First Take SA

Three suspects are in custody for allegedly facilitating fake marriages between South African women and foreign nationals. This after a joint operation uncovered a secret Home Affairs office in Greyville, Durban, allegedly used to facilitate spousal visas. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mosa Chabane, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, 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

Iran has vowed to defend itself following Israeli air strikes that reportedly killed at least four Iranian soldiers, heightening fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. The strikes, launched early Saturday, targeted Iranian military positions, leading to significant casualties. In a stern warning, Israel stated that Iran would pay a heavy price if it retaliates. Meanwhile, Israel continued...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber's decision to grant visa-free access to Ukrainian diplomats, but Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya clarifies that President Cyril Ramaphosa has not yet approved the move. Magwenya has questioned how Schreiber announced the agreement without formal authorization. This disagreement reflects ongoing divisions within...

Parliament is seeking to expand its oversight over the Presidency, sparking a major debate about accountability and transparency. The proposal, tabled by opposition parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe, Freedom Front Plus, and Action SA, calls for the establishment of a parliamentary committee to monitor the performance and spending of the Presidency. Former IFP chief whip, Narend Singh spoke t...

The Department of Basic Education says incidents of food poisoning have disrupted teaching and learning. This after a wave of food poisoning incidents rocked schools in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo, affecting over 100 learners and claiming the lives of six children in Naledi, Soweto, last month. The Department reports that the majority of cases occurred during school hours, significantly disru...

Thirty elephants that escaped from a private game reserve have caused alarm in KwaCeza, KwaZulu Natal prompting some families to flee their homes. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is now seeking assistance from NGOs and the public to develop non-lethal methods to manage the roaming elephants. Vuyiswa Radebe, Head of Conservation Operations at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, discusses their search for the escaped elep...

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has raised alarm over the mental health crisis within the South African Police Service (SAPS), citing rising suicide rates and mounting mental health challenges. POPCRU says officers face extreme stress, trauma, and violence daily, with inadequate support systems in place. The union is calling for urgent reforms, including improvements to the Empl...

In a significant two-day gathering, tuberculosis (TB) advocates from across South Africa will come together to focus on a critical issue of enhancing the patient experience in TB treatment and its impact on treatment adherence. Organized by the TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC), this convening seek to explore the challenges surrounding TB management. Despite an estimated 300,000 cases, only one-...

Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams outlined to parliament some of the collaborative measures between various stakeholders to enforce regulations in the Spaza shop industry. Meanwhile IFP MP Nhlanhla Hadebe  dismissed any attempts to frame the debate on the consumption of expired and poisonous foods sold at some foreign owned spaza shops as xenophobic or afrophobic. For...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged the international community not to turn a blind eye on the situation in Palestine. Addressing the BRICS Summit Outreach and BRICS Plus in the Russian city of Kazan, Ramaphosa said Pretoria is concerned about military aggression by Israel against the people of Gaza. Chinese President Xi Jinping also agreed that the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to de...

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

Strokes claim thousands of lives annually in South Africa, leaving many more with lasting disabilities. As one of the leading global causes of death, non-communicable diseases like strokes remain a significant threat. However, doctors stress that raising awareness about stroke risk factors, early symptoms, and the importance of swift medical intervention is key to reducing stroke cases and saving...

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has expressed deep concern over Gauteng municipalities' failure to maintain water infrastructure and pay for bulk services, which they identify as major contributors to the province's ongoing water crisis. In a recent meeting with Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation, the committee addressed the critical water shortages...

The Minister of Social Development has committed that there will be an investigation into the allegations that the SASSA grant system is vulnerable to fraud and corruption. The commitment comes after two Stellenbosch University students did a study about the prevalence of fraud in the SRD grant after they discovered that they are already signed up for the grants, even though they did not apply. To...

The National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU), in collaboration with the Hawks have arrested four suspects involved in a syndicate in the production and distribution of fake license discs and operator cards in Mtubatuba, Kwazulu-Natal. It is suspected that the group was responsible for supplying a large number of fake discs and operator cards to tipper truck operators in the region. For more o...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has distanced itself from President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent remarks on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia, where he referred to Russia as a valuable ally and friend. The DA has opposed this alignment, stating that South Africa cannot associate with an authoritarian regime that blatantly violates international law. Speaking to my colleague Asharaf Gharda, the...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) says the current approach of simply deporting illegal immigrants is a waste of resources and a Band-Aid solution that does not address the root causes of this issue. The statement comes after Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber mentioned in parliament that South Africa has spent over R52 million in just five months to deport more than 19,000 illegal immig...

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is intensifying its crackdown on illegal diesel blending operations. In recent raids on depots in Limpopo and Gauteng, SARS suspects paraffin is being mixed with diesel on a larger scale. The tax agency believes it has identified a key player in the multibillion-rand illegal fuel trade. It says these operations mark a significant move in SARS' ongoing effor...

The City of Johannesburg has fined Devland Cash and Carry for multiple fire and safety violations. During an inspection led by MMC for Public Safety, Cllr. Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, officials discovered fire hazards, goods without expiry dates, and the use of cats to control rodents. The MMC, has expressed concern over spaza shops purchasing expired goods from wholesalers like Devland and repackaging th...

The Hawks have launched an investigation into Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and her husband, Lawrence Mathae, following corruption allegations. The probe comes after claims from a businessman who alleges he gave the couple lavish gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz, after receiving government tenders. The businessman's company was awarded a R269-million contract while Letsoha-Mathae was M...

Calls for donations are growing as devastating floods continue to wreak havoc in the Eastern Cape. At least one person has died from electrocution while attempting to flee rising floodwaters. Heavy rains have left thousands of residents displaced, with Nelson Mandela Bay being the worst affected. Homes, roads, and bridges have been submerged, causing widespread destruction. Authorities are urging...

Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) has issued a warning on the dangers of illicit electrical products flooding the South African market. A recent survey by tax justice South Africa found that 78% of industry leaders are deeply concerned about the rise of non-compliant goods, such as plugs, cables, and fittings. The group fighting for tax justice says these products not only evade taxes but also endan...

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been given the greenlight to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the agreement between the SABC and the Gupta-Owned TNA Media Pty (Ltd) over the "TNA Breakfast Briefings" programme. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation dated the 18th of October 2024. The proclamation authorises the SIU to investigate se...

ActionSA's Gauteng Members of the Legislature were blocked from entering Sebokeng Hospital during a surprise oversight visit in Emfuleni. Among those denied access was ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson Funzi Ngobeni. According to the party, the refusal came despite the Members of the Legislature securing permission from the District and clearly identifying themselves to hospital officials. For more on...