First Take SA

The City of Tshwane has dismissed claims that its fire engines were repossessed over unpaid bills, calling the allegations false and misleading. The city says no emergency vehicles have been repossessed and some trucks are only undergoing repairs and maintenance. This comes after claims circulated over the past few days about the municipality's ability to pay. Concerns however remain about an agei...

Renewed outrage over a string of brutal murders targeting women in Gauteng has sparked urgent calls for heavy police visibility and aggressive surveillance to protect vulnerable communities. The Security Personnel Party of South Africa is demanding the reinstatement of the death penalty for convicted perpetrators of GBV and femicide. For more, we sspoke to Sello Mashula, President and Founder of t...

Vehicle tracking company Cartrack has confirmed a ransomware attack on its systems In August last month. The ransomware group Dire Wolf listed Cartrack on its dark web leak site, claiming it exfiltrated 500 gigabyte of data. Cartrack says its customer database was accessed, which may include contact details, bank account information and vehicle data. Cartrack says its platform was restored within...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU says it has adjourned its 15th National Congress to protect the unity and integrity of the federation. The decision follows extensive engagements among affiliate leadership at what Cosatu calls a difficult and painful moment. It says the adjournment is in line with Clause 3.4 of its constitution where quorum is not met and the congress must reconv...

The Electoral Commission has noted the ANC's plan to appeal the Electoral Court ruling that excluded about 181 of its candidates from the November municipal polls. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says electoral justice allows aggrieved parties to approach superior courts to vindicate their rights. He was speaking in Centurion on the finalisation of candidate lists. The ANC missed the 28 August...

Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein will hand down judgment in the ANC-IEC candidates submission battle later this morning. Judgment was reserved last night after two and half hours of legal wrangling which stems from the ANC's alleged failure to submit its councillor candidates for the November 4 local polls. The party cited a technical glitch on the IEC system which prevented...

Gauteng has recorded an overall decline in several major crime categories, but the latest figures show that some communities are still seeing sharp increases in contact crime. Tembisa, Diepsloot, Alexandra, Mamelodi East and Orange Farms are among the areas recording increases in crimes including murder, assault, robbery and sexual offences. The DA says provincial averages are masking what residen...

The Road Accident Fund, RAF will host a community outreach programme in Ulundi, KwaZulu Natal next week Saturday. Residents of Zululand District will get direct access to services including registering new claims, checking claim status and consolidating compliance documents. The Fund says claimants should bring ID documents, accident reports and medical reports where available. For more on the out...

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane says one suspect has been arrested and another is being sought in connection with the murders of eight women in Ekurhuleni. A R400,000 reward has been offered for information leading to a breakthrough. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says intensified operations will be rolled out in coming weeks to crack down on criminal a...

The South African Policing Union has welcomed the withdrawal of charges against National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. SAPU says the move vindicates its position that the matter was pursued to humiliate and discredit the Commissioner. The union is now calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to reinstate Masemola without delay and to end what it calls the Reset Agenda. For more we spoke...

Missing In Southern Africa is urging families to report missing persons immediately, saying there is no 24-hour waiting period. The call follows the discovery of eight bodies in a short period in Kempton Park, Kwa Thema and Tembisa. The organisation says every disappearance must be treated seriously and early reporting is critical to investigations. For more we spoke to Priya Ranchod, Media Liaiso...

The Commission for Gender Equality is investigating gendered power dynamics within the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The inquiry will look at whether institutional relations affect gender equality, workplace dignity and safety, including concerns around bullying, harassment and abuse of authority. The CGE says it will examine prevention, reporting and accountability mechanisms, beyond individual...

Thousands of military retirees and their families could lose medical cover from the first of November this year. The Regular Force Medical Continuation Fund says it will stop paying claims as it is no longer financially sustainable. Retirees, disabled veterans, widows and orphans are among those affected, with members accusing the Defence Department of failing to honour its commitments. Legal acti...

The National Taxi Alliance says Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has failed the minibus taxi industry. The Alliance says costs including fuel and vehicle finance have become unbearable while operators cannot increase fares. It is demanding an emergency fuel rebate for twelve months and a subsidy that follows commuters. The NTA has given the Minister 14 days to respond or face a national protest m...

Action Society has criticised South Africa's ongoing forensic DNA backlog as police investigate five women's bodies found in and around Kempton Park in about two months. The organisation says delays in processing evidence could make it harder to identify repeat offenders. SAPS has noted similarities in the cases but has not confirmed a link and has set up a multidisciplinary task team. We are join...

COSATU's 15th National Congress is expected to resume today after failing to start yesterday due to disputes over credentials. Several affiliates, including the National Union of Mineworkers, withheld credentials in protest over the suspension of first deputy president Mike Shingange. Shingange, who is also NEHAWU president and a favourite for the COSATU presidency, was suspended for not signing l...

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has condemned the rising attacks on women exercising in public spaces. This follows the murder of four women in Kempton Park and the mugging of a woman in Centurion. Chikunga says women should not have to choose between safety and health and has called on law enforcement and municipalities to increase poli...

Civil society organisation Not In My Name International has called for urgent police action following the disappearance of runner Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo. The group says it stands with her family and the running community and hopes for her safe return. This after reports that a woman's body was found near Kempton Park where Elizabeth disappeared, although formal identification is still pendin...

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has launched a market inquiry into over-the-top services and their impact on telecommunications and broadcast licensees. The regulator will assess whether platforms offering voice, messaging and video streaming should fall under local licensing rules. To unpack what this inquiry could mean for the industry and consumers, we're joined by Huma...

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is facing a legal challenge over her decision to limit the jurisdiction of the Pretoria High Court. The Pretoria Society of Advocates and the Pretoria Attorneys Association want the decision reviewed and set aside. The Government Gazette notice, which came into effect in July, confines the Pretoria court strictly to the Tshwane area, ending its previous province-w...

There will be two presidential candidates fighting for the top job at the South African Football Association when the SAFA Elective Conference takes place in Midrand on Saturday. Incumbent Danny Jordaan who has been the SAFA president since September 2013 and is seekenin a fourth term, is up against entrepreneur and AmaZulu Football Club owner Sandile Zungu. Zungu is looking to bring a breathe of...

Political parties are being urged to rein in their leaders after a spate of public outbursts. This follows backlash over Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina who was filmed allegedly swearing at a disabled resident in Kouga in the Eastern Cape. It comes just a week after Joburg Mayor Dada Morero also used profanities during a community meeting. Morero has since apologized. ActionSA says it...

The Freedom Front Plus will launch its Local Government Election manifesto in Pretoria tomorrow (Saturday). The party says it will focus on service delivery, fixing municipalities and fighting for community rights. Leader Dr. Corné Mulder is expected to outline how the FF Plus plans to contest metros and smaller municipalities ahead of the November 4th elections. To speak to us ahead of the...

South Africa's tax system is entering what SARS describes as a new era, driven by digitalisation, data-driven compliance and technological innovation. The discussion comes at a time when government is under pressure to strengthen revenue collection, restore fiscal confidence and create enough fiscal space to support sustainable economic reforms. The South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT) 12th...

Parliament's Ad Hoc committee, looking into concerns around national security has once again asked National Speaker Thoko Didiza for an extension on its lifespan. The committee is looking into allegations of political interference, corruption and criminal infiltration in the justice system. It was established more than a year ago. MPs are now in the process of compiling its draft preliminary repor...