First Take SA

Violence erupted in Groot Marico near Zeerust in North West as members of opposition parties, police and the ANC military wing MKMVA, clashed during the unveiling of President Jacob Zuma's capture site. The Democratic alliance was restricted entry while members of EFF were unceremonisly kicked out after forcefully gaining entry into the venue that President Zuma was expected to give his address fr...

Oscar Pistorius's family has distanced itself from an upcoming American film titled Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer. In a statement earlier today, the family says the film was made with blatant disregard of both the Steenkamp and Pistorius families‚ as well as complete disregard for Reeva and Oscar. Krivani Pillay spoke to Carl Pistorius

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has held a meeting with the community of Marikana, Phillipi East in the Western Cape where 18 people were shot and killed last week. Last Friday night eleven people were shot and killed - four in a tavern, three in a shack and the bodies of the others were found in the streets. These murders are believed to have been in retaliation of seven others killed earlier in t...

October is Media Freedom Month. In celebrating this month we also look at some of the challenges that many journalists still face today. Our very own correspondent in Lesotho Nthakoane Ngatane has received threats to her life and accused of being of biased by many after covering several political stories in Lesotho. Krivani Pillay spoke to Nthakoane Ngatane

The ANC in Kwazulu Natal say they have not been disbanded. The ANC leadership in the province says it is waiting on the outcome of the legal battle that the 2015 conference invalid. ANC KZN secretary Super Zuma says the party’s National Executive Committee NEC is in support of their appeal of this court case. The provincial leadership held a press briefing earlier today. Krivani Pillay spoke to th...

Cape Town police have arrested four people for various offences in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East. Police embarked on anti-crime operations in the settlement following the fatal shooting of 11 people on Friday evening. Seven others were killed last Tuesday. Police say they will continue to maintain a strong presence in the area. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Western Cape community s...

The South African Social Security Agency - Sassa- has missed another deadline to announce the new service provider for the payment of social grants. This is the third time it has postponed signing a contract that will see it phase out its current grants disburser, Cash Paymaster Services. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts - SCOPA - Themba Godi

South African Airways has been provided with emergency state funds to help it repay a debt of 3 billion rand to Citibank. The Treasury says Government has approved the transfer of funds from the National Revenue Fund to SAA. Citibank had been demanding that at least one-point-eight billion rand of SAA's debt be paid by tomorrow. The bailout from the NRF, government's contingency fund, brings trans...

Crime levels are gradually on the decline according to findings of the 2016-17, Victims of Crime Survey. The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla says the survey reveals that declining crime trends were accompanied by deteriorating feelings of safety among households, where 63% of crimes occurred. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Lizette Lancaster, Manager of the Crime and Justice Hub, a...

The South African Civil Aviation Authority says it is investigating the possible cause of a helicopter crash which claimed the life of the pilot outside Cape Town. The chopper crashed into nearby power lines and landed on the grounds of Nomzamo High School in Lwandle. The N2 is closed between Onverwacht and Gordon's Bay due to the incident. Motorists have been asked to use alternative routes. Tsep...

The South African Police Service has instructed striking emergency centre workers to report to work by close of business tomorrow or risk facing disciplinary action. 10111 workers aligned to union SAPU have been on strike since August. An agreement between the Police Service and majority union POPCRU has been signed, rendering the strike illegal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Oscar Skommere, Secretary...

The Mangaung African Cultural Festival - MACUFE - is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this year. This year's event is expected to provide spirited performances from 29 September to 7 October in the Free State capital of Bloemfontein. The theme is "Macufe's Proud Pan-African Cultural Affair". Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Marketing Manager and Organiser of the Macufe Events S'thembele Khala

A lack of skilled professionals and maintenance has emerged as among the major issues facing most of South Africa's infrastructure sectors. This is according to the South African Institution of Civil Engineering third Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa. SAICE says the overall grade of the state of country's infrastructure in 2017 is D-plus, meaning South Africa is at risk of failure. Sect...

The Umgeni Water Board has met with Futuregrowth to address allegations that the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, interfered adversely in the operation of Umgeni Water. The meeting follows allegations by City Press newspaper that Mokonyane had seized power at Umgeni and dissolved the board in what was suspected to be an effort to influence tender processes. Futuregrowth, a divi...

Gauteng Premiere David Makhura told thousands of Cosatu protesters that the province will end labour brokers before end of the year. Makhura accepted a memorundum from Cosatu as part of the labour federation nationwide march against state capture and corruption. Scores of people participated in the union federation's anti-state capture march today. The federation says it wants corruption in busine...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has won an urgent interim interdict in the Pretoria High Court against the Bank of Baroda. The instution has frozen R1.75 billion in the Gupta-owned Optimum and Koornfontein coal mines' rehabilitation trust fund accounts. This, follows the dismissal of the Guptas' application to stop the bank from closing their accounts last week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the closure of Oakbay bank accounts may lead to a jobs bloodbath. Gupta-linked companies recently lost a court bid to stop the Bank of Baroda from closing their remaining accounts in South Africa. Speaking during a post national executive committee meeting at its Headquarters in Johannesburg today, the NUM leadership says the closure of the accounts mea...

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The Federation of Unions of South Africa - FEDUSA is considering pulling out its members from the state-owned Public Investment Corporation. The PIC oversees nearly 2 trillion rand in assets on behalf of government employees. Fedusa, the country's second-biggest labour federation, says it remains concerned about lack of good governance at the PIC. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Fedusa general-secretary...

The minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba has asked state departments to review all work done by KPMG to ensure audit processes have not been compromised. This follows a KPMG statement a week ago in which it retracted findings about a so-called rogue unit at SARS and admitting to doing unethical work for the Gupta family. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Sygnia Group's Chief Executive Office, Magda Wierzyck...

The South African Revenue Service, SARS, says it will proceed with investigations and disciplinary action into legal expert Vlok Symington. This follows a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed a bid by Symington, who was allegedly held hostage by the Hawks, to interdict his disciplinary hearing. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Sars spokesman Sandile Memela

Ugandan police have fired teargas at students who defied a police order banning protests as they demonstrated against the proposed removal of presidential age limits. This would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand again in 2021. Police issued an order yesterday banning the protests. Today, the country's ruling party lawmaker, Raphael Magyezi was due to table a motion in parliament, a first st...

ANC MP Makhosi Khoza has announced that she is leaving the ruling party. Khosa says she could not be led by what she calls leaders who have lost legitimacy and credibility. She was in the process of being disciplined by the KwaZulu-Natal ANC for bringing the party into disrepute, following her criticism of President Jacob Zuma. Freedom Front Plus, and the African Christian Democratic Party have de...

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) says it will withdraw all of its member from Eldorado Park Schools as of tomorrow. Close to 30 schools in the area will be affected by this move by the teachers' union. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SADTU's chairperson of the Eldorado Park Branch, Desmond Luvhengo.

The Monetary Policy Committee has left the Repo Rate unchanged at 6.75%. South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, today announced the central bank's latest decision on its benchmark repo rate. Kganyago says the Repo Rate and prime lending rate will remain the same. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Maudi Lentsoane, who is the Managing Director of Lehumo Investment.