First Take SA

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA says plans are in place to address codeine abuse. The plan is in response to high levels of the abuse of codeine-based medications like cough syrup particularly among the youth. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to SAHPRA's Inspectorate and Regulatory Compliance Manager, Mokgadi Fafudi

Today is the last day to apply for special votes for the upcoming general elections, as announced by the independent Electoral Commission (IEC). This deadline affects two groups: firstly, registered voters who are infirm or have mobility issues for home visits, and secondly, any registered voter who wants to vote early at their designated voting station. Now for more we spoke to Political Analyst...

The ANC says it has formally notified Former President Jacob Zuma of an upcoming disciplinary hearing. The party says this is a critical step that underscores its dedication to its constitutional principles. Zuma is expected to appear before the ANC DC next Tuesday. To further discuss this we spoke to Nelson Mandela University Centre for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution's, Professor Nontsik...

The ANC Youth League says they are not happy with the representation of the young people on the ANC's provincial lists. ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji says they will be engaging ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula on a solution to include more young people on the provincial party list. Malatji was speaking at a media briefing unpacking the party's election manifesto. We spoke to ANC Yo...

The Gauteng Department of Health seeks to correct and prevent misuse of its overtime system

Nursing unions in the Eastern Cape are calling on the provincial Health Department to implement safety measures following a violent attack on staff at a rural clinic. A security guard was killed and five computers stolen during a recent robbery. Now for more on this we are joined on the line by Mzikazi Nkata, Provincial Secretary of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers' union (N...

Several political parties have reignited calls for the reinstatement of South Africa's death penalty. Capital punishment in the country was abolished in 1995. The African Transformation Movement, ATM and Patriotic Alliance say the death penalty should be applicable where heinous crimes have been committed. Now to talk more on this, we spoke to  Patriotic Alliance Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Soll...

Nearly 5,000 post office workers are facing retrenchment yet again. This after an unsuccessful application for relief funding by the Business Rescue Practitioners to halt the retrenchment process. The Post Office has been struggling to pay creditors and salaries given its deteriorating financial position. To speak to us more about the ordeal, we spoke to South African Post Office worker, Bonisani...

The Freedom Front Plus has denied being an exclusively Afrikaner party. The statement follows the resignation of Advocate Lennit Max who accused the party of advancing and prioritising the interests of Afrikaners over other race groups. FFPlus' Chief Whip in Parliament and Western Cape Premier candidate, Dr. Corné Mulder says the allegations are unfounded...

New political party Xiluva says it wants South Africa to move from Constitutional Democracy to Parliamentary Sovereignty. The party is also advocating for the removal provincial government to only have two spheres of government, which is National and Local Government. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Xiluva President, Bongani Baloyi

Illegal electricity connections have resulted in the tragic deaths of three individuals, including a young man and two women, in the Eastern Cape. These unauthorized connections, performed without Eskom's consent or knowledge, strain the system and cause power failures. As of August 2017, Eskom had documented 15 fatalities and 147 injuries due to electricity-related accidents. Elvis Presslin spoke...

The Inkatha Freedom Party in eThekwini municipality will today boycott Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda's State of the City Address. Kaunda is expected to provide a detailed account of the Municipality's performance at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. The IFP says its planned boycott is to express their displeasure with the current administration. For more on this Elvis Pre...

Former three-time world boxing champion, Dingaan Thobela, has died after battling illness. The legendary boxer from Chiawelo, fondly known as the "Rose of Soweto" was found dead in his flat in Mayfair, Johannesburg, on Monday. For more on the legend and his impact on South African boxing, Elvis Presslin spoke to another legend, all the way from Toekomsrus or better known as Toekies, the  former So...

A coalition of health advocacy groups will today march to the Gauteng department of health offices. SECTION27, Cancer Alliance, and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) are calling on the department to use the R784 million set aside by National Treasury towards cancer treatment. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Sidwell Mbatha, Gauteng provincial chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign,...

The Western Cape E-Hailing Association has embarked on a strike at the Cape Town International Airport. The association says the strike that started on Saturday is in response to the lack of parking provided by the app companies and poor working conditions. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Chairperson of the Western Cape E-Hailing Association, Siyabonga Hlabisa

A SASSA grants office in Mpumalanga has reportedly been closed for two months due to employees refusing to work in a bewitched environment. This after a senior employee reportedly came to the office with a sangoma who then performed rituals at night over several workstations. To further discuss this matter Elvis Presslin spoke to SASSA Mpumalanga Spokesperson, Senzeni Ngubeni

The International Criminal Court is reportedly expected to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's attack on Gaza. The reports come amidst massive protests against Netanyahu's administration, as the war between Hamas and Israeli forces rages on. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African...

Former president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says her father will not meet with expelled uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo to discuss his expulsion. Khumalo and four other MK members were axed from the party last week Friday for allegedly attempting to destabilise the party. The expulsion of Khumalo has since sparked concerns of uncertainty among other MK member...

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise, says a task team to deal with elections related crimes has been set up to respond to any form of criminality ahead of the May 29 general elections. Modise was speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing in Pretoria. She was joined by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, Inte...

Defend our Democracy Movement is urging individuals and organisations to register to observe the 2024 elections. The organisation says observers help protect the integrity of the elections in a politically non-partisan way. The Movement has also called on civil society organisations across the country to collectively observe the elections and share feedback into a common app system. To discuss thi...

South African Post Office workers say the temporary suspension of retrenchments are merely an election ploy by Government. Disgruntled workers are questioning a recent agreement signed by unions and the employer to withdraw retrenchments - saving roughly 4,700 jobs. But workers feel the decision to withdraw retrenchments is aimed at averting a planned strike next week. For more on this Elvis Press...

Former ANC president Thabo Mbeki has commended the party's decision not to expel former President Jacob Zuma for endorsing the MK party. Speaking during a campaign trail in Soweto, Mbeki says the decision to summon Zuma before the party's disciplinary committee is not cowardice but prescribed in the ANC's constitution in terms of procedure. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC National...

The ANC in Mpumalanga will today march against gender based violence, crime and drugs in Matsulu township. Disgruntled community members say crime in the area has spiked drastically in recent months. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Mpumalanga spokesperson, Sasekani Manzini

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa has condemned recent acts of vandalism and theft of election posters. Political parties have raised concern over the removal of their elections posters in the run-up to the May elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi

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