming the integrity of the election that handed President Uhuru Kenyatta a second five-year term. Elvis Presslin spoke to our East Africa Correspondent, Sarah Kimani...

The bodies of the last two missing miners at Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville have been recovered. The two were the last of five miners who were unaccounted after a seismic event at the mine last Friday. The mine says all of the employees who were trapped underground, are now accounted for. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Investor Relations Manager at Harmony Gold, Lauren Fourie

Labour federation Cosatu says it will be embarking on a nationwide strike against corruption, state capture and job losses. The strike is to be held on the 27th of September. The labour federation says it plans to shut down economic sectors in all nine provinces. Elvis Presslin spoke to Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali

Award-winning international and local authors will share their secrets to writing and engage on a range of thought-provoking topics during this year's Open Book Festival. Hosted by the Book Lounge and the Fugard Theatre, the festival will take place in Cape Town from the 06th to the 10th of September Organisers say this year's edition presents a world-class selection of panel discussions, readings...

The Competition Commission will work with banks offering to cooperate in a case into alleged rigging of the rand. The announcement by the Competition Commission is a blow to banks that have discreetly approached the watchdog for a settlement. The Commission recommended fines amounting to ten percent of the more than a dozen local and foreign banks' South African revenues. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to...

30 learners at Bothitong High School outside Kuruman in the Northern Cape Province are allegedly pregnant. Learners are accusing male teachers at the school of impregnating them. Some teachers are said to be having sex with more than three learners at any given period. The learners are allegedly paid stipends for having unprotected sex with the teachers. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter Neo...

The new 2018-2022 National Drug Master Plan is currently being developed through a consultative national process between stakeholders from government, civil society and substance abusers. The Master Plan aims to prevent and reduce the abuse of alcohol and substances, as well as counter its associated social and economic consequences on South African society. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr. David Bay...

1.8 million HIV-infected people will die over the next 10 years in South Africa if US President Donald Trump cut foreign aid supporting HIV/AIDS treatment. This is according to a global study by the Annals of Internal Medicine. According to scientists and researchers globaly; sky-rocketing deaths in the African nations would far outweigh savings. The President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEP...

Treatment of psychiatric patients in Gauteng hospitals still remains a challenge. DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom says Gauteng public hospitals admits thousands of psychiatric patients but many of them end up being placed in ordinary wards with other patients. Bloom says many hospitals have no dedicated psychiatric wards but still accept large numbers of psychiatric patients. Tsepiso Makw...

The search for two miners still trapped underground at harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine near carletonville on Gauteng's West rand continues. The body of the third miner was brought to surface yesterday morning. About three thousand mine workers were underground when a tremor caused part of the mine to collapse. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Investor Relations Manager at Harmony Gold Mining Company,...

The Eskom board is meeting to discuss reports that global management consultancy Oliver Wyman had red-flagged the payments made to financial advisory firm Trillian and global business consultancy McKinsey. The power utility board, in a statement, indicated that the main objective of the meeting is to find a lasting solution to stem negative coverage. Meanwhile, the DA says it will be writing to th...

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting a summit with several European and African leaders in a bid to strengthen efforts to curb migrant flows across the Mediterranean. Leaders from Chad, Niger, Libya,Germany, Italy and Spain will from part of the talks. The spotlight will be on Chad, Niger and Libya, which are the major transit countries for migrants who risk their lives trying to reach Euro...

Three City of Johannesburg theatres are reviewing their security measures following a fatal shooting at the Hillbrow theatre at the weekend. A man opened fire on patrons while watching a musical show, killing one person and wounding eight others. This is after he complained about his cellphone being stolen. Police have launched a manhunt for the alleged shooter who fled on foot immediately after t...

The search continues for two miners still trapped underground at Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville on Gauteng's West Rand. The body of a third mine worker was brought to the surface earlier today. Two other bodies were also found and brought to the surface over the weekend. About three-thousand mine workers were working underground when a tremor caused part of the mine to collapse...

The Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Athol Trollip says they will not re-instate Mongameli Bobani as Deputy Mayor. This, after the United Democratic Movement (UDM) gave the DA an ultimatum to re-instate Bobani by the close of business today or they'll no longer be part of the coalition. Bobani has been voted out of office in a no confidence ballot. He is accused of, among other things, voting wi...

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say they view the removal of Mongameli Bobani as Nelson Mandela Bay deputy-mayor as bullying by the Democratic Alliance.. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to EFF National Spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

Eight City of Johannesburg employees working at the City's revenue department at Thuso House have been arrested for their alleged involvement in issuing fraudulent refunds on properties. A total of 17 officials have been accused of defrauding the city of 2.5 million rand. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba...

President Jacob Zuma has finally authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate issues at the SABC. There had been criticism from opposition parties and some civil society groups that Zuma was stalling the process of appointing the SIU. They said Zuma was stalling in a bid to protect axed COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, former Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and others. Tsepiso Makwetla sp...

Angolans yesterday voted in elections that will mark the end of President José Eduardo dos Santos's rule. The veteran leader steps down after nearly four decades in power. Counting is currently underway with results expected to be finalised tomorrow. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Angolan an anti-corruption activist and investigative journalist, Rafael Marques de Morais

The high court sitting in Middelburg, Mpumalanga has found Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson who shoved Victor Mlotshwa into a coffin last year and threatened to burn him alive, were found guilty on seven counts including attempted murder, kidnapping and assault. Judge Segopotje Mphahlele handed down judgment in Middelburg, Mpumalanga this afternoon. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter, Abongi...