First Take SA

The United National Transport Union, UNTU has accused PRASA of bad faith and underhanded tactics in a retrenchment process affecting over 600 workers. UNTU says its repeated attempts to engage PRASA leadership were ignored, forcing the union to take urgent legal action in the Labour Court. The union also alleges PRASA held separate talks with a minority union, raising concerns over transparency an...

ActionSA has written to Parliament's Speaker warning against delays to the Impeachment Committee. The party says the Committee's work must proceed unimpeded despite President Cyril Ramaphosa filing papers in the Western Cape High Court to review the Phala Phala panel report. We spoke to Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip.

The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA has filed a formal complaint with the Magistrates Commission against Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni over rulings made in the Kwaggafontein court last week. The complaint concerns her handling of the State versus Madoda Johannes Sibanyoni matter, including convicting a prosecutor for contempt and issuing an arrest warrant. We spoke to Mbekezeli Benjamin, Res...

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs raised concern over the misuse of litigation by asylum and refugee applicants, saying it delays processing and undermines the system. Chairperson Mosa Chabane said the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa, RAASA received 2,733 judicial review applications. The Committee is calling for specialised courts and stronger system integration to stop duplicate...

EFF MP Veronica Mente says former Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is being made a sacrificial lamb after the ANC ordered her resignation as MP and Women's League President. Tolashe was found guilty by the ANC's Integrity Commission and accused of misusing Chinese car donations meant for the league. Mente questioned why Police Minister Senzo Mchunu remains in office despite recent revela...

Security guards and cleaners will today march to Joburg Mayor Dada Morero's office to demand insourcing and the reinstatement of workers they say were unfairly dismissed. Unions say outsourcing has left staff underpaid and without benefits while institutions avoid accountability. We spoke to Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU)

New government statistics released ahead of Child Protection Week reveal a rise in sexual violence cases involving minors as perpetrators, including hundreds of reported rapes. Nearly 9,000 child abuse cases have also been recorded nationwide. Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Chief Programmes Officer Karl Muller warned the trend signals a normalisation of abuse that requires urgent national interven...

March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has called on government to declare a state of emergency to address illegal immigration in South Africa. She wants refugee applications halted and mass deportations of undocumented foreign nationals to begin immediately. Speaking during a media briefing last night, Ngobese-Zuma says underfunding of the Border Management Authority is a major concern and...

BOSA leader Dr. Mmusi Maimane says failed governance and corruption in countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda and Mozambique are driving South Africa's immigration crisis. Speaking at Constitution Hill on Africa Day, he outlined a five-point plan to strengthen border security and immigration management. Dr. Maimane urged more funding for the Border Management Authority, faster processing of asylum seeker...

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has released the list of MPs nominated to serve on the Phala Phala impeachment committee. Most parties met Friday's deadline, while the ANC submitted its nine members and one alternate over the weekend. The PAC and GOOD party opted out, citing that their sole MPs serve in the executive. The PA and Al Jama-ah have confirmed their participation. The Committee f...

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

COSATU is urging the South African Reserve Bank to keep interest rates unchanged at this week's Monetary Policy Committee meeting. The federation says rising inflation is driven by global factors, not local demand. COSATU warns that any repo rate hike would further strain struggling workers and slow an economy already facing low growth and high unemployment. We spoke to COSATU Parliamentary Coordi...

A 13-year prison sentence handed to an illicit cigarette trafficker in Limpopo is being hailed as a potential turning point in the fight against tax crime. Tax Justice South Africa says the ruling should set a national precedent, as illicit trade continues to cost the country an estimated R100 billion a year. To discuss this further we spoke to Tax Justice South Africa founder, Yusuf Abramjee.

Former President Thabo Mbeki says the Phala Phala saga is a personal issue for President Cyril Ramaphosa, not an ANC matter. Speaking to SABC news specialist correspondent, Sophie Mokoena, Mbeki welcomed the Constitutional Court's decision to set aside Parliament's 2022 vote against impeaching Ramaphosa. The case relates to allegations of 580,000 US dollars stolen from the President's Limpopo farm...

A key suspect in a major fraud case linked to the Human Settlements Flood Disaster Relief Fund is expected in the Durban Magistrates Court this morning. The kingpin faces charges for illegally accessing emergency housing funds as part of a syndicate dismantled under Operation NenzaniLaEzweni. MEC Siboniso Duma says authorities are making strong progress in rooting out officials and politicians who...

City Power says it has made significant headway in cutting electricity losses in Johannesburg, with the rate dropping from just over 40 percent last July to around 25 percent by April this year. The utility credits the improvement to its Revenue Enhancement Programme, which has recovered roughly 1-point-6 billion rand through billing corrections, meter audits and the removal of illegal connections...

The Democratic Alliance, DA in Gauteng has welcomed the Public Protector's report setting 30-day deadlines to fix fire-damaged sections of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital. The report notes repair costs have ballooned sharply while critical services remain disrupted. We spoke to Dr. Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health.

As South Africa marks Africa Day, the South African Human Rights Commission is raising alarm over growing tensions linked to marches reportedly targeting undocumented foreign nationals. The Commission has now called for an urgent virtual imbizo, bringing together civil society, community leaders and stakeholders to address rising reports of violence, displacement, and threats to human dignity. The...

The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that forensic pathology service centres in Hillbrow, Pretoria and Diepkloof have resumed operations following several days of protest action over working conditions. The disruption led to delays in post-mortem services and placed strain on families awaiting the release of loved ones. As operations stabilise, attention now turns to how the Department i...

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

Community groups, faith leaders, students and residents say they reject a planned March and March protest against undocumented nationals In Cape Town tomorrow. They argue the planned march from Belville to Parow misdirects public anger toward migrants and refugees instead of addressing unemployment, corruption and failing services. The organisations warn rhetoric has led to intimidation and violen...

The National Consumer Commission has referred FlySafair to the National Consumer Tribunal over allegations of overbooking and overselling tickets. The case follows complaints from passengers who were denied boarding despite holding valid tickets. FlySafair says overbooking is part of its business model as the matter moves to the Tribunal for review. We spoke to Prudence Moilwa, Executive Head for...

The Forum for South Africa, FOSA, has raised concerns over government's allocation of nearly R80 million to spaza shop owners, questioning the transparency, fairness and impact of the funding. While the initiative is meant to support small businesses, FOSA argues that without clear accountability and measurable outcomes, the intervention risks missing its intended beneficiaries. The organisation i...

The MK Party Is demanding the immediate resignation of Deputy Minister in the Presidency For Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike as the Vice President of the South African Pharmacy Council. The party said his dual role raises serious concerns over governance, ethics and the independence of the statutory regulator. MK Party argued that a sitting Deputy Minister holding office...

The African Transformation Movement, ATM has criticised National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza for rejecting their motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa. ATM MP Vuyo Zungula said the ATM was unhappy with the decision. In the same breath, Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu said there was no legitimate basis for the rejection and called it opportunistic. We spoke to V...