First Take SA

Elvis Presslin spoke to Independent Economic and Energy Expert, Tshepo Kgadima on President Cyril Ramaphosa's range of additional measures to respond to the energy crisis in South Africa...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a range of additional measures to respond to the energy crisis in South Africa. His address last night on the country's energy scarcity follows a number of consultations with government, energy experts, and other stakeholders for collective solutions. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the DA's Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Kevin Mi...

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

Disgruntled ANC staff members held a picket outside the party's headquarters in Luthuli House, Johannesburg yesterday, over unpaid salaries yet again. The staffers say they have been without salaries for two months. For more on this, Elvis Presslin  spoke to ANC staff representative, Mvusi Mdala.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa officially closed the party's KwaZulu-Natal elective conference in Durban last night, following some resistance and booing from the delegates. Newly elected Provincial Chairperson, Siboniso Duma, had to intervene, appealing to the party members to allow the president to speak. During his address, Ramaphosa explained the reasons why there was uncertainty on whether or...

The nomination of additional members of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC in Kwazulu-Natal was concluded yesterday with an address by party President Cyril Ramaphosa. All the party leaders who were contesting for positions including the former ANC provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala and the former secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli accepted their nominations. To further discuss this Elvis Pre...

Homeowners, credit card holders, and people with other personal debts will have to dig deeper into their pockets to service their loans. This is after the South African Reserve Bank announced hikes in the repo rate by 75 basis points to 5.5%. The prime lending rate at banks which comes into effect today is now 9%. The hike in the interest rate comes just after Statistics South Africa announced the...

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 Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to make an announcement on the interest rates later today. This is as South Africa's Consumer Price Inflation surged to the highest level in 13 years. Data released by Statistics South Africa shows that the consumer price inflation increased to 7.4% percent in June, from 6.5% in May this year. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has accepted an offer from trade union Solidarity to assist in supplying Eskom with people who have the necessary technical skills to help the government address the power crisis. Gordhan informed the union that Eskom required power station engineers - including mechanical, nuclear, and electrical, among others. MEANWHILE, Solidarity has described Eskom's...

Members of the Gauteng Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety conducted oversight visits to police stations in Katlehong and Orlando East in Soweto following the deadly shootings of patrons in taverns in these areas. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Committee Ms. Alphina Ndlovana

A newly established civic organization, Cape Forum, says Police Minister Bheki Cele's criticism against the Western Cape government's call for policing powers to be devolved to the province, confirms its belief that a referendum should be called to allow the citizens of the province to have a say in the matter. The organization says a referendum would not only serve to test public support for such...

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Gauteng will be leading thousands of nurses in the provincial march to the Premier, Treasury, and Gauteng Health department this morning. The march follows months of non-payment of many post-community service nurses, non-absorption of community service nurses, and non-filling of vacant funded nursing positions by the provincial health...

The Joburg theatre celebrated 60 years the past weekend and honored artists and creatives who have contributed to the success of theatre and the arts industry. Themed The Diamond Jubilee Evening of Celebration, the night started with a walk of fame and unveiling of the stars at the main entrance of the theatre celebrating artists such as Brenda Fassie, Hugh Masekela, Gibson Kente, Trevor Noah, Mir...

Ninety-seven illegal miners and an elderly farm owner have been arrested in Heidelberg, Gauteng. The suspects - Lesotho nationals between the ages of 18 and 35 were arrested by a national multi-disciplinary team during a clamp down on illicit mining activities. All suspects will appear at the Heidelberg Magistrate's Court on charges of illegal mining, human trafficking, flouting immigration laws,...

Award-winning Poet, author, and anti-Apartheid activist, Dr. Don Mattera has been laid to rest according to Muslim rites last night at the Westpark Cemetry, in Johannesburg. His family says Mattera, who was recovering after a medical checkup at the Military One hospital in Pretoria a few weeks ago, died peacefully at his home in Protea Glen yesterday (Monday). He was 87 years old. For more on this...

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 recent trend of mass shootings and killings continued at the weekend with eight people killed, four in Khayelitsha in Cape Town and four in Lenasia in Joburg respectively. Meanwhile, Free State police are also investigating the killing of six women and one man at the Lismore Farm in Kestell. In another shooting incident, six people were shot and killed in Alexandra township in Johannesburg at...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the mooted second state-owned power utility to solve the energy crisis is not for immediate consideration. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister and ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe - has suggested that the answer lies in the creation of another state-owned public utility to compete with Eskom. This is as the country grapples with rolling blackouts due to...

Rollance Mabula, The regional coordinator of Operation Dudula in Rustenburg, North West province, has resigned from the movement. Mabula has cited a number of reasons for his resignation, among them, that the movement has deviated from its mandate and principle of being 'apolitical'. The movement launched its North West branch in Rustenburg in April this year. Operation Dudula has been controversi...

The ANC Women's League's new National Task Team Convenor, Baleka Mbete says the party retrogressed in its previous elective conference when Jessie Duarte was the only woman among the ANC's top six. On the passing of Ms. Duarte, Ms. Mbete says even as Duarte lay in hospital battling cancer, she was trying to ensure that the party's elective conference in December would have more female representati...

The United Taxi Associations Front has given the government and the National taxi Association 21 days to allow it to increase taxi fares or face strike action. The association is demanding a taxi fare increase which it says has been caused by the ever-rising cost of fuel. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to United Taxi Association Front Spokesperson, Sipho Nkwanyana.

NUMSA says its preparations for the elective conference are well on course besides some factional efforts to derail them. The labour organisation recently suspended Second Deputy President Ruth Ntlokotse for undermining the NUMSA and its unity. Meanwhile, NUMSA is also demanding a 20% wage increase from the automotive industry or it goes on strike. So far the talks between Numsa and the Automobile...

Political parties who hope to form a coalition government in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, say there has been a breakthrough in negotiations for a new government.  The parties in the agreement are the ACDP, African Independent Congress, Abantu Integrity Movement, the DA, FF Plus, PAC, and the UDM. They recently met at least eight times to discuss a government to replace what they call a fractured and...

The EFF wants president Cyril Ramaphosa to step down. It's now approaching the courts to have the president investigated and answer questions on the Phala Phala farm robbery in Limpopo. Millions of dollars were allegedly stolen, but the case was never opened by the president. EFF leader, Julius Malema, says they will not back down in their bid for Ramaphosa to leave office amid this saga. Elvis Pr...