First Take SA

Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee says threats to his life, laid bare at the Madlanga Commission will not deter his work. Court papers claim Tax Justice South Africa founder, Abramjee was threatened in WhatsApp messages involving senior police official Major-General Feroz Khan and tobacco figure Mohamed Sayed. The messages followed Abramjee's exposure of cigarette brands allegedly avoiding tax. H...

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute, SERI, ASF-UK and 1to1 Agency will hold a media workshop in Johannesburg's inner city on Thursday. The session will cover eviction laws and proposed changes to the PIE Act of 1998. Organisers say it aims to help journalists understand housing pressures and recent City of Johannesburg evictions. Reporting on urban housing and displacement will also be discussed....

The Refugee Appeals Authority says asylum seekers waiting outside Durban's refugee office should come forward to receive outstanding appeal notices. Officials launched a "priority backlog" drive on Monday to clear cases delayed for months. Hundreds of refugees are camping outside the centre after alleged attacks targeting undocumented foreign nationals. For more on this, we're joined by Refugee Ap...

The Afrika Mayibuye Movement has repeated its call for Crime Intelligence's Major-General Firoz Khan and Hawks officer Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa to be suspended. The two were arrested last month for allegedly releasing a businessman caught with unwrought gold. The Madlanga Commission also heard claims they interfered in the 2021 Aeroton drug bust probe. Court papers further allege WhatsApp messa...

African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association, AUBBTA says some trade unions are failing to address unemployment for South African citizens. Chairperson Phumudzo Mukhwathi claims unions represent foreign nationals and ghost workers instead of local youth. He alleges some unions take bribes and benefit themselves during wage negotiations with employers. The association is urging government to hold u...

ActionSA in Gauteng says the South African Human Rights Commission's data that undocumented foreign nationals are not linked to hospital overcrowding does not reflect conditions in the province. Party MPL Emma More argues the Commission used Limpopo figures from 2022 to make a national claim, while Gauteng hospitals face severe capacity shortages daily. She joins us on the line

ActionSA has called on the Special Investigating Unit, SIU to urgently attach assets and recover public money linked to former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi. The party says delays could undermine accountability in the matter. ActionSA also wants all payments to XET Solutions stopped immediately while investigations continue. It's asking that the issue be sent to oversight structures as a...

The Public Service Commission says public servants may not attend political party study groups outside official government processes. UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa welcomed the advisory, saying it confirms long-held concerns about impartiality in the public service. The Commission warns such meetings risk political bias, unequal access to state information and weaker parliamentary oversight. F...

The Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's plan to tighten immigration enforcement, saying Parliament must now ensure the strategy is fully implemented. Committee Chair Mosa Chabane said the President's announcement addresses concerns raised by South Africans about illegal migration and pressure on public services. He stressed that...

It's now 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...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will step up deportations and inspections of businesses employing undocumented migrants. He announced dedicated immigration courts, border security upgrades and plans to phase out green ID books for a digital ID system. Ramaphosa warned only police and officials may enforce immigration laws and said xenophobia has no place in South Africa. This follows rec...

A proudly South African brand is making waves in the business space, led by two young entrepreneurs determined to reshape their future and that of their communities. Omotergents was founded by 19-year-old twins, Omohau and Omolemo Mbileni, and has quickly grown from a shared dream into a purpose-driven enterprise. The company produces a range of affordable cleaning products while also empowering o...

Cabinet has adopted a new migration plan that sets quotas for foreign workers across sectors. The National Labour Migration Policy and Employment Services Amendment Bill will let the Minister cap employment of documented foreign nationals and prosecute employers hiring undocumented workers. Government will also register informal businesses and roll out a Spaza Shop Fund to support South African tr...

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is reviewing content regulations that could affect community radio and independent creators. Solidarity has objected, saying the proposed rules may restrict content sharing and hit smaller broadcasters hardest. The union warns it could reduce diversity on the airwaves if restrictions go ahead. Solidarity Network Coordinator for Communication...

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has welcomed the swift arrest of three armed security guards accused of attacking an e-hailing driver and several women in KwaNdengezi. The arrests followed intervention by MEC Siboniso Duma, who has praised the coordinated response by law enforcement, including SAPS teams led by Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, as well as Operation Sha...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today launch a new twice-a-year HIV prevention injection in Mpumalanga. The shot offers six months of protection per dose and will be rolled out nationally. Health officials say it could transform prevention efforts in high-risk areas. The rollout starts today at an event in Mpumalanga. Authorities hope the injectable will reduce new infections nationwide. We spoke t...

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre has filed an application in the North Gauteng High Court to suspend permits for arms exports to the United States. The non-governmental organisation argues the National Conventional Arms Control Committee should have cancelled the permits due to international law concerns. This is the first South African case seeking to stop arms sales to a permanent UN Securi...

The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the North West Province has apologized after viral videos showed taxi patrollers confronting commuters in Hebron, Britz. The council says the conduct was unacceptable and does not reflect its values. The dispute centres on buses allegedly operating outside agreed peak-hour times on taxi routes. SANTACO and the North West Transport Department hav...

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

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng will hold a media briefing outside Wits University over high death rates linked to heart surgeries at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. The Cardiothoracic Department, run jointly by Wits Medical School and the Gauteng Health Department, faces scrutiny over mortality and morbidity allegations. DA Shadow MEC for Health Dr. Jack Bloom says new evidence shows a deepening cr...

The Gauteng High Court has dismissed the Information Regulator's appeal against publishing matric results. Yesterday the court refused leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, upholding a December order that allows results in newspapers and online. The Regulator had argued publication breached POPIA, but courts ruled the Department of Basic Education can continue the practice. Matric results will rem...

Tax season is approaching and the Office of the Tax Ombud is urging South Africans to prepare early. The Ombud says delays, penalties and stress often come from late filing or not knowing your rights with Sars. They advise taxpayers to be accurate and proactive and note independent help is available if disputes come up. We spoke to  Russel Mamabolo, Specialist Communications and Outreach at t...

Zimbabwe has been elected to a two-year non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. It is the country's third term on the body responsible for international peace and security. Zimbabwe will replace Somalia from the first of January and join the DRC and Liberia as the African A3 group on the Council. We spoke to Zanu PF Spokesperson, Farai Marapira.

The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA has reinstated prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba after his earlier suspension. Ntaba was suspended for failing to appear in the extortion case against Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni, and was later found in contempt. On her last day, retired Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni authorised a warrant for his arrest. The Magistrates Commission confirms it received a supplementary N...

The Information Regulator has issued enforcement notices to Central Johannesburg TVET College and Sibanye Stillwater for breaking data protection and access laws. The college shared sensitive student details without safeguards, while Sibanye refused access to Social and Labour Plan records. Both must now take corrective action or face fines and possible jail time. We spoke to  Mfana Gwala, a...