First Take SA

Today marks four years since the Jagersfontein tailings dam collapsed in the Free State. The 2022 disaster claimed at least three lives and destroyed over 100 homes after sludge swept through Charlesville and Itumeleng. Residents are expected to gather for a commemoration service. Meanwhile five suspects linked to an engineering firm are due in court this week on charges including murder. For more...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back

The Security Personnel Party of South Africa, SPPSA is marching to Tshwane House today. The party says it wants to place its concerns about governance and service delivery directly before city leadership. The march comes as political campaigning heats up in the capital ahead of the municipal elections. We spoke SPPSA President and founder, Sello Mashula to unpack the party's demands.

Police have detained forty-year-old Hlengiwe Buthelezi for her alleged involvement in the killing of popular musician Warrick Stock, known as DJ Warras. Investigators believe Buthelezi supplied vehicle details of the victim and his partner to the primary accused, Victor Majola, who is her boyfriend. Stock was fatally shot in the Johannesburg central business district in December last year. The lat...

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, aimed at raising awareness and tackling stigma around mental health. Campaigners say the day encourages open conversations about emotional distress. They warn many people struggle to ask for help or share what they are going through. South African Comedian Barry Hilton has spoken publicly about his own experiences to help bring the issue into the open.. My co...

As the candidate lists for the 2026 Local Government Elections are finalised, one trend is hard to miss, the rise of personality politics in small and emerging parties. From reality TV stars to former celebrities and academics and podcasters, parties appear to be banking on name recognition over track record to win votes. So what does this say about the quality of our democracy? Are we voting for...

The DA has filed papers to oppose the ANC's court bid to submit candidates in six municipalities after the deadline. The ANC missed the IEC cut-off date on the 28th of August last month. The DA says all parties submitted on time. The party says deadlines must apply equally to everyone to ensure free and fair elections. For reaction we spoke to the DA's Representative on the IEC's National Politica...

The City of Joburg is defending its R192 million budget to rebuild Lilian Ngoyi Street, three years after a gas explosion. The street in the CBD remains a construction site after missing an August deadline. Mayor Dada Morero says cash-flow challenges caused delays, with a new deadline set for October. Officials say the work is complex and involves more than just road repairs. We spoke to Professor...

Black Business Unity has resolved to halt formal government petitions, declaring the state an enemy of the people due to systemic neglect of township economies. The group accuses the Department of Small Business Development of ignoring funding accountability queries and failing to implement the Gauteng Township Economic Development Act. The Unity vows to mobilise informal traders, stokvels and loc...

The ANC is defending its candidate filing in a court battle over the 2026 municipal elections. The party has gone to the Electoral Court after nearly 200 candidates failed to register for the November fourth elections, blaming a technical glitch on deadline night. The ANC says 44 other parties faced the same electronic system problem. For more on this, we spoke to ANC Electoral Committee Secretary...

ActionSA says 16 suspended Road Accident Fund employees have been paid 29 million rand while sitting at home. The figure was revealed by the Transport Minister in a reply to a parliamentary question. The party says the officials have been on suspension for months but continue to draw full salaries. It is now calling on the Fund's board to finalise disciplinary processes. For more we spoke to Alan...

ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, says should the party record a poor performance in the November local elections, it would be a bad reflection on the current leadership. This comes as fears are mounting that the ANC could dip far below the 46 percent it received in the 2021 local polls. Mbalula says if the ANC performs dismally in these elections, members will be within their right to call f...

The Board of Deputies of British Jews says it has deep regret over the UK government's sanctions targeting Israeli settlements. The Board says the move comes before Rosh Hashanah when communal security concerns are at their highest. It warns the deteriorating UK-Israel relationship could harm security, economies and inflame community tensions. It is urging both governments to show restraint and fi...

Mzansi is raising the alarm over what it describes as a continuing road safety crisis on South Africa's major routes, including the N1, N2, N3 and N4. The party says thousands of pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured on these routes over the past three financial years, arguing that the problem is not simply about individual behaviour, but also about infrastructure, enforcement and acce...

The Department of Health says South Africa is making significant progress in rolling out lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable medication used to prevent HIV infection. Since its national launch in June, more than 55,000 people have started using lenacapavir, with women, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, making up the majority of recipients. Gauteng has recorded the highest uptake,...

The ANC Women's League in Ekurhuleni says only 29 of the ANC's 112 ward councillor candidates are women, representing just under 26% of the candidates ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The League says the outcome raises concerns about women's representation and acknowledges that some women contestants felt they did not receive enough support during the selection process. However, it sa...

 Hundreds of Burundians in Kenya are rushing to secure travel documents to leave the country. This comes ahead of a government crackdown on unlicensed small businesses run by migrants. President William Ruto set Monday (Yesterday) as the deadline for foreigners operating small-scale businesses to stop work. The trade ministry says some migrants exploited visa rules to work without permits. Fo...

A skills shortage could see South Africa's mining industry fall behind as the global energy transition drives demand for critical minerals. The shift towards electric vehicles and clean energy is increasing the strategic importance of minerals such as copper. Industry players at the five-day Electra Mining Expo say the country needs to urgently address this challenge to capitalise on growing deman...

Following reports that FIFA World Cup bonuses for Bafana Bafana have not been paid a month after the conclusion of the tournament in the Americas, has left SAFA Presidential candidate, Sandile Zungu, fuming. He has promised to crack the whip and fire those responsible for the administrative bungle should he be elected. Zungu will oppose incumbent Danny Jordaan in Saturday's SAFA elective conferenc...

Media personality Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye's lawyer says the ongoing case is taking a toll on him, with fewer work opportunities. Maarohanye appeared briefly at the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday. The matter was postponed to 17th September to allow the state more time to provide the defense with the investigation docket and to facilitate the transfer of the case for firearm forensic res...

 The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, POPCRU in the North West says dilapidated infrastructure is to blame for the escape of a dangerous inmate at Rooigrond Maximum Security Prison near Mahikeng. Edward Khomotso Madiba allegedly cut through a burglar-bar door to escape from his single cell. Eight prison employees have now been served with notices of possible suspension. For more we spok...

The Democratic Alliance is taking its campaign for law and order to Laudium, where party members and community residents are expected to march against what they describe as a suspected illegal drug den and brothel. DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Alderman Cilliers Brink will lead the march, calling on police to investigate the premises and shut it down if illegal activity is confirmed. The DA says th...

The Freedom Front Plus says it will report Amazon Web Services to the American authorities over its South African investment programme. The company requires firms to be 100% black-owned to participate in its Equity Equivalent Programme. The FF Plus says this excludes businesses based on race and wants clarity on whether the rule comes from government or Amazon Web Services itself. For more, we spo...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back

Leader of the newly formed party MOVE SA Rali Mampeule says South Africans must brace themselves for a new game changer in delivering basic services. This as the party says it is about to rattle and shake up local politics for the benefit of residents who deserve decent basic services. Molebogeng Sebidi has more