First Take SA

The sexual assault case against Dobsonville church elder and political figure, Tshepo Ntsimane, has been postponed to the 3rd of September for pre-trial proceedings. Ntsimane appeared before the Johannesburg High Court in his first appearance since the matter was transferred from the Roodepoort Magistrates' Court. The case is now before a new judge and a new legal team, who are still familiarising...

The bail hearing of a Pretoria man accused of the murder of his wife in front of their two children, has taken an emotional turn after the State presented social media posts allegedly written by one of the children following the death of their mother. The woman was allegedly shot and killed in March this year her home in Valhalla, Centurion.  The State says the posts highlight the trauma suff...

EFF Treasurer-General Omphile Maotwe says Speaker Thoko Didiza will be ousted in next Wednesday's no-confidence vote. Speaking to Bongiwe Zwane, Maotwe said the motion is over Didiza's handling of the Section 89 impeachment process, and the EFF is lobbying other parties for support.

The National Assembly will vote in a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, Thoko Didiza, next Wednesday. The motion, tabled by EFF leader, Julius Malema in June, relates to Didiza's decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent interdict application in the Western Cape High Court to halt the Parliamentary impeachment process over the Phala Phala matter. The court has in the mean...

A third suspect linked to the Reiger Park shooting will appear in the Boksburg Magistrates' Court today. The 27-year-old faces charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.  Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says the arrest follows ongoing investigations into the attack that claimed the lives of two officers and two women.  

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party and United Africans Transformation are back in the Western Cape High Court today. They are seeking urgent leave to appeal a ruling that froze Parliament's Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa. The court halted the Impeachment Committee's work last month at the President's request, pending a review of the independent panel's Phala Phala report. Th...

The National Assembly will vote next Wednesday on an EFF motion of no confidence against Speaker Thoko Didiza. The motion, tabled by Julius Malema in June, relates to Didiza's decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to halt the Phala Phala impeachment process. The Western Cape High Court has since granted that interdict. It remains unclear whether the vote will be held...

The South African National Editors' Forum, SANEF, has strongly condemned the alleged intimidation of Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi at the Madlanga Commission. Moloi opened a criminal case against businessman Stuart James Scharnick alleging Scharnick confronted and threatened him during a tea break for recording video footage. SANEF Executive Director Reggy Moalusi spoke to producer Tracey Boomga...

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

A new University of the Witwatersrand study reveals how female entrepreneurs are keeping Westbury's economy alive amid chronic gang warfare. Researcher Ilene Abrams found that local businesswomen face extreme mobility restrictions and emotional trauma, yet successfully bypass these barriers through informal community networks. The findings show these women deliberately adapt their daily operations...

The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) has strongly condemned a partnership between March and March and Afriforum. The organisations say their engagement aims to strengthen communities, promote the rule of law, improve education and tackle crime. But GIWUSA President Mametlwe Sebei argues the alliance promotes xenophobic populism and Afrikaner nationalism. 

A new University of the Witwatersrand study reveals how female entrepreneurs are keeping Westbury's economy alive amid chronic gang warfare. Researcher Ilene Abrams found that local businesswomen face extreme mobility restrictions and emotional trauma, yet successfully bypass these barriers through informal community networks. The findings show these women deliberately adapt their daily operations...

Crime Intelligence Brigadier Dineo Mokwele's attorneys say the NPA has agreed to unconditionally withdraw charges against their client. This follows a letter from Ndebele Attorneys to NPA head Advocate Andy Mothibi demanding a final withdrawal after he conceded prosecution policy was not followed. The NPA has now instructed IDAC to confirm the charges will be dropped unconditionally. We spoke to A...

The Democratic Alliance has removed MP Dr. Mark Burke from its finance cluster with immediate effect following a potential conflict of interest. This follows an affidavit alleging about R4 billion in possible exchange-control contraventions linked to Kastelo, the fintech company Dr. Burke founded. DA Parliamentary Leader George Michalakis says Dr. Mark Burke has recused himself from the finance co...

The EFF has rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa's objection to Advocate Thandazani Madonsela serving as Evidence Leader in the Section 89 Impeachment Committee. The party says the President's claims of a personal grievance and prior ANC legal work are speculative and do not amount to a conflict of interest. EFF argues Parliament cannot run a constitutional process based on suspicion and that the Co...

The ANC in Ekurhuleni has expressed concern following the arrest of DA PR Councillor Kabelo Mahonko. Mahonko appeared in the Benoni Magistrate's Court facing charges of murder and kidnapping. Allegations are that she tracked down two men suspected of burglarising her home and allegedly subjected them to torture, with one man dying. We spoke to ANC Ekurhuleni Regional Secretary, Jongizizwe Dlabathi...

The recent attack on a Limpopo farmer by criminals allegedly posing as police officers has sent shockwaves through South Africa's farming community. Beyond the violence itself, the incident raises deeper concerns about trust, security, and the evolving tactics of rural criminals. If farmers can no longer automatically trust a uniform at their gates, it fundamentally changes how rural communities a...

JMPD Tactical Response Unit officers have arrested a man in Lenasia South, Johannesburg in connection with recent gang violence in Westbury. The suspect is allegedly linked to a shooting that left four people dead over the weekend. JMPD Spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla elaborates.    

The National Prosecuting Authority is expected in court this week to unconditionally withdraw all fraud and corruption charges against Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and his seven co-accused. Prosecutors are currently pushing for an expedited court date this week to formally throw out the case ahead of their scheduled September reappearance. The dramatic U-turn comes after NPA head Advoc...

Civil rights group AfriForum and community movement March and March have launched a joint grassroots initiative to address alleged government service failures across South Africa. Following high-level talks in Pretoria, the organizations agreed to bypass state incompetence by pooling resources for community safety and local legal challenges. We spoke to AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel.

Organized criminal syndicates are using sophisticated, tech-driven scams to target consumers and businesses across South Africa. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service says it flagged R7.4 billion in potential fraud losses last year, a 47 percent increase on 2024. Its annual report shows 131 million checks on the fraud database, with voice-phishing, fake documents and money mule networks no...

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology has shut down all its campuses and ordered the evacuation of student residences following an arson attack at its Bellville campus. The move comes amid growing tensions over proposed financial clearance and registration requirements for 2027, which many students argue could lock out thousands who are already struggling financially. While university manage...

The Competition Tribunal yesterday heard oral arguments on Harith Aviation's proposed acquisition of SAfair Holdings. The deal would give Harith ownership of South Africa's largest domestic airline, FlySafair. The Competition Commission recommended in July that the merger be approved, subject to conditions. The Tribunal also heard submissions from airline CemAir, before it makes a final decision o...

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

Sugar workers in South Africa have gone back on strike after wage talks between FAWU and the Sugar Manufacturing and Refining Employers Association collapsed. The Food and Allied Workers Union is demanding a 13 percent wage increase, plus housing, transport and medical aid improvements. Employers have tabled a five-point-four percent increase, with another zero-point-six percent linked to a tariff...