First Take SA

South Africa's private healthcare sector faces scrutiny over high costs, attributed to a lack of regulation. Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi plans to establish an interim board to oversee the supply chain and curb excessive spending, amid revelations that billions of rands are spent on administrators rather than patients. To delve deeper into this issue, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Cedric Sih...

The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has welcomed a provisional report by the Competition Commission, which found that tech giants Meta, Google, X, and YouTube have significantly harmed South Africa's media industry. This after the Commission ordered Google to pay local news outlets up to R500 million annually in compensation for using their content. For reaction Elvis Presslin spoke...

Elvis Presslin takes 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 South African National Defence Union, SANDU has dismissed reports that 190 South African soldiers have been wounded in Eastern DRC, insisting that the actual number is significantly lower. As South African troops continue their deployment in the DRC, concerns are growing about the well-being of injured soldiers who are allegedly stuck and unable to be repatriated. To shed more light on this si...

The Freedom Park will today commemorate the 44th Anniversary of the Matola raid, a brutal cross-border attack by apartheid forces in Matola, Mozambique, that claimed the lives of 15 liberation struggle stalwarts. To delve deeper into the significance of this event, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park

Eskom has announced that it may reduce the current Stage 6 loadshedding to a lower stage today. The reprieve comes after the utility managed to restore units at the Majuba, Medupi, and Camden power stations, which had failed, causing the country to plunge into darkness since Friday. To discuss the implications of this development Elvis Presslin spoke to Kevin Mileham, DA Spokesperson on Electricit...

The South African business community is warning about the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing load shedding crisis, as all sectors of the economy prepare for a potentially debilitating impact. The recent escalation to Stage 6 load shedding has already begun to severely disrupt business operations nationwide, causing widespread uncertainty and concern. Although Electricity Minister Kgotsietso...

The Inkatha Freedom Party, IFP, will today be protesting against the possible liquidation of Ithala bank in KZN. The IFP has joined other political parties in condemning the Prudential Authority's plan to liquidate the bank, citing its crucial role as the backbone of the black economy. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to IFP National spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa

ActionSA has strongly condemned the recent criticism of SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, labeling it a "parochial political attack". This criticism comes after Commissioner Kieswetter expressed opposition to tax hikes and advocated for proper resourcing of SARS. Elvis Presslin spoke to Alan Beesley, ActionSA Member of Parliament and Member of the Standing C...

The Democratic Alliance is calling for the immediate suspension of Armed Forces Day and Air Force Day celebrations, citing excessive and unnecessary expenditure on these events. As South Africa observes Armed Forces Day today, the DA's call to action raises questions about the balance between honouring the nation's military personnel and fiscal responsibility. Elvis Presslin spoke to Chris Hatting...

Severe flooding has brought devastation to parts of KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives. As emergency responders scramble to reach affected areas, questions are being raised about the province's readiness to respond to disasters and its ability to mitigate the impact of such events. To provide insight into the situation, Elvis Presslin spoke to KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Govern...

Six suspects have been killed in a shootout with police in Gcuwa, Eastern Cape with unconfirmed reports suggesting that notorious alleged extortionist kingpin, Yanga "Bara" Nyalara, is among the fatalities. Nyalara, who was acquitted of 18 counts of murder last July after spending over two years in jail, had a reputation for instilling fear in Khayelitsha. To provide more insight into this develop...

Joburg Mayor Dada Morero is set to address the city's water supply challenges in a press briefing today, amid allegations that two ANC mayoral committee members are colluding with a Rand Water official to undermine his leadership. The accusations suggest that the ongoing water shortages may be a calculated move to destabilize Morero's administration, rather than a result of infrastructure failures...

Elvis Presslin takes 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 Public Servants Association (PSA) has raised alarm over a potentially catastrophic security crisis unfolding at Durban Westville Correctional Facility in KwaZulu-Natal. The association says a breakdown in food services has pushed the prison to the edge of chaos. Faulty steam systems, broken kitchen equipment, and erratic food supplies have left inmates hungry and officers at risk. The PSA warn...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) will stage a picket tomorrow at the Industrial Development Corporation's offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, in protest against looming retrenchments at ArcelorMittal South Africa. This follows the announcement by the company to shutdown its steel-making operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging which will result in 3,500 direct and indirect j...

Political parties have expressed mixed reactions to the postponement of the Budget speech to March 12. The EFF and other opposition parties have criticized the delay, viewing it as a sign of government instability. In contrast, the Patriotic Alliance and the DA have welcomed the postponement, praising Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for prioritizing the people's interests and preventing a harmfu...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says its pressure has successfully halted the ANC's proposed 2% VAT hike. The party says the postponement of the Budget Speech is a direct result of the government's failure to deliver pro-growth and pro-jobs reforms. The Budget Speech was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to disagreements among Government of National Unity partners over the expec...

Labour federation COSATU has welcomed the postponement of the budget speech, citing its prior warnings to the government against a VAT increase. The budget speech was postponed due to disagreements within the Government of National Unity partners over the ANC's proposed 2% VAT increase. To discuss this development further, Elvis Presslin spoke to COSATU National Spokesperson, Zanele Sabela

The ANC has welcomed the decision to postpone the budget speech, citing national stability concerns. This unprecedented move marks the first time in 30 years that the Finance Minister has had to put the budget on hold due to disagreements over key adjustments, including a proposed 2% increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). For more Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli

The ACDP has expressed concerns about South Africa's budget deficit. The party expects it to reach 5% of GDP in the 2024/25 financial year, resulting in a gross loan debt of 75.5% of GDP by 2025/26. This fiscal slippage could lead to escalating debt service costs, crowding out essential budget items. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to ACDP MP, Parliamentary Whip and Member of Parliam...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU, will today protest outside Parliament, as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to unveil the country's first budget under the Government of National Unity. SAFTU has already rejected the budget, labeling it 'anti-poor' and disputing claims of a bloated public sector wage bill. For insight into the union's stance, Elvis Presslin spoke to SA...

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to unveil the country's highly anticipated 2025 budget today, amidst mounting pressure to address South Africa's economic woes. With a staggering debt burden of R6-trillion, Minister Godongwana faces the unenviable task of juggling competing demands for increased funding in critical areas like healthcare, education, and social grants, against the need to im...

The South African Police Union, SAPU has welcomed the introduction of police body-worn cameras. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says the rollout of this initiative will commence in April this year. SAPU Spokesperson, Lesiba Thobakhale told our Senior Producer, Ronald Phiri that the plight project is crucial in providing visual evidence in cases where police officers are killed or are accused of misco...

The ANC National Working Committee has made significant changes to its provincial structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, removing former provincial secretaries Bheki Mtolo and TK Nciza. Veteran politicians Jeff Radebe and Amos Masondo will take on key roles, while former Deputy Chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu makes a comeback in KZN. To analyze these developments Elvis Presslin spoke to Political A...