First Take SA

The number of new Covid-19 cases is increasing at an alarming rate in Emfuleni on the Vaal. Health experts are worried the cases numbers approaching the third-wave threshold. Non-adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols, family and religious gatherings are some of the reasons for the spike.

Metrobus commuters are still urged to find alternate modes of transport as employees forge ahead with their strike action. All three Metrobus terminals in Johannesburg are still closed as a result of deadlocked salary negotiations. Workers are demanding an 18-percent salary increase

The ANC has given its suspended secretary general, Ace Magashule, 48 hours to publically apologize for the suspension letter he sent to ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, last week. Deputy secretary general, Jessie Duarte says there's no legal basis for that, but the party hopes to hear from Magashule this week. She was briefing the media at the party headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg YES...

Violent clashes over the status of Jerusalem escalated dramatically over the last 24 hours with Hamas-fired rockets from Gaza into Israel and retaliatory airstrikes leading to international calls for the violence to stop. At the United Nations in New York, the Secretary General urged maximum restraint while the US called for the violence to cease and for parties to take proactive steps to calm the...

Consumers are finding it hard to get by due to the high cost of goods and services. The price of food and other essentials has gone up with taxi fares also expected to increase from next month. A survey has found that the cost of living among South Africans has significantly increased -- especially since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month, the 350 Rand social relief grant came to an...

The ANC NEC meeting has ordered its suspended Secretary General Ace Magashule to apologise publicly to President Cyril Ramaphosa, for slapping him with a suspension letter. This is one of the resolutions taken at the end of the governing party's three day Special NEC meeting which ended YESTERDAY.

AmaZulu Traditional Prime Minister, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi has confirmed that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini ascended the throne amid support from the royal family. There was commotion on Friday night at the KwaKhangelamankengane palace at Nongoma, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, after a will of the late Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu's will was read.

The ANC Special NEC meeting enters its third and final day with mounting calls for NEC members to go on a retreat or to hold a special conference in a bid to find ways to save the party from imploding. For the first time in over 100 years, the governing party is holding its NEC meeting with its Secretary General suspended. And as if this is not enough, its Secretary Ace Magashule was kicked out of...

Commuters in Johannesburg have once again been urged to make alternative transport arrangements. This as Metrobus drivers affiliated to the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Demawusa) resume their strike action this morning. The union continues to be at loggerheads with Metrobus over a number of grievances including wage disparities.

The ANC is TODAY expected to conclude what has been described as a watershed National Executive Committee meeting this past weekend. The meeting was preceeded by the suspension of Secretary General, Ace Magashule who had earlier counter-suspended party President, Cyril Ramaphosa, a move since declared null and void. Once again, the virtual NEC meeting saw audio leaks surfacing while Magashule is r...

The crucial Eskom wage negotiations are teetering on the brink of collapse. The talks have been suspended after unions walked out. The unions are insisting that Eskom Chief Executive Officer Andre De Ruyter must come and address them. Eskom, on the other hand, is resisting the move saying the CEO is not part of the company's negotiating team

Battle lines have been drawn in the ANC as rival party factions gear up for the fiercest fight in years over the contentiuos step-aside resolution. Ace Magashule's suspension is in line with the party's step aside resolution which states that office bearers facing criminal charges step aside or be suspended. The ANC KZN Provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, says the party's decision to push Magash...

Twelve Republican lawmakers have written to US President Joe Biden urging him not to support a proposal by South Africa and India to temporarily waive from intellectual property rules amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The two BRICS countries with the support of more than 90 others have since October last year sought to lead negotiations at the World Trade Organisation to waive certain IP rights in or...

Some supporters of the suspended Secretary General of the ANC, Ace Magashule, have described the move to push him aside as unfortunate. The South African National Civic Organisation-SANCO in the Free State province, says this is just a temporary setback that is going to be challenged in a court of law. The ANC's National Working Committee YESTERDAY officially temporarily suspended Magashule's memb...

Transnet National Ports Authority has confirmed that fourteen Filipino crew members onboard a ship at the Durban harbour have tested positive for Covid-19. The vessel - Eaubonne - arrived from India on Sunday. This comes on the heels of concerns of another traveller from India entering South Africa, testing positive for the virus. The case has sparked concerns about the possible spread of the B.1....

Thousands of impoverished households throughout South Africa face a bleak future. The R350 Covid-19 relief grant will not be paid out from the end of May. The demand for the grant remains huge, people continued to queue to apply for it last month. For many it was their only source of income. Nkululeko Nyembezi paid a visit to the Soweto informal settlement in Mthatha to find how resident plan to m...

Deputy Finance Minister, David Masondo says one way to tackle problems such as corruption and maladministration is for parliamentarians to vigorously hold the Executive to account. Masonda was keynote speaker at a workshop hosted by the National Council of Provinces, titled "Accountability in Public Expenditure Through Effective Parliamentary Oversight". He says Parliament can improve its processe...

It remains unclear if whether an ANC member that voluntarily steps aside from a party position may also need to vacate their position as party deployee in government. This as the ruling party has reaffirmed that all its members facing serious criminal charges should voluntarily step aside or face being suspended from the party. The ANC is set to hold a special NEC meeting this coming weekend in or...

The ANC has concluded its much anticipated National Working Committee meeting. The meeting of the NWC, responsible for the day-to-day running of the governing party, was called among others to consider reports from provinces of the names of members who are affected by the step-aside resolution. The NWC will compile a consolidated report that now been sent to the NEC which is expected to hold its r...

Environmental justice groups and some coastal communities have opposed plans by the South African government to buy emergency electricity from gas-to-power powership projects. A deal between the government and Turkish owned operator, Karpowership SA, has been given the environmental go-ahead by assessors, subject to a few mitigation measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the projec...

All captive lions or lions bred for commercial use must be ethically and humanely euthanised. This is one of the recommendations of the High Level Panel appointed by Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Barbara Creecy. The panel investigated the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of five of South Africa's iconic animals - namely elephant, lion, leopard and white and black rh...

The Interim Provincial Committee of the ANC in the North West says former Premier of the province, Supra Mahumapelo remains suspended from the party until his appeal has been communicated to the structure. The committee says it was taken aback by letters written by ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule informing Mahumapelo that since he has appealed his five-year suspension to the national disciplin...

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he regrets that the party delayed investigating allegations of state capture through parliament's committees in 2016, but denies that this was due to deliberate resistance. Testifying on Day Two at the State Capture Commission as Head of the ANC, Ramaphosa dealt with issues relating to political party funding including his CR17 campaign, party discipline as well...

Former ANC Chairperson and Premier of the North West, Supra Mahumapelo has called on the party's Secretary General, Ace Magashule to NOT step aside if he feels he has not done anything wrong. Mahumapelo was speaking with our political reporter, Samkele Maseko in an exclusive interview YESTERDAY. Although Mahumapelo has been slapped with a five year suspension from the party for indiscipline by the...

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande has defended the government's decision to source Cuban engineers to help repair the country's ailing water infrastructure. Nzimande was speaking during a visit to the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. The centre upskills mineworkers in various fields