First Take SA

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke says municipalities have made limited progress in improving audit outcomes over the past four years. Speaking in Parliament, Maluleke revealed that only 39 municipalities achieved clean audits, while audit outcomes in metros continue to decline. However, she highlighted improvements in financial reporting, with 61% of municipalities receiving unqualified audit opin...

Bafana Bafana are into the knockout stages of the World Cup. They finished second in Group A after a 1-nil win over South Korea. Thapelo Maseko started this match and opening the scoring, with a goal on 63 minutes, perhaps a little against the run of play. And they held on, and don't even have to wait to for the 3rd place standings to be finalized. We spoke to ABC Sport Anchors Sifiso Ramara and J...

The Democratic Alliance has taken the matter of the Public Investment Corporation to the Information Regulator, accusing the PIC of unlawfully withholding key public documents, including the Mokgoro Advisory Panel report and the PIC's final implementation report on the Mpati Commission's recommendations. These reports relate to serious allegations that emerged from the Mpati Commission of Inquiry,...

A major legal and diplomatic standoff has come to an end, at least in the courts. South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled decisively in favour of the family of Zambia's late former President, Edgar Lungu, blocking efforts by the Zambian government to repatriate his remains. At the heart of this case: who has the final say over a former head of state's burial, the nation or the family? The...

Johannesburg MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, has raised concern over what he calls an escalating financial crisis in the City of Johannesburg, warning that service delivery is under severe strain due to systemic liquidity challenges. Kunene says the crisis has forced the suspension of fuel supplies for the Johannesburg Roads Agency fleet. As a result, field teams have been grounded, halting potho...

Rise Mzansi MP and Section 89 Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in what he describes as a deepening conflict within South Africa's criminal justice system. Gana says tensions between SAPS and the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) are undermining public confidence in law enforcement. His remarks come as senior police generals...

The Activists and a citizen's forum have called on the Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, to immediately disband the Independent Directorate Against Corruption, alleging it is operating as a destabilising and politically biased unit. They claim it is targeting senior police officials and warn of growing tensions between law enforcement structures. We spoke to the spokesperson of The Activists...

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia told a media briefing yesterday that SAPS is fully prepared for any eventuality ahead of the June 30 deadline, set by anti-immigrant groups for undocumented nationals to leave the country. He added that SANDF support remains an option if required. For a security perspective and analysis on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Independent Security Analyst Azaniah Mnis...

Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia will today meet with SAPS Nyanga Police Station management and Community Policing Forum representatives as part of stakeholder engagement. He will also visit the SAPS Provincial Operational Coordination Centre in Cape Town ahead of planned demonstrations on 30 June. The Acting Minister yesterday urged public compliance with the law, warning against incitem...

Government has urged calm and called for all actions to be managed through official channels to avoid escalating tensions surrounding migrants. It came as they confirmed that about 500 Malawian nationals relocated from Cape Town were being housed at a church facility in Newlands, Sophiatown, Gauteng, as part of arrangements with the Malawian Embassy to facilitate voluntary return. Elvis Presslin s...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana

As tensions around migration continue to rise in parts of South Africa, a group of around 500 Malawian nationals who had been temporarily housed in Newlands, Johannesburg, are now making their way back to Malawi. Their situation has drawn attention to broader issues of safety, displacement, and the lived realities of foreign nationals in the country. We spoke to Bishop Dalton Adams, who has been c...

British politics entered a period of rapid transition following the resignation of Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader. Andy Burnham has now been sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield and is expected to mount a leadership bid, reportedly with support from senior Labour figures including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Starmer, in an emotional statement outside Downing Street,...

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) In Mpumalanga will today picket at the Department of Water and Sanitation in Standerton to oppose 178 planned retrenchments at Grootdraai Dam. The union calls the job cuts irrational amid high unemployment, poverty and inequality in the province. We spoke to NEHAWU's  Provincial Secretary Welcome Mnisi  

Four political party members have been killed in separate incidents during this weekend's IEC voter registration. In Bekkersdal, Randfontein, MK Party members Mozwakhile Zungu and Siyabonga Mabaso were shot while walking home after working at a voting station. The MK Party says it will not speculate on motive. In Cape Town, DA by-election candidate Sinovuyo Dyokwe was gunned down in Du Noon soon a...

The FW de Klerk Foundation has appealed to US President Donald Trump to reconsider phased cuts to PEPFAR funding for South Africa. In a letter, Executive Director Christo van der Rheede warned the cuts would disrupt healthcare for millions and weaken the Government of National Unity. The Foundation rejected claims of "white genocide", saying violent crime affects all South Africans but hits poor t...

Rea Vaya bus drivers say their salary and job security have been severely impacted since the bus operator went into business rescue in December 2023. Business rescue practitioner Mahier Tayob now runs the company after creditors threatened to seize buses over mounting debts. Drivers blame years of maladministration for ongoing salary delays, while the City of Johannesburg is still said to owe the...

Civil society movement Activists and Citizens Forum, has condemned Speaker Thoko Didiza's decision to abide by the High Court ruling on President Ramaphosa's interdict application. The group says the move breaks with the Impeachment Committee, where most parties had agreed to oppose the President's bid to halt the process. They allege Didiza acted on ANC instructions after the party pushed against...

A Seat at the Table is hosting the Connect Youth in Dialogue Summit 2026 with a key focus on how do we move from conversations about change to real, measurable action. Young leaders, policymakers, business leaders and development partners will converge under the theme From Resolutions to Reality: Youth Implementing Action for Impact. This year's summit will reflect on commitments made in 2025, ass...

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back

COSATU will stage demonstrations in all provinces today over rising living costs. The federation says food, electricity, water and transport have become unaffordable while wages fall behind inflation. COSATU argues workers now earn less in real terms than a decade ago, forcing many into debt to cover basics. We spoke to COSATU's National Spokesperson, Zanele Sabela.  

Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a Bill to extend presidential terms from five to seven years, which could see Incumbent President, Emmerson Mnangagwa stay in power until 2030. Over 200 lawmakers voted in favour of the Bill. So what does this development mean for democracy in Zimbabwe and the region? To answer this and more, we spoke to Ngqabutho Mabhena, Zimbabwe Communist party General Secretary...

SANParks has extended condolences to the family of a 69-year-old Canadian tourist who was fatally wounded at a concession braai at the Kruger National Park. The Park says a private guide allegedly accidentally discharged a firearm during the incident near Phabeni Gate on Wednesday. The guest was part of a group booked outside the park for a bush braai at a permitted concession facility. We spoke t...

ActionSA has welcomed the decision by Parliament's Section 89 Impeachment Committee to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's court bid to halt its work on the Phala Phala matter. The party says this is a crucial step in defending constitutional accountability and ensuring that Parliament can carry out its oversight role without interference. We spoke to  ActionSA Parliamentary Caucus Leader, Ath...

Civil society organization Defend Our Democracy is urging South Africans to take action ahead of the upcoming voter registration weekend, calling on citizens to register and update their details in preparation for local government elections. The organization says declining trust in local government and politicians should not lead to voter apathy, but rather motivate citizens to use their vote to d...