First Take SA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has successfully negotiated an above-inflation wage increase and a groundbreaking housing arrangement for workers in the engineering sector. NUMSA says it is satisfied with the three-year wage deal, effective from July 2024 until June 2027, which includes 7% increments in the first year, 6% in the second, and 6% in the third. Now for more...

The death toll from a building that collapsed in George in the Western Cape has risen to 32. The George Local Municipality says there are still 20 workers that are unaccounted for. The municipality further said there were 81 people on site when the collapse occurred over a week ago. We spoke to Chief Director for Western Cape Disaster Management, Colin Deiner.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has spent more than R2 billion in compensating civil claims for wrongful arrests and detentions since 2018. Minister of Police Bheki Cele's revealed this when responding to a question by DA member Andrew Whitfield in parliament. SAPS has seen a 52% increase in civil over the past five years, with settlements totaling R406 million in the last three quarters o...

The South African Prisoners Organization for Human Rights is calling on all correctional facilities to prepare for large-scale protests unless fair elections are ensured. Inmates across the country are unhappy with the voter registration process by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the upcoming elections. The movement insists that eligible voters in prisons, who are South African citi...

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has raised concern about the recent deaths of school children. The party says the recent deaths of five children due to ingesting poison and the suicide of a boy last year, over his sexual orientation needs immediate intervention from the Department of Basic Education. Elvis Presslin spoke to UDM Secretary General, Yongama Zigebe

Gauteng police are still searching for suspects who shot and killed a five-year-old boy during a hijacking in Soshanguve, Pretoria. Ditebogo Junior Phalane was killed last week Friday, while running to welcome his father, only to be shot during his father's hijacking. For the latest development Elvis Presslin spoke to Gift Makoti, Spokesperson for the Phalane Family

Search and rescue efforts continue in the George building collapse tragedy in the Western Cape. This as the number of fatalities from last week's multi-storey building collapse has now risen to 20. For the latest development Elvis Presslin spoke to George Mayor, Leon van Wyk and National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Police Minister Bheki Cele says investigations are underway to...

The ANC and IEC's chairperson have been accused of trying to sabotage the ATM party in the 2019 national elections. Former ANC researcher in the Western Cape legislature, advocate Winston Erasmus made the allegations in a written complaint to the Electoral Court. Erasmus has accused IEC chair Mosotho Moepya and the ANC of working in cahoots to deregister the ATM ahead of the 2019 polls. Elvis Pres...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will tomorrow (Saturday) embark on a mass protest against Sibanye-Stillwater' decision to retrench more than 4 000 workers. The mine recently issued a Section 189 retrenchment notice, notifying workers about its plans to retrench about 4 000 mineworkers. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lupert Chilwane, Media liaison officer for the National Union of...

Master Builders South Africa has expressed concern over the safety of workers at construction sites. This follows the tragic death of 8 construction workers during a multistory building collapsed in George, Western Cape on Monday. Over 40 workers are still unaccounted for, while 37 others are in hospital. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Roy Mnisi, Executive Director for Master Builders So...

Former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro has passed on. Mokgoro, the first black female Justice of the Constitutional Court died after a lengthy stay in hospital following car crash in April last year. Judges Matters Research and Advocacy Officer, Mbekezeli Benjamin has described Justice Mokgoro as "a pioneer in the legal profession". 

The Constitutional Court will today hear the IEC's challenge over former president Jacob Zuma's eligibility to serve in the National Assembly. The IEC is seeking clarity from the Apex court on the implementation of Section 47 of the constitution. This after the electoral court ruled Zuma can remain on the list of candidates vying for seats in parliament. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Le...

The Tshwane Metro Police Department, Men for Change and other law enforcement agencies will today march to the Union Buildings, in Pretoria against gender-based violence. The marchers are expected to handover a memorandum, underscoring their commitment to combating this societal challenge. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tshwane Metro Police Department spokesperson, Isaac Mahamba

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

Former ANC Tshwane chairperson Dr. Kgoši Maepa will today open two criminal cases against the DA. Maepa says the party should be charged for its election advertisement which depicts the South African flag being burnt. Maepa says he will also open a case of fraud against the DA-led Tshwane munipality at the Brooklyn Police station, in Pretoria for a R4.7-billion VAT liability. For more on this, Dr....

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has been admitted as a friend of the court in the matter between the Electoral Commission of South Africa, IEC and uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The Constitutional Court will this Friday hear the IEC's challenge on former President Jacob Zuma's eligibility to serve in Parliament. The IEC is challenging the Electoral Court's decision to allow Zuma to contest elections this m...

At least eight people have now been confirmed dead from the George building collapse in the Western Cape. Nearly 40 of the 75 construction workers trapped under rubble when a multi-story building collapsed on Monday have been retrieved. 37 other workers remain unaccounted for. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to Western Cape head of Disaster Management, Colin Deiner

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development has announced a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on two dairy farms in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape. The department in a statement says the outbreak is a new infection, and further investigations are underway to identify its source. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Deputy Director-General for Agriculture Production, Biosecuri...

People with an agreeable personality have a higher chance of being manipulated by cybercriminals. This according to a new study at Stellenbosch University. The study Led by Vian Smit, surveyed over 700 participants and examined how different personality types react to social engineering tactics. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the study lead researcher Vian Smit, Cape Town-based syste...

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has expressed concern over the rapid departure of highly skilled members from specialized units like the Special Task Force. Members have reportedly left the force due to officers seeking better-paying jobs in the private sector. The Union says the departures pose a national security risk. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to POPCRU President...

Twenty-eight Road Accident Fund claimants are taking the entity to court for non-payment of funds. The applicants' attorney Kabelo Malao says his clients are still waiting for payments despite court orders against the state entity or claims being settled. For more on this, Mr. Kabelo Malao, a Senior Lawyer from K Malao Incorporated spoke to Elvis Presslin

The Constitutional Court will today hear an application by three political parties who are challenging their exclusion from contesting the elections. The Labour Party, the African Congress for Transformation, ACT and the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats will appear before the apex court to seek their inclusion on the ballot. The parties say technical glitches in the IEC's registration portal p...

South Africa will this Sunday observe the national commemoration of the International Nurses Day. The Day is celebrated annually on the 12th of May, on the anniversary of the founder of modern day nursing, Florence Nightingale's birthday. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lerato Mthunzi, General Secretary of the Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (Haitu)...

Seven people have now died from the building collapse in George in the Western Cape. Seven of the 33 people rescued so far have been declared dead while 42 other construction workers are unaccounted for. The multi-storey structure which was still under construction collapsed on Monday. For the latest development Elvis Presslin spoke to George Municipality Mayor Leon van Wyk

ActionSA's Gauteng premier candidate and youth leader have been found and returned home following a suspected hijacking. The party says Gauteng Provincial Chairperson Funzi Ngobeni and Chairperson of the Youth Forum, Hluphi Gafane were hijacked last night while travelling in a Toyota Hilux in Olievenhoutbosch, Pretoria. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA National spokesperson, Lerato...