First Take SA

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says management at the Windsor House Academy in Kempton Park on the East Rand have agreed to suspend their controversial hair policy for three months. This is to allow for a consultative process. Lesufi visited the school today. The MEC says he received numerous complaints. Black pupils were allegedly kicked out of school because their hairstyles were deemed un...

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says any patient-related information within the doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct and must be respected, even after death. SAMA was responding to the book, 'Mandela's Last Years', which details the last days of former president Nelson Mandela. The book was written by former South African National Defence Force Surgeon-General Dr Vejay Ramlakan,...

The Democratic Alliance says the Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has agreed to investigate former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, for a 30 million rand payout he received from the power utility. The DA requested the investigation after it emerged that the Eskom board approved the payout to Molefe after 18 months as CEO of Eskom. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to spokesperson for the Public Protecto...

A Clinical trial has found that a nine-year-old child, who contracted HIV at birth, is showing no symptoms of the disease. The child was given anti-retroviral drugs for the first few months as part of a clinical trial, but has received no treatment since. Researchers believe aggressive treatment soon after infection could enable long-term remission of the disease. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr Jame...

Talk radio station 702 has apologised unreservedly for an offensive tweet published on Sunday. The post which has caused uproar on Twitter compares two black children with dogs. The radio station posted pictures of people who took part in its hashtag MTN702Walk on its social media platforms. In one of its tweets they ask who is cuter between dogs and kids. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Pulen...

The commission investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal continues. The commission had a visit at the Glebelands hostel in Umlazi south of Durban - where 89 people have reportedly been killed since 2014. The commission has also heard that there are too many illegal firearms in communities, hence most victims of political related violence are shot. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Moerane Commissi...

Residents evicted from dilapidated flats in Joburg CBD are complaining about overcrowding in the tents provided as temporary shelter. Hundreds of residents from Fattis Mansion and Cape York buildings have been temporarily housed at the Wembley stadium in Turffontein south of the city. At the Cape York building, seven people died after the building caught alight earlier this month. Tsepiso Makwetla...

The principal of Manyano Primary School in Middelburg, Mpumalanga is now without a job after he was dismissed by the provincial department of Education. He was fired after being found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, for beating up 14 year old learner Siphamandla Choma late last year. They were being disciplined for allegedly stealing one hundred and fifty rand from a t...

South Africa has made a recovery in the latest Country RepTrak reputation study, rising four places to 45 out of 71 countries measured. This is despite the current political and policy uncertainty, Conducted by Reputation House in association with the Reputation Institute, the global reputation study reveals that Canada and Switzerland topped the ranking, while the United States recorded the bigge...

Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago has announced that the repo rate will drop by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.75%. This means the prime lending rate drops to 10.5%. Some economists had speculated that the Reserve Bank would drop rates. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to by Gina Schoeman Economist at Citi Bank.

Minister of Mineral Resources Musebenzi Zwane may bring an ailing mining industry to its knees! This is according to Jonathan Veeran who is a partner at Webber Wentzel. Zwane has gazetted a proposal to restrict new mining prospecting and mining rights as well as their renewal. Veeran says there is an attempt to force the industry to ultimately bow to the Minister's whim in respect of Mining Charte...

Local government association - SALGA - has called for a review of the safety needs of councillors amidst the escalation in the killing of local councillors. Speaker of the Raymond Mhlaba municipal council in the Eastern Cape - Thozama Njobe - was shot several times. She later died in hospital. Salga says the killing of councillors is an indictment on the local government and its constitutional man...

Death threats against ANC MP Dr. Makhosi Khoza and a number of other prominent South Africans have once again raised questions about the ability and willingness of law enforcement agencies to protect public officials and ordinary citizens. Khoza has been vocal in condemning President Jacob Zuma's leadership and has even called on him to step down. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Bheki Mngomezulu, Profes...

The latest TransUnion vehicle pricing index has revealed that prices for new passenger vehicles shrunk from 8.4 percent in last year's second quarter to 5.4 percent in this year's second quarter. The vehicle pricing index, considers data from South Africa's top 15 manufacturers, comparing the rates at which both new and used financed vehicle prices increase on a quarterly basis. Tsepiso Makwetla s...

Miway Insurance says its investigating the source of an email allegedly from Miway Insurance Management instructing each other not not approve claims from black people in the country. The company is currently trending on social media. In a statement the insurance company says "An urgent investigation has been launched and they can confirm that the email with its content was not sent from a MiWay e...

SABC Board Chairperson Khanyisile Kweyana says the resignation of former acting SABC CEO James Aguma does not mean he's completely off the hook. Aguma resigned today in the middle of his disciplinary action. He was facing ten charges including breach of fiduciary duties and providing false information under oath during the disciplinary hearing of former Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng. A...

Eskom says less reliance on expensive diesel generators and an increase in cross border sales have helped it achieve a better financial performance. Eskom generated 47 billion rand from operations. The company released its delayed financial results released which show an eight per cent increase in revenue. The company has continued to report losses on its net profit. Tsepiso makwetla spoke to Publ...

Smurfs lovers have until the 30th of July to catch the exciting show at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace, East of Johannesburg. The Smurfs Live on Stage is a magical adventure that sees the Smurfs battle Gargamel and save Mother Nature, showing the power of family and true team spirit. The show takes both young and old audiences into the magical world of colourful mushroom houses and th...

The South African Airways (SAA) board of directors yesterday assured the public that it would not cover up corruption at the state-owned airline following a Sunday newspaper report that it paid R4.5 billion to overseas companies for long-term contracts. The board says action will be taken against anyone accused of criminality must have factual basis and be legally sustainable. Investigations were...

The police ministry says representatives from taxi service Uber have urged them to find a way to best deal with the ongoing fued between its partner drivers and the metered taxi industry. Uber has requested a meeting with the police ministry following the death of one of its partner drivers from burn wounds. The uber driver was in his car when it was set alight, allegedly by metered taxi drivers,...

Uber South Africa has met with representatives from the police ministry to address the ongoing war between its partner drivers and the metered taxi industry. Uber requested the meeting following the death of one of its partner drivers, who suffered serious burn wounds. It is understood that the driver was in his car when it was set alight, allegedly by metered taxi drivers, outside Loftus Versveld...

Mazda South Africa has extended its recall campaign on certain vehicles due to defective airbags. According to Mazda an additional nineteen thousand units have been affected in South Africa, and they are cars produced from 2003 onwards. Tsepiso spoke to Henry Gerber - Who is a Warrenty and Technical Manager at Mazda South Africa...

Thokozani Magwaza has stepped down as the CEO of the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA). In a statement the department of Social Development says Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Magwaza, have agreed to terminate the services after a consultative process. It has been reported that this could be attributed to the alleged death threats made against him. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to chairperson f...

The Competition Commission has launched a market inquiry into the public passenger transport sector following numerous complaints relating to public transport in the country. The inquiry will look into road and rail public passenger transport, these include minibus and metered taxis, app based taxi services (i.e. Uber) Metrorail, and the Gautrain. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Head of Communication at...

There have been no arrests yet after the latest shooting at Mzimkhulu in the southern part of KwaZulu-Natal. Three councillors Sandiso Magaqa, Ntsiki Mafa and Jabu Mzizi survived a hail of bullets last night while returning from a meeting. KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety MEC Mxolisi Kaunda and Cooperative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube today visited the crime scene at Ibisi bus stop in Mzimkhulu....