First Take SA

A showdown is looming between the Gauteng Department of Health and the Heads of Clinical Departments at the Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg ahead of what the HODs are calling the unnecessary imminent sacking of 800 healthcare workers. The workers were hired at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak following capacity shortages at one of the world's largest hospitals. This comes as staff...

The Alexandra Dudula Movement has threatened a complete shutdown of all South African townships as clashes with foreign nationals intensify. The movement went on a rampage yesterday forcing businesses to close down as they made their demands for land and job spaces. The group alleges undocumented foreign nationals have a complete monopoly and dominance of the township informal market leading to ma...

DA leader, John Steenhuisen has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to end lockdown regulations and open up the economy to make a full recovery. This as the country's state of emergency is set to expire next week following months of extensions since inception back in March 2020. President Ramaphosa has previously indicated that the latest state of disaster extension will be the last,...

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by 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 Mpumalanga members have threatened to interdict the party's provincial elective conference. This, after the provincial executive committee, was disbanded. Last week the ANC disbanded the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga top structures due to expired mandates and failure to hold conferences in time. Meanwhile, party president, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with the ANC in Mpumalang...

The Correctional Services Department is investigating the death of two inmates at Tswelopelo Correctional Services in Kimberly in the Northern Cape. The death of the inmates follows an alleged attack by three inmates on an official of the centre. Correctional Services department spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo

The City of Johannesburg has sought to provide clarity on the future of over 130 employees who received notices informing them of a decision to rescind their permanent employment following a council meeting. The group's employment contracts were converted from fixed-term to permanent by the previous leadership, a decision current Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse maintains was irregular and unlawfu...

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

Former Bosasa COO turned corruption whistle-blower, Angelo Agrizzi wants the corruption case against him struck from the roll. Agrizzi has failed to appear in court for months, citing ill health. Agrizzi's attorney Daniel Witz says his client is back in the hospital...

ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe says he will take Volume 3 of the State Capture Report on Judicial Review. The report has recommended that Mantashe, former president Jacob Zuma and Nomvula Mokonyane be investigated for corruption. The Zondo Commission found prima facie evidence of corruption against the trio, in connection with money they directly or indirectly received from Bosasa. For th...

The United Nations' General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demand its immediate withdrawal, with 141 in favor, 5 against, and South Africa and 34 other countries have abstained. For more on this, here is Professor Chris Landsberg, SARChI Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg, UJ

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs is calling for public participation during its planned public hearings on proposed amendments to the Electoral Bill. This week, the committee hosted a two-day virtual public participation process which will be followed up with in-person public hearings in parts of the country, from next week. The Bill seeks to comply with the Constitutional Court ruling that...

Motorists can expect to pay historical prices at the pumps as of today. This as the price of both grades of petrol is expected to increase by one-rand-46-cents per litre. Diesel will see a hike of up to one-rand-48 cents per litre. This comes after some economists warned that motorists should expect another petrol price hike in April if the Russian-Ukraine conflict doesn't stabilise. For more, Eco...

The Social Development Department is set to continue on its next round table discussions on teenage pregnancies this month in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This follows engagements with community members of Lusikisiki within the Ingquza Hill Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The department is joined in this drive by the department of health, Basic Education, SAPS, and traditional leaders. Social...

World leaders continue to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine as peace talks between the two countries were given a chance. The United Nations held an emergency session calling for peace to be given a chance while the European Union announced further sanctions against the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, locally the Department of International Relations and Co-operation has also strongly condemned...

More people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries such as Poland and Slovakia since the start of Russia's invasion last week. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says the agency's teams were stepping up humanitarian efforts amid escalating rights abuses there. For more on this, we're joined on the line by Octavia Mckenzie, a South African living in Bratislava, Slovakia, who is...

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says economic growth and job creation are of utmost importance in the truck industry, but violent protests should be condemned in the strongest terms. This as truck drivers affiliated with the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied SA embarked on a protest stay away in Braamfontein yesterday. Briefing the media yesterday, Minister Nxesi also called on Intere...

Labour unions have expressed disappointment following a ruling by the Constitutional Court which dismissed an appeal brought by public-sector unions in a bid to force the government to honour a 2018 three-year wage agreement. This comes after the government reneged on some aspects of its collective wage agreement - citing a lack of funds due to lower tax revenue. The salary increase would have add...

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by 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 Youth League in Gauteng has called for the South African government to stand with Russia in the war against Ukraine. In a strongly-worded statement, the league lambasted International Affairs minister  Naledi Pandor describing her as a chief pensioner that is in pursuit of appeasing Western countries. The comments by the Youth League follow statements by the Department of Internationa...

South African consumers will have to dig deeper into their pockets this week as fuel prices are set to hit a record high. The Central Energy Fund has released the latest fuel price increases effective from Wednesday, this week. The rise in crude oil prices has been created by the military action by Russia in Ukraine, among other factors. Both 93 and 95 petrol will increase by R1.46 a litre. Meanwh...

Police and Prisons Civil Right Union (POPCRU) has called for a thorough vetting of the incoming national police commissioner. This follows the sacking of Khehla Sitole which was announced by the presidency on Friday last week. Sitole has been at loggerheads with police minister Bheki Cele. The presidency's announcement however noted that the termination of Sitole's contract was by mutual consent....

At least 19 people have died at the weekend following a head-on collision on the R34 road between Bloemhof and Schweizer Reneke in the North West. The deceased was allegedly traveling from Ipelegeng township of Schweizer-Reneke to Bloemhof. Two females and a child survived the accident. For the latest, here is the North West Department of Transport spokesperson Boitshoko Moremi

The City of Johannesburg is investigating how a mammoth R94m was spent on a 13km road in Braamfischerville, Soweto - which is still in 'complete disarray.' This is reportedly the third time that contractors have failed to complete the construction of this road in Braamfischerville. For more on this here is the City's MMC for development planning, Belinda Echeozonjoku....

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...