First Take SA

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The newly appointed Police Minister, Bheki Cele, says criminals should be afraid of the community, not the other way round. Cele was speaking at the memorial service of the five police officers who were gunned down last week in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter, Nkululeko Nyembezi

The National Assembly has voted, yes, on the ANC's amendment to the EFF's motion for land expropriation without compensation. The ANC's amendment, which was accepted by the house, inserts a clause about improving food security. The DA earlier rejected both the motion and the amendment, saying any change to the Constitution in this regard would be a recipe for disaster in South Africa. Tsepiso Makw...

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela will have a meeting with Durban University of Technology management and staff tomorrow as workers continue their protest action over wage increases. Workers at the university have been on strike for six weeks, demanding an 8-point-five percent increase and a three hundred and fifty rand housing allowance. The university is offering an...

17:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

Thirteen suspects, arrested in connection with the brutal killing of five policemen and a retired soldier, at Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, are appearing in the local Magistrate Court today. Five officers were killed when gunmen stormed the Ngcobo police station and opened fire and stole 10 firearms. Seven suspects linked to the police mass murder were killed following a manhunt by police. Tsepiso M...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) says it would not be in the interests of justice for National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, to make the decision on former president Jacob Zuma's prosecution, before the judges make a decision on the position of the NDPP. Zuma is challenging last year's court ruling which set aside a 2009 decision by the N...

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The National Union of Mine Workers at the Optimum Coal Mine in Mpumalanga says they will meet with a business rescue expert to try to find a possible solution on the challenges the mine is faced with. Workers of the Optimum Mine were not paid their salaries this month due to financial challenges. Meanwhile, today the striking workers were dispersed by the police after their protest action started...

Independent researcher and violence monitor, Mary de Haas says an adequate and functional Crime and Intelligence unit, would have been able to prevent the attack on a police station in Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape. Speaking to us earlier on, de Haas says authorities should have paid more attention to the suspicious activities at the Seven Angels Ministry church.....

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams has received the recommendations from a team of prosecutors considering former president Jacob Zuma's representations on why he shouldn't be prosecuted. The National Prosecution Authority earlier gave the team dealing with the matter until today to provide its recommendations. Shaun Abrahams is expected to advise on a way forward. Tsepiso Mak...

It's time now for our regular Friday feature Open Mic. Today we profile a Soweto born talented and versatile artist known as "Cheese Boy". Ronald Phiri spoke to Cheese Boy, who is releasing his single today, titled "Jacob Zuma"...

Four suspects have been arrested for Wednesday's brutal killing of police officers at the Ngcobo police station, this according to Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Major-General Liziwe Ntshinga. For the latest update Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni.

The UK government has issued a travel advisory for South Africa following the kidnapping of two Britons earlier this month in KwaZulu-Natal by a couple suspected of having links to the terrorist group ISIS. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in London, Paul Barber and defence analyst, Helmut Rohmer-Heitman.

Optimum Coal Mine workers in Mpumalanga, say their future is in limbo given the current financial problems at the mine. Workers handed over a memorandum of grievances to mine management demanding to be addressed about the future of the mine. It's alleged that some contractors at the Gupta-owned Optimum Coal mine have also not been paid. Earlier on we spoke to one of the mine workers at Optimum who...

Trade union federation Cosatu says its against raising the VAT rate and increasing income tax rates for working and middle class South Africans. Cosatu says government should not throw the working and middle classes under the bus with VAT and income tax hikes. The federation vows that will not support any attempt by government to balance budget shortfalls and deficits upon the backs of struggling...

The Democratic Alliance says Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba must not remedy the country's massive budget hole by reaching into the pockets of ordinary South African people, especially the poor. The DA says it has identified that tax increases are not necessary. DA Deputy Shadow Minister of Finance says government can implement expenditure cuts and sell off certain entities to save billions.

16:30 Econ Update with Dirk Pieters of FNB securities

Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba has announced an increase in Value Added Tax to fifteen percent, which will be implemented from the 1st of April. This is the first increase in 25 years in order to cut the budget deficit and stabilise debt over the next three years. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Chief investment officer at Makwe Fund Managers Makwe Masilela...

17:30 Econ Update with Herman Lloyd of FNB securities.

The nationwide state of emergency in Ethiopia has entered its forth day. The Ethiopian government says the state of emergency will remain in place for six months. This is the second time in less than two years, the country declared a state of emergency. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Coletta Wanjohi..

16:30 Econ Update with Herman Lloyd of FNB securities.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government's decision to institute a review of the configuration‚ the number and the size of national government departments will take a number of months. Replying to the debate on his maiden State of the Nation Address earlier on in parliament, Ramaphosa says changes of this nature will be based on a thorough analysis of the suitability and the costs of the existing...

The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that affected mining communities are relevant stakeholders' in the formulation of the new mining charter and should also be consulted. This, after Action Aid approached the court arguing that the department of Mineral Resources and the Chamber of mines always sideline them in discussions that affect mining communities. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Action Aid' Natu...

Officials at the OR Tambo International Airport say they had to evacuate people from the airport earlier today after an unattended bag was reported at one of the terminal buildings. For more on this we joined on the line by OR Tambo International airport spokesperson Leigh Gunkel-Keuler