First Take SA

Media reports suggest that the African National Congress (ANC) intends to recall Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero. This comes ahead of the local government elections in a few months. The party held a meeting this weekend to discuss Morero's future. Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst Levy Ndou 

The Public Servants Association, PSA is calling for urgent intervention after a Grade-1 learner nearly fell into an open pit-toilet at Mogogelo Primary School in North West. The union says the incident highlights systemic failures in providing safe sanitation in schools. The PSA is demanding that the Premier and education officials take immediate action to address the infrastructure crisis. For mo...

South Africa's low-cost airline FlySafair has introduced a temporary fuel surcharge on ticket prices, citing a sharp increase in global jet fuel costs. The airline says the measure is necessary to manage rising operating expenses while continuing to offer affordable travel. We're joined now by Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair...

Defend Our Democracy says President Cyril Ramaphosa's attempt to remove Justice Sisi Khampepe from the TRC Prosecutions Commission raises serious concerns about judicial independence. The movement views the move as an effort to derail the Commission's investigation into apartheid-era crimes. The commission's work is far advanced, with several weeks of hearings already held. The group is demanding...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back

Government departments are said to  owe about R12.4 billion in unpaid invoices, up 17% in a quarter. This according to the latest National Treasury payment data. Delayed payments are hitting small businesses hard, disrupting payroll and stalling growth. Area Manager at Business Partners Limited, Lawrance Ramotala says this is pushing SMEs into survival mode and undermining job creation. Elvis...

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has rejected DA claims that he was involved in the financial settlement with former provincial Health CFO, Lerato Madyo who is the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Gauteng Health, implicated in a scandal involving R850 million in fraudulent, suspicious contracts at Tembisa Hospital. Lesufi says his office had no role in the negotiations or decision and that he...

A number of South Africans who arrived in the United States as refugees since May last year are now reportedly heading back home. Many had fled in 2025, citing government-backed racial discrimination and persecution targeting the Afrikaner community. President Trump granted them priority refugee status February last year. AfriForum says the underlying problems that drove them away still have not b...

South Africa's Department of International Relations has summoned US Ambassador, Leo Brent Bozell the Third for a formal demarche after he labelled the "Kill the Boer" chant hate speech at a recent event in Hermanus, Western Cape. DIRCO says the public comments breached diplomatic protocol and disrespected South African sovereignty. The ambassador later clarified on X that his personal view aligns...

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron has raised concerns about the deployment of the South African National Defence Force troops in Gauteng. Cameron says footage from Eldorado Park, Westbury and Riverlea shows soldiers arresting civilians, with no police in sight. He wants answers on the command structure and rules of engagement. The military is supporting police in th...

The South African Medical Association Trade Union, SAMATU will today march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to demand urgent action on the country's youth unemployment crisis. The COSATU affiliate says the jobless rate for those aged 15 to 24 now exceeds 70%, describing it as a "ticking timebomb" threatening national stability and growth. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Talente Biyela, the Chairperso...

Police in the Eastern Cape have uncovered an 11 member syndicate allegedly involved in 62 insurance-related murders. The suspects insured family members and vulnerable individuals before killing them for payouts. Similar arrests were made in Limpopo, where five suspects were nabbed in connection with insurance killings and fraud linked to former police officer Rachel Kutumela. Elvis Presslin spoke...

Police have raided multiple properties linked to businessman Calvin Mathibeli in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng as part of a tender fraud investigation. The move follows a Durban High Court order for Mathibeli to retract statements alleging corruption by KZN Provincial Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mathibeli was accused of making defamatory claims about Mkhwanazi. The police operati...

Police have raided multiple properties linked to businessman Calvin Mathibeli in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng as part of a tender fraud investigation. The move follows a Durban High Court order for Mathibeli to retract statements alleging corruption by KZN Provincial Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mathibeli was accused of making defamatory claims about Mkhwanazi. The police operati...

ActionSA has blamed the Government of National Unity (GNU) for South Africa's stagnant economy, citing a mere 0.4% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 1.1% for the full year. The party argues that the GNU has failed to present a credible plan to lift the country out of its low-growth trap, leading to declining living standards and increased poverty. Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA Member of...

Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile will table the 2026/2027 provincial budget today, amid high expectations from residents seeking improved services. DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Finance and MPL, Ruhan Robinson warns that the budget must prioritise fixing ageing infrastructure, maintaining roads and combating crime, rather than funding new projects. Key challenges include the e-Toll debt, water suppl...

It's now time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo... 

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Community Safety Committee has welcomed the establishment of two specialised units to combat political killings and kidnappings in the province. The units will focus on investigating political assassinations and kidnappings and crimes targeting infrastructure projects. The move follows alarming crime stats, including the murder of 10 police officers in Gauteng...

The Joburg Property Company, JPC, has opened 16 criminal cases with police after uncovering fraudulent transfers of city properties. The company says certain individuals are involved in the alleged scams. Investigations are ongoing, and JPC is working with authorities to recover the properties. Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg Property Company Spokesperson, Lucky Sindane...

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union, SADTU in KwaZulu Natal is up in arms over the provincial Department of Education's decision to renege on the government's early retirement offer. The department had initially invited employees to apply for early retirement without penalties but is now citing its inability to comply with the Cabinet decision. SADTU accuses the department of disrespect a...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in Kimberley says Ekapa Mine Management confirmed to the union that at any given time, at least one of the bodies of five men trapped underground would be retrieved. It's been 20 days since the mud rush trapped the miners 890 metres underground in Ekapa Minerals Joint shaft. Tebogo Msimanga filed the following report...

ActionSA is calling on the National Prosecuting Authority to urgently address charges against forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan related to alleged impersonation of investigators. The charges date back to 2017 and are linked to serious allegations of misconduct. ActionSA says the delay undermines confidence in the justice system. Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA member of Parliament, Dereleen J...

The deployment of the army to assist police in gang and illegal mining riddled areas, will be in force from the 1st of this month but it does not mean soldiers will be flooding the streets. Members of Parliament's Police, Mineral and Petroleum Resources committees received a briefing on the details of this deployment - that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Addr...

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has issued a notice to a Western Cape High Court Judge to vacate a state-owned property in Cape Town by April 15th. The move follows confirmation from the Department of Justice that the judge no longer qualifies for the benefit. Last week Minister Dean Macpherson also initiated eviction proceedings against three former MK Party MPs for unlawfully o...

SALGA's 6th National Municipal Legal Practitioners' Forum is set to tackle key issues affecting local government in South Africa. The event, taking place in Cape Town this week will focus on coalition impacts, legislative reforms and court judgements. Speakers include former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and SALGA President, Bheke Stofile. The forum aims to promote ethical governance and compli...