First Take SA

Lesotho will hold parliamentary elections on Friday - amid failures by its politicians to pass constitutional reforms meant to end years of political instability in the mountain kingdom. The country has been run by the All Basotho Convention, ABC since 2017. But divisions within the party have given it two prime ministers over five years. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC corresponden...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated incoming Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. This is after David Makhura announced his resignation yesterday after eight years at the helm of South Africa's wealthiest province. Newly elected ANC chair Lesufi is expected to be sworn in as Premier on Thursday. Elvis Presslin spoke to Political analyst at the Nelson Mandela University, Mr. Ongama Mtimka

The road freight industry says the hike in diesel prices today will hurt many businesses in the transport sector. While petrol had a marginal decrease, the prices of diesel increased between 10 and 15 cents per liter. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Truckers Association of South Africa President, Mary Phadi

The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism has issued an R50 000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects responsible for the murder of a German tourist in White River, Mpumalanga. Three suspects reportedly accosted four tourists who were driving to a lodge on the periphery of the Kruger National Park. One of the suspects allegedly shot at the tourist who was driving, after...

The Department of Public Enterprises has reiterated that documents pertaining to the sale of SAA are confidential. This is after the Western Cape High Court ordered the Department to provide Toto Investment Holdings with confidential documents of the SAA-Takatso consortium deal. The Tshwane-based investment firm took the department to court over the acquisition of a 51% stake in the embattled stat...

The South African Weather Service has warned of extremely hot conditions this week. The Weather Service issued a heatwave advisory for Gauteng, parts of Free State, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC Weather presenter and meteorologist Azwi Tuwani

Time to take 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 ANC in Gauteng is eyeing the city of Tshwane and Ekhuruleni after ousting the DA's Joburg mayor, Dr. Mpho Phalatse last week. The party together with seven others replaced Phalatse with the ANC's Dada Morero in a vote of no confidence on Friday. The DA says they will challenge Phalatse's removal in court. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Bongani Nkomo, DA Deputy Caucus Leader in the C...

Residents of Reservoir Hills in KwaZulu Natal have expressed concerns following the provincial government's plans for the relocation of 47 families that were affected by the floods in April. Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube together with MEC for Human Settlements Dr. Ntuthuko Mahlaba announced yesterday, that the families who were accommodated at a community hall in Westville, will be moved to Reservoir...

Burkina Faso's new coup leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore has accepted a conditional resignation by ousted President Paul-Henri Damiba. Yesterday Damiba agreed to step down to avoid further violence, two days after a military coup removed him from office. The latest coup in Burkina Faso marks the sixth military power grab in just over two years. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Africa Affair...

Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse has reiterated that she will complete her term in office despite attempts by opposition parties to remove her. Newly elected Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Council Colleen Makhubele has convened a council meeting for this morning, where a motion of no confidence against Dr. Phalatse will be tabled. Several parties in the council have accused her of being unfit...

Several foreign nationals have been arrested during the Department of Employment and Labour's Mega Blitz inspection in Gauteng. The week-long Inspection also saw the closure of a wholesale and retail facility in Pretoria for non-compliance this week. Online retailer Takealot's facilities in Kempton Park were also found to be in contravention of labour laws. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke t...

Lobby group AfriForum says the acquittal of EFF leader Julius Malema and EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi for assault on a police officer points to the decay of the criminal justice system. The pair were accused of assaulting SAPS Colonel Johannes Venter at the funeral of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018. The Randburg Magistrate's Court delivered its verdict yesterday, with Magistrate Leilan...

Time to take 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

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to answer questions in the National Assembly today about allegations of the theft on his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo. President Ramaphosa will answer questions posed by opposition parties over the alleged use of state institutions to cover up the 2020 burglary on his farm. Ramaphosa will also update the Assembly on key interventions of government. For mor...

The Democratic Alliance, DA has accused the ANC in Parliament of failing in its Constitutional obligations by protecting President Cyril Ramaphosa from accountability for the alleged abuse of state power on his Phala Phala game farm. This was after the National Assembly rejected the party's motion for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter. For more, Elvis P...

COPE counselor, Colleen Makhubele is the new speaker of the City of Johannesburg Council. Makhubele beat DA candidate Alex Christians by 12 votes after receiving 141 votes. Makhubele's election comes after the DA's Vasco da Gama was removed in a motion of no confidence last month. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA regional Counsellor Mr. Alex Christians

We put Cardiovascular diseases under the spotlight as today marks World Heart Day. Statistics show that over 17 million people die every year from cardiovascular diseases worldwide, yet most of them are preventable and treatable if risk factors are reduced. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Willem Petrus Van Staden, the Senior Coordinating Doctor at International SOS

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has finally made its pronouncement on their preferred leaders to contest the upcoming party's elective conference in December. The party in the province endorsed former Health Minister, Doctor Zweli Mkhize as its preferred presidential candidate and Paul Mashatile as deputy president. Meanwhile, NEC member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has not been included in the province's top...

The ANC in the Eastern Cape says it is shocked by the newly elected coalition government of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan which is male-dominated. Yesterday the new executive Mayor Retief Odendaal announced his mayoral committee which the ANC criticized as an indictment of the constitution and to the rights of women for only having one female. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC's...

An Eastern Cape District court prosecutor, accused of raping a 23-year-old university student last year, has been granted bail by the Mthatha Magistrate's Court. The 37-year-old Komani-based prosecutor Manzolwandle Xhanti Nkubungu was released on R3 500 bail yesterday and will make his next court appearance in November. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to NPA provincial spokesperson, Mr. Lux...

Another mine dam wall has collapsed at the troubled Jagersfontein mine in the Free State. Kopanong Mayor Xolani Tseletsele says the situation could have been a result of heavy downpours in the area yesterday.  The water from the dam is flowing through the neighborhood of Charlesville and Dennis Louw's farm which is nearby. The R706 near Charlesville has been closed. Motorists are advised to use an...

A 10-year-old boy was mauled to death by his family's two Pit bulls in his house in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. It is alleged that the boy and two other children were in the house with the dogs. Police say they were forced to shoot and kill both dogs and are investigating the incident. Elvis Presslin spoke to Pit Bull Federation of South Africa spokesperson Lins Rautenbach

Bus company Putco is proposing a review of the disciplinary process for dismissed workers who embarked on an unprotected wage strike. Putco suspended its operations after workers went on a wildcat strike demanding a 6 percent wage increase and bonuses promised to them three years ago. The company has proposed that the disciplinary hearings for all 139 employees be expedited to ensure fairness for...

The department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) is set to hold its two-day local government summit starting today. The department says the summit aims at strengthening local government and will bring to the fore, the importance of institutionalizing the District Development Model as an operating model for cooperative governance. This is as the auditor general has warned th...