First Take SA

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is warning of a crisis in KwaZulu-Natal, as commuter bus companies threaten to halt operations over unpaid government subsidies. Several major operators say they have not received payments from the provincial Department of Transport since April, despite contractual obligations. With reserves now depleted and rising fuel costs adding pressure, services tha...

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and four co-accused are expected in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court today.   They were arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged murder and disappearance of Emmanuel Mbense in April 2022. Police allege Mbense was abducted, tortured and his body dumped in the Spaarwater Dam near Nigel. Speaking to our Senior producer Ronald...

The South African Local Government Association, SALGA has welcomed Cabinet's decision to send the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill to Parliament. Commonly called the "Coalition Bill", it aims to bring more stability, transparency and accountability to municipal coalitions. Coalition-led councils have jumped from 27 after the 2016 elections to 70 after 2021, making them a key feature of local go...

The Madlanga Commission has heard allegations of a plan to get suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to make false statements to Parliament, so he could later face perjury charges. The claim was made on Wednesday by State Advocate Drushantha Ramsamy of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, IDAC. Ramsamy also testified about alleged involvement by Police Minister Senzo...

South Africa's diplomatic credibility is under scrutiny following confusion around former President Jacob Zuma's recent trip to India. International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola briefed the media on the High Commission's role, but the DA says the briefing raised more questions than answers. The DA accuses DIRCO of "muddying the waters" and wants clarity on who authorised Zuma's reception and w...

South Africa's fight against gender-based violence and femicide is back under scrutiny over who gets a seat at the table. The South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU has raised concerns after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the new National Council on GBVF, saying organised labour was completely left out. The federation argues trade unions deal daily with workplace harassment and abuse...

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has set aside the suspension of Public Investment Corporation CEO Patrick Dlamini, ruling it was unlawful and invalid. The judgement found the former PIC board acted without Ministerial and Cabinet approval and costs were awarded against the asset manager. Dlamini's return comes as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says Treasury is reviewing the future of the PIC...

MK Party president Jacob Zuma has announced a major leadership shake-up in the party. He has relieved Nkosinathi Nhleko as national chairperson, Dr. John Hlophe as first deputy president and Nomsa Dlamini as deputy secretary-general. Reverend Phakathi takes over as national chairperson while Zuma's son Duduzane is appointed first deputy president. The Strategic Presidential Team has also been diss...

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, DENOSA in the North West has welcomed a Labour Court ruling on rural allowances for nurses. The Johannesburg Labour Court upheld an arbitration award ordering the North West Health Department to pay an assistant nurse an 8 percent rural allowance backdated to 2018. For more on this we're joined by Deputy Chairperson of DENOSA , Tlale Moeng

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng says it will take "decisive action" against Gauteng Legislature Speaker Morakane Mosupye over a controversial overseas trip. The DA has slammed the reported R5.9 million spent on a delegation to Venezuela, saying it shows misplaced priorities amid ongoing service delivery problems. For more on this here is the DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga

South African motorists are set to get some relief at the pumps from Wednesday with petrol prices coming down by 52 cents per litre. While that offers some breathing room for households, the broader fuel price picture is far more complex. Diesel prices are rising sharply, alongside increases in illuminating paraffin, raising concerns about the knock-on effects for transport, food prices and the wi...

The March and March Movement has launched a new non-profit, the SA First Forum, which says it will take legal action on behalf of South African citizens. The Movement says it will continue protesting until people feel safe in their own country. But that the Forum's aim is to litigate issues affecting communities directly, rather than only holding demonstrations. We spoke to March and March spokesp...

Media24 has issued formal Section 189A notices for a proposed restructuring that could affect up to 126 jobs at titles including Huisgenoot, Sarie, News24 and Netwerk24. The cuts target sports and lifestyle editorial departments, with Solidarity saying the possible loss of expertise at established publications is deeply concerning. Solidarity, the largest union at Media24, has started consultation...

A municipal water tanker driver is facing culpable homicide charges after allegedly running over and killing a boy in Adams Mission, south of Durban. The driver was fleeing residents who accused him of selling water while the community had reportedly gone weeks without supply. The incident happened in Ward 96, eMbumbulu. Police have opened a case and the municipality is cooperating while offering...

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

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania says the graves of founding President Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, his wife Veronica and their son have been vandalised more than six times. The latest incident involved damage to Sobukwe's grave itself in Graaff-Reinet, now renamed Robert Sobukwe Town. The PAC says the attacks go beyond ordinary crime and appear to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt community di...

Members of the Food and Allied Workers' Union are embarking on protected strike action at Heineken Beverages South Africa, following a deadlock in wage negotiations. The union is demanding a 7% wage increase and a revised meal allowance, after dropping several earlier demands in what it says was an effort to reach a compromise. However, the company has held firm at a 5% offer, prompting workers to...

The Democratic Alliance, DA is heading to the Western Cape High Court today to challenge the Expropriation Act. Party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the law gives government vague powers to seize property without compensation. The DA wants the court to declare the Act unconstitutional. It argues the measure threatens homes, businesses and investment. The party vows to keep fighting for secure prop...

The Bapong Royal Family is calling on government to urgently resolve the long-running Bapo Ba Mogale chieftaincy dispute. Princess Itumeleng Moerane confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa over the issue during an ANC voter drive in Bapong over the weekend. The family rejects the recognition of Andrew Mogale as Kgosi, saying he was imposed by the provincial ANC and is not accepted by the community. T...

South Africa has wrapped up the final voter registration weekend.  The IEC says it used the last push to get as many eligible citizens onto the voters' roll ahead of the upcoming elections. With registration now closed, focus shifts to verifying the roll, finalising logistics and building voter confidence. IEC Chief Executive Sy Mamabolo reflects on the turnout and what happens next.

The Department of Health says it is preparing for the possible rollout of a new TB vaccine currently in advanced trials. The M72/AS01E vaccine, now in phase 3 trials across several countries including South Africa, could become the first new TB vaccine in over a century, potentially offering protection to adolescents and adults, unlike the existing BCG vaccine which is mainly given to infants. We...

The Constitutional Court has set a strict deadline of next Wednesday for legal filings in the ongoing battle over the Phala Phala farm scandal. Chief Justice Mandisa Maya issued the directive following an appeal by a coalition of opposition parties, including the ATM, MK Party and the EFF. The parties are fighting a lower court order that froze Parliament's independent inquiry into President Cyril...

South Africa continues to grapple with a deepening child hunger crisis, with nearly a quarter of children living in severe food poverty and many at risk of life-threatening malnutrition. Efforts to provide nutritious meals to vulnerable children and support Early Childhood Development centres remain a critical intervention in addressing these challenges, particularly in underserved communities whe...

The City of Ekurhuleni has dismissed three senior officials following a council probe into deep-rooted financial negligence and fraud. Human resources chiefs Linda Gcasheka and Moloko Monyepao, alongside legal head Advocate Kemi Behari, were axed after being implicated in a series of corruption scandals. Investigators discovered the officials falsified security clearance documents to shield a susp...

Trade union federation COSATU has welcomed the appointment of Deputy Minister Seiso Mohai as Chairperson of the Public Investment Corporation, PIC. The state-owned asset manager oversees more than three point six trillion rand in public servant pensions and social security funds. The Federation says Mohai brings stability and a strong anti-corruption record to the fund. COSATU is calling for urgen...