First Take SA

Calls are mounting to extend the Madlanga Commission investigating alleged infiltration of criminal syndicates into law enforcement and government. Early findings point to corruption and weak oversight in municipalities like Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. Concerns are also rising over the effectiveness of municipal Section 79 and 80 committees, meant to ensure accountability but reportedly hampered by po...

Asylum seekers and advocacy groups have expressed concern over the Constitutional Court's ruling that bars rejected applicants from submitting new applications once their case is finalised. The decision overturns a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that allowed rejected asylum seekers to reapply while remaining in South Africa. Many now worry the ruling could leave genuine refugees with no legal re...

ActionSA has called on President Ramaphosa to fire GNU ministers it blames for South Africa's worsening jobs crisis. The party cited Stats SA data showing 345,000 jobs lost in the first quarter of 2026, pushing unemployment to 32.7%. It said community services and construction were hit hardest, with youth unemployment also rising sharply. ActionSA says the figures reflect policy failure and will w...

The African People's Convention, APC has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to account to Parliament over the Phala Phala Review Panel report. The APC says taking the matter to judicial review avoids giving the public and Parliament his side of the story. It argues that challenging a process meant to clear his name undermines accountability. The party says Parliament must proceed with its duties...

The Solidarity Trades' Network has threatened legal action against the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations over delays in issuing red seal certificates to young artisans. It says nearly 100 artisans have joined a class action after waiting months despite completing training and passing trade tests. Coordinator Stef Pretorius says the delays are unlawful and harming careers and incomes. He j...

The Social Movement for Advocacy, Rights and Transformation, SMART says a scathing report from the Gauteng Liquor Board's (GLB) Committee of Inquiry report reveals corruption, maladministration and unlawful licensing practices. SMART says thousands of illegal outlets operate near schools and residential areas due to weak oversight and too few inspectors. The group is calling for criminal investiga...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana

President Cyril Ramaphosa is taking the Section 89 panel report on Phala Phala on review and says he will not resign. Parliament is expected to proceed with impeachment proceedings in parallel. The South African People's Civic Organisation has called on the President to step aside, saying it would help protect public confidence and allow due process to unfold without perceived interference. SAPCO...

Mpumalanga will mark International Nurses Day with a special event in Secunda hosted by DENOSA and the provincial Health Department. This year's theme, "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives," focuses on working conditions, training and support for nurses. Outstanding nurses will be honoured for excellence in patient care, education and leadership. We're now joined by Cyril Mdhluli,...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will not resign from his office but will rather take the Indepedent Panel Report on Phala Phala on judicial review. Ramaphosa announced this in an address to the nation on Monday night (11/05) beamed from his offices at the Union Buildings in Pretora. This address follows the judgment of the Constitutional Court last Friday (08/05) finding that the rules governing...

Serious concerns have been raised about policing capacity in Pretoria West following an oversight visit by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety. The Committee has flagged critical infrastructure and ICT failures at the local police station, including fragmented office buildings, outdated systems, and slow network connectivity, all of which are said to be under...

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza is expected to meet Parliament's legal advisors this week to weigh next steps after the Constitutional Court ordered the revival of impeachment processes against President Ramaphosa. The MK Party has filed a motion of no confidence, adding pressure ahead of local government elections. The ruling found Parliament's 2022 rejection of the Section 89 panel report...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU says it fully supports its affiliate, the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union, SACCAWU in opposing planned job cuts at Pick n Pay. SACCAWU says the retailer intends to retrench 22,000 workers and has accused the company of trying to bypass collective bargaining by serving notices directly to staff. The union also alleges Pic...

The Congress of the People, COPE has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately dismiss Minister Sisisi Tolashe from Cabinet. COPE cites allegations of abuse of power, unlawful dismissal and the misuse of a government employee's salary. The party says the President's delay in acting fuels public anger and a perception of impunity. It is also demanding a full, independent investigation into...

Santam has partnered with the South African Weather Service to install nine new automatic weather stations aimed at closing observational gaps and improving early warning systems. The stations, now operational in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga are expected to support more accurate forecasts and disaster preparedness. The SA Weather Service say the collab...

The Constitutional Court will today deliver its judgment on the Section 89 Phala Phala report. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he will respect the court's decision, reiterating that the judiciary operates independently. The ruling follows an EFF and ATM challenge to Parliament's rejection of an impeachment inquiry into the 2020 farm burglary. EFF members are expected to picket outside the court...

Joburg Mayor Dada Morero is meeting Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana today following concerns over the City's finances. Treasury says the City owes creditors R25 billion but has only R3.9 billion in cash available. The Minister has also ordered the City to halt its recent agreement with union SAMWU, warning of risks to the economy. Mayor Morero says the City remains operational and is committed t...

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has declared a deadlock in wage negotiations with SA Cargo Services. The union has accused the company of bad faith bargaining, secrecy and exploiting workers, rejecting what it calls an "inhumane" 3.5% wage increase against an 11.8% demand. UNTU is also raising serious concerns about working conditions, lack of financial transparency and what it describe...

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has recorded 27 rape cases involving law enforcement officers in Gauteng, raising fresh concerns over police accountability and oversight. The Democratic Alliance, DA has criticised Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi for allegedly only accounting for five of the cases in the provincial legislature. The DA is calling for urgent reform and stronger conseq...

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has urged that ministerial oversight be maintained following the Public Service Commission's provisional findings on irregular appointments in Minister Sisisi Tolashe's office. The PSC found that Ms Lesedi Mabiletja was appointed as Private Secretary and acting Chief of Staff without meeting required qualifications and had misrepresented her credential...

The financial crisis facing the City of Johannesburg has taken a dramatic turn, following a scathing letter from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to Executive Mayor Dada Morero. The letter paints a deeply troubling picture, from what's been described as an unfunded or "fictional" budget, to a staggering R25 billion debt burden, a liquidity crisis, and allegations of unlawful financial commitments...

Whistleblower Patricia Mashale has defended National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams as he faces charges of defeating the ends of justice and fraud in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court today. Mashale has questioned the legality of his arrest and said the case could bring long-standing claims around the Sindiso Magaqa murder into open court. She also raised concerns about political and racial b...

The EFF will picket outside the Constitutional Court on Friday ahead of the long-awaited Phala Phala judgment. The court confirmed it will hand down its ruling on the EFF's bid to challenge Parliament's 2022 decision not to adopt the Section 89 panel report into the 2020 theft at President Ramaphosa's Limpopo farm. The matter was heard in November 2024 after the panel found the president may have...

National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams is expected to appear in a KwaZulu-Natal court following his arrest in Cape Town yesterday. Police say he delayed handing himself over following a warrant issued by the Political Killings Task Team over fraud and defeating the ends of justice. The charges relate to alleged interference in the investigation into the murder of former ANC Youth League se...