First Take SA

RISE Mzansi Leader, Songezo Zibi will today lead a picket at the Department of Labour and Employment in the City of Tshwane. The party says it has been asked to take up the plight of people over the age of 35, who are blocked from applying for job opportunities by virtue of an arbitrary age barrier. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to RISE Mzansi Leader, Songezo Zibi

Motorists have expressed outrage at yet another fuel price increase set to take place this Wednesday. On the other hand the National Taxi Alliance says it hasn't decided on whether it will increase commuter fares due to the fuel increase. The Mineral Resources and Energy Department says petrol will increase by 65 cents a litre for 93 unleaded and and 67 cents for 95 unleaded at midnight. To furthe...

The Eastern Cape Liquor Board is urging learners to avoid underage drinking and hosting pens down parties. This after the board received numerous reports and seen posters circulating with invitations to learners from Buffalo City to attend a pool party that requires a bottle of whisky or gin as an entry. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Liquor Boar...

Today marks seven years since the death of struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada in 2017. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation will today commemorate his legacy by hosting a multi-party event, where political parties will pay tribute to Kathrada and commit to free and fair elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Zusipe Batyi, Communications Manager at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

The Pretoria High Court has dismissed Afriforum's urgent application to interdict Rand Water from implementing water restrictions. The civil rights organisation brought an urgent application against Rand Water following the water supplier's decision to reduce water supply to several municipalities across the country. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Petrus Coetzee, Advisor for Local Govern...

Arise South Africa will today march to the headquarters of the country's Electoral Commission, IEC in Pretoria. The party is accusing the IEC of removing it from the national ballot ahead of the May 29 elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpho Dagada, President of Arise South Africa

The City of Ekurhuleni will today launch its Easter Season safety campaign. The Easter weekend is known for high traffic volumes and long-distance travel which often lead to numerous road accidents and fatalties. The launch of the safety campaign is expected to take place in Tsakane, East of Johannesburg. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa, spokesperso...

The ANC will today square off against the uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party over its alleged trademark infringement of the ruling party's disbanded paramilitary wing, Umkhonto weSizwe. This after the ANC failed in its legal bid to deregister the Zuma-endorsed party before the Electoral Court. The matter over the copyright infringement will be heard before the Durban High Court, In KwaZulu Natal today. Fo...

The fate of National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's position in Parliament is uncertain. This after acting Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli accepted a DA-led motion of no confidence against her. Mapisa-Nqakula is facing allegations of corruption during her term as Defence Minister. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Annelie Lotriet MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip

Build One SA leader, Mmusi Maimane, says the Democratic Alliance, DA does not own the Western Cape. This after party leader John Steenhuisen lashed out at smaller opposition parties for trying to unseat the DA in its stronghold province. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Maimane 

ActionSA will today oppose Eskom's appeal against a ruling, which prevents the power utility from load shedding key public institutions. The troubled state entity lodged an urgent appeal against a North Gauteng High Court ruling which declared load shedding unconstitutional. The court made a ruling which exempts schools, healthcare facilities and police stations from load shedding. For more on thi...

The Young Communist League of South Africa will today picket outside the Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg over alleged racism by DA leader John Steenhuisen. The picket follows remarks made by Steenhuisen who last month labelled Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as a bunch of "drunkards" hired from shebeens, who wear clothes from Pep stores. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the League's n...

The Green Connection and Natural Justice are taking legal action against Total Energies over its authorisation to drill for gas and oil on South African coastline near Cape Town. In 2022, the French multinational company applied for a production license to explore two major gas fields off South Africa's west and southern coast. The two Civil Society groups have since approached the high court to c...

The Department of Higher Education says students will not be affected by its decision to deregister the Educorp group of Colleges. The Department cancelled the registrations of Damelin College, CityVarsity, Lyceum colleges, and Icesa City Campus for failure to submit annual financial certificates and reports. Meanwhile, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzim...

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor has welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza. The  Council yesterday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war-plagued Gaza strip for the month of Ramadan. Minister Pandor says more effort is needed for a permanent ceasefire. Meanwhile the Israeli government called off a US trip b...

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....

At least 247 South African businesses have closed doors since January this year. This as the country's economy remains in turmoil. According to Stats SA, the total number of liquidations decreased by 14.8% year on year in February 2024. 138 businesses closed their doors in February; 124 did so voluntarily, while the remaining 14 did so on a mandatory basis. Now to unpack this Elvis Presslin spoke...

The Azanian People's Organisation, AZAPO says it will ensure adequate investment in maintenance and refurbishment needs of the electrical infrastructure to avert the current load shedding crisis the party was presenting its election manifesto in Bekkersdal in the West Rand, over the weekend. outlining the party's vision and governance strategies. Its President Nelvis Qekema says the party will abo...

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria will today hear the interdict application by Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. She is seeking an order interdicting the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA's Investigating Directorate from arresting her. Last week the Hawks raided her Johannesburg home over allegations of corruption. The Speaker accused of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting t...

The Electoral Court in Bloemfontein is expected to hand down judgement on whether the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party can contest elections this year. The ANC is challenging the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa, IEC over the registration of the MK party, backed by former President Jacob Zuma. The ANC argued the MK party's registration was irregular and unlawful. For more on this, Elvis...

ANC Member of Parliament Boy Mamabolo is threatening to take the ANC to court over his removal or prohibition from being selected as a candidate for Parliament. Mamabolo alleges that the Electoral Committee Secretary, Chief Matsila, told him to align with a certain faction within the party. Mamabolo spoke to Elvis Presslin about this...

Zululand District Municipality Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi has denied allegations of sexual harassment against him. Reverend Buthelezi, who is also the AmaZulu Traditional Prime Minister is accused of sexually abusing female employees in the municipality. But Buthelezi says the allegations are a political smear campaign by the ANC to tarnish his image. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC W...

Russian authorities have arrested four suspects connected to the Moscow Crocus City Hall attack at the weekend. More than 130 people were killed as gunmen stormed the complex, days after President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term of office. The Islamic State group (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attack. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Conflict resolution expert Dr. Kingsley Mak...

Gauteng hospitals continue to struggle with unpaid telephone bills, causing significant distress for patients and their families. DA shadow MEC for Health in Gauteng Jack Bloom says 32 hospitals and 83 clinics have been affected. Elvis Presslin spoke to Jack Bloom

National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave from her position in Parliament. This comes in the wake of corruption allegations against her and reports of her imminent arrest. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Annelie Lotriet MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip