First Take SA

The Azanian People's Organisation, AZAPO has condemned the delay in announcing the new cabinet. As South Africans eagerly await the announcement of the new government of national unity cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa, AZAPO warns that the ongoing delay will create a power vacuum that poses a substantial threat to the nation's stability. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to AZAPO National...

Recently appointed KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, is taking swift action to combat construction mafias with a strategic approach. These criminal groups, which emerged in KZN around 2014/15, are notorious for demanding protection fees from local construction projects and companies, and also extorting a share of infrastructure project costs. Their illicit activi...

South Africa has reported three additional confirmed cases of Mpox (previously known as monkeypox), bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 16. One fatality has also been recorded. The affected individuals are all male, ranging in age from 23 to 43 years old. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Foster Mohale, Spokesperson for the Department of Health

The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party will today picket outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. This action comes in response to the arrest of the Independent Electoral Commission's area manager in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, who is suspected of tampering with ballot papers in the recent elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to MK Party KZN, Spokesperson Vincent Mdunge

Zimbabweans have expressed concern over the Patriotic Alliance (PA) party's calls for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants from South Africa. PA leader Gayton McKenzie's alleged anti-immigrant rhetoric and demands for widespread deportations have sparked fears among Zimbabweans. The party, which secured 9 seats in parliament in the recent elections, has vowed to use its political power...

The ANC is facing backlash on social media for reinstating corruption-accused former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa as a Member of Parliament. Kodwa was among a group of MPs sworn in recently, after missing the initial swearing-in ceremony earlier this month. The ANC has been criticized for allowing Kodwa's return to Parliament, despite its own "step-aside" rule, which aims to preve...

The future of 100 matric students at EJ Singwane Secondary School in Pienaar, Mpumalanga, hangs in the balance as they anxiously await their 2023 exam results, clouded by allegations of widespread cheating. Reports suggest that students from 20 schools in the Bohlabelo district, including EJ Singwane, paid R1,500 to access exam answers through WhatsApp groups. Furthermore, invigilators are implica...

North West, Matlosana Local Municipality Mayor, James Tsolela has resigned amidst allegations of corruption. The move comes after the provincial ANC leadership recommended his removal to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Tsolela resigned after reportedly admitting guilt to malfeasance. For reaction on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Johannes Legransie, DA Caucus Leader in Matlosana

Former ANC MP, Annelizé van Wyk has accused the DA of attempting to establish a parallel cabinet within the Government of National Unity. This comes as 10 political parties that constitute the unity government are engaged in last-minute negotiations to form a cabinet. The DA has reportedly submitted a new list of demands, which includes the appointment of its members to key positions such as deput...

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is carrying out nationwide inspections to ensure businesses comply with consumer protection regulations. In Limpopo, the NCC has uncovered significant violations of the Consumer Protection Act, notably the sale of expired or near-expired products. The commission alleges that these suppliers are prioritizing their own interests over consumer well-being, and is...

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the Constitution does not mandate proportional allocation of cabinet positions based on party representation. His remarks on X (formerly Twitter) comes amidst reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) is seeking 12 ministerial positions in the Government of National Unity. While the President has the discretion to appoint cabinet members, Magwenya emph...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, 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

Rand Water is set to begin maintenance at the Eikenhof pump station in Johannesburg today. This follows its completion of work in Mogale City, which was finished ahead of schedule. The 37-day maintenance project, which started at the weekend aims to preserve the quality and integrity of Rand Water's infrastructure across Gauteng. During this period, residents and businesses may experience low wate...

Controversy surrounds the expected return of former Arts & Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa to Parliament. ActionSA has cautioned the ANC against Kodwa's reinstatement, citing serious corruption allegations. Kodwa is accused of accepting a R1.7 million bribe. ActionSA says the ANC should prioritize the integrity of Parliament and withdraw Kodwa's candidacy. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

A payment dispute regarding overtime compensation for police officers who worked during the recent elections continues. According to the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, POPCRU, its members in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga are still awaiting payment for their extra hours worked. However, police management say 66% of officers nationwide have received their special allowances, with further paym...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet announcement remains pending, fueling speculation about intense deliberations and negotiations over key ministerial appointments. The delay comes as South Africans eagerly await the reveal of which Members of Parliament will be appointed ministers in the new Government of National Unity. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is pushing for equitable power sharing within...

As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to announce his new cabinet, Defend our Democracy is holding out hope for a competent and effective team that can tackle the myriad of challenges facing South Africa. With the formation of a Government of National Unity, comprising of 10 political parties, the President has a unique opportunity to draw from a diverse pool of talent and expertise to appoint min...

There has been a significant shift in South Africa's political landscape as several parties defect from the Progressive Caucus to join the Government of National Unity. The UDM, Rise Mzansi, and Al Jama-ah have abandoned the opposition grouping to join the unity government. The Progressive Caucus, a recently formed alliance aimed to provide a united opposition front to the GNU, but its membership...

Stellenbosch University and the Special Investigations Unit have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop innovative strategies to combat corruption. This partnership aims to tackle corruption through a unique lens, recognizing the crucial role of gender dynamics in anti-corruption efforts. Advocate Andy Mothibi and Professor Sibusiso Moyo emphasized this importance at the recent Gender and...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to reveal his new cabinet soon. This after Ramaphosa was sworn in for his second term as head of state. As the Government of National Unity takes shape, a scramble is underway among political parties to secure cabinet positions for their members in the new executive. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Sanusha Naidu

The South African Human Rights Commission in the Eastern Cape has filed a complaint with the Equality Court against a DA MP for alleged racism. Renaldo Gouws is accused of using inflammatory language inciting violence against Black individuals in recently surfaced videos. The DA has since suspended Gouws who was recently sworn in as a member of Parliament. Dr. Ellen Carter, the Eastern Cape Head o...

A woman posing as a medical doctor is expected to appear before the Tembisa Magistrate court. The women was arrested at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital on Tuesday. The Gauteng Health Department is currently investigating how the woman gained unauthorized access to the facility. For further details Elvis Presslin spoke to Provincial Health Spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with 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 Constitutional Court has rejected Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's appeal against a Pretoria High Court ruling that found the termination of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) unlawful due to a lack of fair consultation. The High Court faulted the department for failing to follow proper procedures in ending the permit program, which permits over 178,000 Zimbabweans to live and work...

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has expressed concern following reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is considering retrenchments as the entity struggles to stay on track. This follows the entity's announcement that it has been serverly impacted after passenger trips plummeted by a reported 95% from almost 600-million a decade ago to 15-million. UNTU says it re...