First Take SA

International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has instructed the department to approach diplomatic representatives of five countries following their direct correspondence with the Presidency. The US, UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, through their embassies, wrote to the Presidency warning South Africa to act against corruption.

Former Bosasa COO - Angelo Agrizzi - has admitted to being a racist during his testimony before the State Capture Inquiry. This emerged after a recording was played at the Zondo Commission in which he can be heard making racist remarks and using the 'k-word'. Agrizzi also conceded that he lied when he said he was never granted an opportunity to respond by the Sunday Times before it published an ar...

President Cyril Ramaphosa YESTERDAY met with Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The presidency indicated that the two discussed a complaint laid by the Democratic Alliance regarding a payment of 500-thousand-rand that was made towards Ramaphosa's election campaign by Bosasa. After initially telling Parliament that the R500,000 donation was paid in a business transaction to his son by B...

Johannesburg Metrobus drivers belonging to labour union DEMAWUSA will continue their strike action TODAY (Tuesday). Commuters were left stranded yesterday when the union brought the bus service to a halt, demanding an 18 percent wage hike among other things

There continues to be widespread reaction and debate over Hellen Zille's proposed tax revolt. The Western Cape Cape premier tweeted over the weekend that she would advocate that people withhold paying their taxes if corrupt individuals are voted into power in the upcoming elections. The DA has however distanced itself from Zille's views and says her tweets are not party policy but merely an expres...

The competition commission has referred three media houses to the competition tribunal for cartel conduct. The SABC, Primedia and Stekinekor have admitted to price fixing and agreed to pay millions of Rands in fines for engaging in noncompetitive behaviour

The Democratic Alliance head of policy Gwen Ngwenya has resigned from her position. Ngwenya has cited unhappiness over unfulfilled promises by the party leadership as one of her many reasons for resigning. In her resignation letter addressed to leader Mmusi Maimane‚ she has accused the leadership of failing to support her unit, saying sufficient resources were not allocated.

High School learners are being encouraged to register to vote ahead of the last registration weekend. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Northern Cpe has extended its voter education to High Schools. Kimberley Boys High pupils were encouraged to participate in democratic processes

Former chairperson of parliament's portfolio committee on Correctional Services and now COPE spokesperson Dennis Bloem says he wants to testify before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Bloem says he wants to support Angelo Agrizzi's claims on corruption within the Department of Correctional Services. Agrizzi who is the former chief operations officer Bosasa, has told the commissi...

Residents of Makhanda in the Eastern Cape say the water crisis in the university town, formerly known as Grahamstown, is getting worse by the day. Water levels at the West side of town where Rhodes University gets its water has dropped to a mere 12 percent. The opposite East side, which includes the vast majority of the population in the area are reporting having dry taps for as long as a week. Lo...

Residents of Makhanda in the Eastern Cape say the water crisis in the university town, formerly known as Grahamstown, is getting worse by the day. Water levels at the West side of town where Rhodes University gets its water has dropped to a mere 12 percent. The opposite East side, which includes the vast majority of the population in the area are reporting having dry taps for as long as a week. Lo...

Trade union, AMCU members have threatened a prolonged strike in the platinum sector if Sibanye Stillwater fails to heed the demands of their counterparts in the gold sector. They embarked on a secondary strike today, in support of their counterparts in the gold sector. Thousands of AMCU members were taken in buses yesterday to join their gold counterparts for a march at the Minerals Council South...

Former Bosasa COO, has confirmed to the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, that the Minister Nomvula Mokonyane recieved a monthly bribe of 50-thousand-rand, over a number of years. Agrizzi continued to spill more beans his testimony at the Commission in Parktown, Johannesburg. Agrizzi also testfied that ANC MP Vincent Smith was taken care of... And that monthly bribes to the correctional se...

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has cut his international trip short and is returning to home amidst widespread condemnation of the response of security forces to fuel protests in the country. Mnangagwa was expected in Davos, Switzerland this week after visting Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Zimbabwe will now be represented at the World Economic Forum in Davos starting on Tuesda...

The African Union has postponed the visit by a high-level delegation to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The delegation was due to arrive in the DRC today to discuss concerns over the results of last months presidential poll. The country's Constitutional Court has upheld the victory of Felix Tshisekedi. Runner-up Martin Fayulu disputes the results saying he is the true winner. Regional body SADeC...

The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture's first witness for the year, former BOSASA COO Angelo Agrizzi has revealed the extent of corruption at the facility and management company. He has told the commission of how BOSASA spent more than R600 million rand a month in bribes. Agrizzi continued to give his testimony at the Commission underway in Parktown in Johannesburg.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Michael Masutha, has once again denied Chris Hani's murderer, Janusz Walus' bid to be placed on parole. Masutha made the announcement in Pretoria YESTERDAY (Wednesday). Last year the High Court in Pretoria returned the matter back to Masutha ordering that the Minister had to decide in 120 days whether Walus would be placed on parole or not.

Zimbabwean nationals living in Pretoria protested outside the Zimbabwe Embassy calling for ambassador Isaac Moyo to update them about the recent developments in their home country. The country has been embroiled in violent protest following President Emerson Mnangwagwa's petrol price increase announcement. Among their list of demands was the unblocking of internet services which had been allegedly...

Kenyan authorities are reviewing their security strategy following explosions and gunfire in the capital, Nairobi. There are conflicting figures with some sources putting the figure at 15. In yesterday's attacks, four men stormed a hotel complex with explosives and bullets, sending by-standers diving for cover and trapping civilians inside. Al-Shabaab miliant group, which carried out an attack a n...

Members of Parliament in Britain were last night expected to vote ** on whether to back prime minister Theresa May's deal for leaving the European Union. May has called for politicians to back her deal or risk what she calls letting the British people down. There has been speculation that with many of her own MPs expected to join opposition parties to vote against the deal, it is widely expected t...

The commission of inquiry into state capture resumes later THIS MORNING* in Parktown Johannesburg. Last year the inquiry heard testimonies from various government representatives who detailed their interactions with the controversial Gupta family which is perceived to be at the centre of alleged corruption relating to the state. Former president, Jacob Zuma has been fingered by many witnesses duri...

Angry protesters in Zimbabwe 's capital Harare barricaded roads and burned tyres yesterday after President Mnangagwa announced a massive fuel price hike. In Bulawayo, police fired teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters. Reports have suggested that five people have sustained gunshot wounds following the unrest. Mnangagwa announced over the weekend a more than 100 percent rise in the price of pe...

While there have been calls for more technical schools in South Africa, there is growing concern on the funding of these schools. Basic Education director-general, Mathanzima Mweli, together with the backing of President Cyril Ramaphosa, made the call citing the skills shortage in the country. Currently there are only one-thousand-and-10 technical schools out of more than 25-thousand-762 schools i...

Around 12-thousand five-hundred AMCU members from the platinum belt are expected to join the two month long strike action at Sibanye Still-Water's gold operations on Gauteng's West Rand and in the Free State. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union - AMCU - has given notice to the mining company of its intention to embark on secondary strike action. AMCU believes that this will be on...

The chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Zambian President Edgar Lungu, has urged the political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo to consider forming a Government of National Unity in light of disputed election results. In a statement issued in his capacity as the Chairperson for the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Lungu says all DRC politicians...