First Take SA

A SASSA grants office in Mpumalanga has reportedly been closed for two months due to employees refusing to work in a bewitched environment. This after a senior employee reportedly came to the office with a sangoma who then performed rituals at night over several workstations. To further discuss this matter Elvis Presslin spoke to SASSA Mpumalanga Spokesperson, Senzeni Ngubeni

The International Criminal Court is reportedly expected to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's attack on Gaza. The reports come amidst massive protests against Netanyahu's administration, as the war between Hamas and Israeli forces rages on. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African...

Former president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says her father will not meet with expelled uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo to discuss his expulsion. Khumalo and four other MK members were axed from the party last week Friday for allegedly attempting to destabilise the party. The expulsion of Khumalo has since sparked concerns of uncertainty among other MK member...

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise, says a task team to deal with elections related crimes has been set up to respond to any form of criminality ahead of the May 29 general elections. Modise was speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing in Pretoria. She was joined by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, Inte...

Defend our Democracy Movement is urging individuals and organisations to register to observe the 2024 elections. The organisation says observers help protect the integrity of the elections in a politically non-partisan way. The Movement has also called on civil society organisations across the country to collectively observe the elections and share feedback into a common app system. To discuss thi...

South African Post Office workers say the temporary suspension of retrenchments are merely an election ploy by Government. Disgruntled workers are questioning a recent agreement signed by unions and the employer to withdraw retrenchments - saving roughly 4,700 jobs. But workers feel the decision to withdraw retrenchments is aimed at averting a planned strike next week. For more on this Elvis Press...

Former ANC president Thabo Mbeki has commended the party's decision not to expel former President Jacob Zuma for endorsing the MK party. Speaking during a campaign trail in Soweto, Mbeki says the decision to summon Zuma before the party's disciplinary committee is not cowardice but prescribed in the ANC's constitution in terms of procedure. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC National...

The ANC in Mpumalanga will today march against gender based violence, crime and drugs in Matsulu township. Disgruntled community members say crime in the area has spiked drastically in recent months. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Mpumalanga spokesperson, Sasekani Manzini

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa has condemned recent acts of vandalism and theft of election posters. Political parties have raised concern over the removal of their elections posters in the run-up to the May elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi

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

The leader of the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara), Colleen Makhubele is proposing a R150 000 voucher for citizens to curb the housing crisis in Gauteng. Makhubele says the ANC-led government has failed over 6,000 Madala hostel residents, especially women, who continue to live in appalling conditions in Alexandra's township in Gauteng. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Ms. Makhubele 

The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will today march against gang violence in the Northern areas of Gqeberha. The march is in honour of 3 year old Emilio Hutchinson who was killed by a bullet while sitting inside his home during a gang shoot out. DA Federal Leader Helen Zille will be leading the march. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Caucus Leader in Nelson Mandela Bay, Retief Od...

The sheriff of the court has raided the house of Diamond Businessman Louis Liebenberg, just days after announcing his independent candidacy for the May elections. The raid comes after Liebenberg's company Tariomix was placed under liquidation In April by the Mahikeng High Court in the North West. The 59-year-old diamond dealer is contesting the upcoming elections as an independent candidate. For m...

The City of Johannesburg says the warrant of arrest issued for City manager Floyd Brink is mischievous. This after a sheriff of the court failed to enforce a contempt of court order against Brink at his residence in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. The City failed to adhere to a court order prohibiting the City from unlawfully disconnecting services to a client over rates owed to the City. The City of Jo...

South African non-profit organisations are reportedly being used as a tool for terrorist financing. This according to a recent report by the Financial Intelligence Centre which found money is being siphoned off to suspected extremist groups in Syria and Indonesia. The report also revealed how religious students was reportedly sent to Syria with suitcases full of money to finance alleged terrorist...

A disgruntled group of grant recipients will today march to Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha's office. The Limpopo Pay-Point Organisation is demanding Sassa and Post Bank to rescind the decision to close all physical cash pay points in the province. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Limpopo Pay-Point Organisation, Noko Motibane

Nearly half of South African adults are reportedly borrowing money to afford groceries. This is according to FinMark Trust's latest study, the FinScope Consumer South Africa report. The survey results found 40% of consumers are using credit for household necessities, while two out of five individuals have gone without electricity in the past 12 months, due to the lack of affordability. For more on...

eThekwini Ratepayers Associations say they feel insulted by the no show of Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda at the budget consultation meeting. The meeting was aimed at discussing the city's proposed tariff hikes for the new financial year. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to theThekwini Ratepayers Associations Chairperson, Asad Gaffar

The KwaZulu Natal government has dismissed reports that it fired King Misuzulu KaZwelithini's praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe. This after the Zulu King issued a statement raising his discontent with the ANC-led provincial government accusing them of disrespecting the Zulu Monarch. But the provincial government says Mdletshe's extended two year contract expired in 2022 following his retirement in...

South Gauteng High Court Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland has accused the Justice Minster's office for failure to provide adequate resources for the legal profession in South Africa. Judge President Sutherland made the remarks in a letter to his peers and the Ministry of Justice. He says the Justice Department is taking the legal profession for granted due to its inability to adequately st...

The Afrikaner Leadership Network says it is offering government help and expertise on how to address challenges facing the country. In a first joint statement of different Afrikaner organisations the network says it seeks to find solutions to problems faced by its own communities and South Africa as a whole. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to the Afrikaner Leadership Network Facilitat...

The ANC will appeal the Durban High Court's decision to dismiss its trademark case against the MK party. The court dismissed the ANC's application to prohibit the MK party from using a similar name and logo of its disbanded uMkhonto weSizwe military wing. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Legal Expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala

The National Freedom Party (NFP) has lodged a complaint with the IEC against the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) for alleged political intolerance. This after the IFP reportedly flew a helicopter with a "vote IFP banner" over a stadium where the NFP was launching its manifesto in KZN on Saturday. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to NFP Secretary-general, Canaan Mdletshe

Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla says there is over 2000 unclaimed bodies in government mortuaries countrywide. Minister Phaahla was responding to a parliamentary question. He says the bodies are in the country's six provinces with Kwazulu-Natal having the highest number of unclaimed bodies. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Chief Director for Hospital Services in the Health Departmen...

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