First Take SA

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed the controversial Constitutional Amendment Number Three into law, pushing his rule until 2030. The move scraps the 2028 elections, ends direct presidential votes by the public and hands that power to parliament while stretching future terms to seven years. At 83, Mnangagwa's decision has sparked fresh debate over democracy in the southern African...

The Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa has extended support to initiates undergoing customary initiation this winter. The Council says while it respects the role of traditional leaders, practitioners and families, safety, health and dignity must come first. It has called for strict adherence to health regulations, legal frameworks and cultural protocols to prevent inj...

The South African Local Government Association, SALGA says it has noted National Treasury's decision to temporarily withhold July 2026 equitable share payments from 69 municipalities. While SALGA agrees accountability is needed, it warns the move must not compromise service delivery. Treasury says the withholding aims to enforce fiscal discipline. Elvis Presslin spoke to Lesetja Dikgale, SALGA Cha...

The Constitutional Court has upheld a ruling that sections of the Refugee Act are unconstitutional. The case was brought by the Scalabrini Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights in 2023. Judges ruled on Tuesday that asylum seekers cannot be turned away for lacking documents or missing a five-day reporting deadline. The court said each application must be considered individually, on its own merits. Fo...

ActionSA has referred the Phala Phala matter to the Information Regulator after its request for documents was denied. The party is seeking records including an affidavit signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and financial documents linked to the farm theft case. ActionSA says it's concerned about the difference between the R8.7 million initially declared stolen and court evidence of transactions ove...

Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena will today brief the media on the deaths of healthcare professionals at public facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. The briefing is expected to cover findings and recommendations on safety and working conditions in the sector. Attention now turns to key stakeholders, including Denosa, which represents nurses on the frontline. Elvis Presslin spoke to Sibonelo Gumede, D...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has raised urgent concerns regarding a growing and largely overlooked social crisis in South Africa: the increasing number of fathers being denied meaningful access to their children. Despite ongoing efforts to protect the rights of women and children, there is a rising concern that the rights of children to maintain relationships with both parents are not...

Police have reopened the 2021 death of Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi as a murder investigation. His death was initially attributed to Covid-19 but an exhumation and forensic tests found he was poisoned. Authorities confirm multiple raids were conducted at properties in Centurion linked to SAPS members. Police say a breakthrough has been made and a number of people o...

The DA has condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa's appointment of Ayanda Dlodlo as South Africa's ambassador to France. She replaces the late Nathi Mthethwa, who died in Paris last year. The DA cites allegations from the State Capture Commission and a Public Protector probe linked to Ms. Dlodlo. The party says the appointment damages South Africa's reputation with a key trade partner. The Presidency...

The DA in Tshwane will hold a media briefing outside the Gauteng North High Court this morning. Mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink will outline the party's impending legal action against Deputy Mayor and MMC for Finance, Eugene Modise. Brink is expected to detail the reasons for the challenge and what it means for governance in the city. We spoke to Cilliers Brink.

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

Today marks one year since KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly revealed alleged corruption and criminal infiltration in the criminal justice system. Mkhwanazi also accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - who is current on special leave, of unlawfully disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and seizing its dockets. The revelations prompted the establishment of t...

The ZEP Coordinating Committee says thousands of school-going children of Zimbabwean families are being pulled out of South African schools due to 'forced' deportations. The group is particularly concerned about the 2026 Matric class and learners in Grades 10, 11 and 7 who face major curriculum and registration barriers if they relocate now. We spoke to Edward Muchatuta, National Coordinator of th...

The National Union Of Mineworkers, NUM says three suspects accused of threatening its Branch Chairperson at Impala triple-M 1 Shaft will appear in court again today. Police arrested the men in June, they were found with two unlicensed firearms and a stolen vehicle. Bail has been opposed twice at Tlhabane Magistrate's Court. We spoke to William Shiko, NUM Rustenburg Region Deputy Secretary.

Tributes continue to pour in for former MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Dr. Ntuthuko Mahlaba, who died  after being struck by a car while jogging on Allen Street in Newcastle. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma described his passing as a depletion of dedicated leaders, crediting Dr. Mahlaba for accelerating schools, clinics, hospitals and thousands of houses in...

Civil society group Kopanang African Against Xenophobia says more than 1,100 people, including 80 children, were taken from the Malawi Consulate in Johannesburg to Lindela Repatriation Centre on Friday. The group says no social workers were present during the operation, which it calls a violation of the Children's Act and a humanitarian catastrophe being covered up. The group is also calling for t...

The Casual Workers Advice Office says it has been flooded with calls from migrant workers who were allegedly dismissed, threatened or denied rights as anti-immigration sentiments rise in workplaces. The non-profit organization that provides free legal advice and organizing support to precarious workers says migrant workers were reportedly told not to return on the day of the marches, some receivin...

A new digital tool is aiming to change the way South Africans respond to crime and emergencies. The Crime Emergency App has been launched as a public safety initiative designed to make it easier for communities to report incidents in real time, connect with authorities, and ultimately improve response times. As concerns around crime and personal safety remain high across the country, this app coul...

The Constitutional Court has ruled the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town failed to meet their constitutional obligation to provide affordable housing when they sold the Tafelberg site in Sea Point in 2015. The court said the decision perpetuated apartheid spatial patterns and that land in well-located areas must be used for housing with access to transport, jobs and services. Provi...

The International Relations Department (DIRCO) says it will assess Nigeria's request for compensation after its citizens allegedly abandoned properties during Tuesday's protests against undocumented immigration. Nigeria has told citizens to document assets left behind as over 600 people have been repatriated, with hundreds more awaiting return. For legal analysis on the matter, we spoke to Lynette...

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

South Africa's 2026 tax filing season officially opened yesterday, and the South African Institute of Taxation is urging taxpayers to take note of several important changes. SARS is continuing its shift toward a more advanced digital system, aimed at improving accuracy, reducing fraud, and making the filing process more efficient. However, with these improvements come tighter compliance requiremen...

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has condemned President Ramaphosa's appointment of Dina Pule as Social Development Minister. It also wants urgent clarity on reports of a meeting in India involving former President Jacob Zuma, Ajay Gupta and South Africa's High Commissioner. The Foundation says ethical leadership and accountability are needed to strengthen democratic institutions. For more we are now...

The Gardee family is taking the South African Police Service to court for R19 million. They are claiming damages for pain and suffering after the kidnapping and murder of their daughter, Hillary Gardee. Court papers allege a police vehicle was used in the crime. For the latest we're joined by EFF Mpumalanga leader and Gardee family spokesperson, Collen Sedibe

President Cyril Ramaphosa swore in new Ministers and Deputy Ministers at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday. The changes come as the DA starts its GNU tenure amid reported internal tensions, after leader Geordin Hill-Lewis requested several executive changes. The party has also condemned President Ramaphosa's decision to reappoint Dina Pule to Cabinet. For more we're joined by DA national s...