First Take SA

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Government will ease pressure on local municipalities by simplifying the system. Where municipalities fail, he says national government will intervene more quickly and direct corrective measures to better serve the people. Ramaphosa also announced a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will chair, to address water problems across the country. Johann...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support police in dealing with gang violence and illegal mining in the Western Cape, Gauteng and other provinces. The announcement was made last night during his State of the Nation Address. For the latest, we're now joined by Specialist Investigator, Mike Bolhuis...

The National Taxi Alliance says it takes seriously any calls to remove scholars from its taxis. The Greater Gauteng Learner Transport Organisation will hold a stay‑away from school today, protesting what it calls "abuse and impoundment of learner transport operators' vehicles" and unpaid invoices. The Taxi Alliance says while it respects the right to strike, it has asked scholar transport operator...

Political parties have responded with mixed reactions to President Ramaphosa SONA in Cape Town last night. Some parties praised the speech, highlighting areas of alignment with their policies. Others expressed skepticism, saying the address contained nothing new and was full of empty promises. For more on the reactions, we're joined by Political analyst, Dr. Levy Ndou…

Love is blind… but debt is not. This is according to Debt Advisors who advise about the messy link between love and money. This Valentine's Day, as South Africans spend big on romance in a tight economy, debt experts warn that flashy gestures often hide financial pressure and undisclosed debt, problems that surface later, when it's hardest to escape. We are now joined on the line by Sharon...

As South Africa approaches the 2026 State of the Nation Address, United Africans Transformation (UAT) is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to move beyond repetition and symbolism. UAT says the address must include clear, time‑bound commitments that address weak economic growth, high unemployment, rising violent crime and deteriorating public services. The party also demands a full, transparent...

COSATU says it expects President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, SONA to address South Africa's 42.4 % unemployment, 1 % growth, poverty, inequality, crime and corruption. The labour union is calling for faster fixes at Transnet and Metro Rail, debt relief for Transnet, stronger commuter security, an end to austerity, more frontline funding, a push on National Health Insurance, and...

Political analyst Professor André Duvenage says President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation Address will be delivered in a climate that has moved from simmering to boiling point. He expects the speech to reflect domestic tensions, especially around local government, service delivery and the ANC's declining support and to highlight recent populist legislation such as land expropriat...

Residents of Johannesburg's southern suburbs will this morning hold a peaceful protest over ongoing water outages. Communities from Mulbarton, Robertsham, Ridgeway, Ormonde and Winchester Hills are gathering to demand reliable water supply and better communication from Joburg Water and Rand Water. Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg southern suburbs community representative, Zubair Patel

The United National Transport Union, UNTU says the government's fast‑tracked rail reforms are showing deep cracks. Private Train Operating Companies, once hailed as the solution, are now demanding urgent upgrades to a network long neglected by underinvestment and security failures. UNTU warns that opening the rail system to private operators without fixing the 31,000 km infrastructure, now managed...

Full sport news with Janet Whitton

ActionSA has tabled a motion in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature demanding the immediate rollout of a Dual Stream Grade 1 Admissions Model. The move follows a surge of complaints from parents whose children, already in Grade R at a school, risk being denied a place in Grade 1 at that same school. Under the current framework, Grade 1 is treated as an entry grade, forcing families to reapply and c...

The African School Governors Association will march to National Treasury today to deliver a memorandum of grievances over unpaid fees. This comes after scholar transport operators stopped transporting school children due to outstanding payments. The Gauteng Education Department reportedly acknowledges that the strike is disrupting learning and teaching and states it is working to pay the operators...

Residents of several Johannesburg suburbs will today stage protests over ongoing water shortages and a lack of response from Joburg Water and Rand Water. This as some residents have endured weeks without water. For more on today's protest Elvis Presslin spoke to Hermien Geldenhuys, a concerned Parktown West resident

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will assist in the return of 17 South African men involved in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. President Cyril Ramaphosa received a briefing from President Putin on the situation in Ukraine and on Russia's commitment to a diplomatic solution. The men were reportedly lured to join mercenary forces in the war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts. S...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is demanding urgent accountability from the Government of National Unity ahead of the State of the Nation Address tommorow. ATM says modest economic growth has not reached ordinary South Africans, with about 23 million people still living below the poverty line. The party criticises recent electricity tariff increases, warning they will deepen energy pover...

A new UNICEF data brief reports that nearly one in five children in Eastern and Southern Africa are engaged in child labour. The region accounts for almost one‑third of the global total and has the highest number of children in hazardous work, including mining and construction. UNICEF says children belong in classrooms, not workplaces. Elvis Presslin spoke to Nankali Maksud, Regional Advisor for C...

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan's credentials have been questioned at Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on criminality in the justice system. During his testimony, O'Sullivan described his work exposing corruption and assisting crime‑prevention as a police reservist. When asked by ActionSA MP Dereleen James to state his formal qualifications, he admitted he holds none. For more reaction Elvis Pr...

United Democratic Movement, UDM acting Secretary General, Zandile Phiri says the recent sight of students sleeping outside Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a clear sign that South Africa's student accommodation crisis is deepening. Hundreds of students at the start of the 2026 academic year remain without confirmed residence placements. NSFAS has stated it does not manage university hous...

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

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng will today lodge a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against the Gauteng Department of Education over its alleged failure to pay scholar‑transport service providers. A strike that has left thousands of pupils without transport for a second week. For more on the League's complaint, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANCYL Gauteng Provincial Chairma...

March and March founder and leader Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma has called for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and urged South Africans to stop renting space to those harbouring them. Speaking at a recent campaign event, she asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency, deploy the army to assist police and involve courts and the defence force in removing illegal foreigners....

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan is expected to testify in person today before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, which is investigating allegations of corruption and political interference in South Africa's criminal justice system. O'Sullivan had asked to appear virtually, citing security concerns. The EFF had earlier accused Speaker Thoko Didiza of trying to shield Brown Mogotsi and Paul O'Sull...

The ANC Study Group on Agriculture has rejected the Democratic Alliance's claim that Minister John Steenhuisen single‑handedly revived local Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine production after 21 years. The ANC says the groundwork was laid under its 6th administration, with Agricultural Research Council scientists already developing strains from 2010 to 2018 and registering a vaccine in 2023. Th...