First Take SA

The Pretoria High Court will today hear the Presidency's bid to recover over R28 million in legal fees from former President Jacob Zuma. The costs stem from his court battles since 2018, linked to the 1999 arms deal. Zuma's legal team argues he cannot afford the repayment, citing financial hardship despite his pension. The Presidency, alongside the State Attorney and Solicitor-General is pushing f...

Kenyan President William Ruto has declared a 7-day national mourning period following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Odinga passed away in India at the age of 80, where he was receiving medical treatment. He led Kenya from 2008 to 2013. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent condolences to the Kenyan government and Its people. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Kenyan MP, Maxwell K...

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is set to testify before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee today. Mchunu is facing questions over allegations of interference in the justice system and corruption within the police force. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of overstepping his authority, including disbanding a task team investigating political ki...

The Campaign to Scrap the Labour Law Amendment Bills will today protest outside the Department of Employment and Labour's Braamfontein office in Johannesburg. The coalition of more than 40 unions, feminist groups and social movements has rejected the current R28.79 hourly minimum wage, calling it a "poverty wage". They're demanding public hearings so workers can have their say on what constitutes...

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is calling for the immediate dismissal of Lesiba Arnold Malotana, the Head of the Health Department, rejecting his current suspension with full pay. The DA accuses Malotana of longstanding underperformance and links to multiple scandals, including a Special Investigating Unit probe into allegations of a multi-million-rand bribe to secure a contract. In August, Pr...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit Louis Trichardt following a tragic bus crash that claimed 43 lives. The bus was traveling from Gqeberha to Zimbabwe and Malawi when the accident occurred. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba says authorities are investigating boxes of medication and condoms found scattered at the crash site. Elvis Presslin spoke to African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association...

Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has accused KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of using corruption allegations against him to block his path from becoming national commissioner after Fannie Masemola's term. Appearing for a second day before Parliament's Ad Hoc committee probing police corruption, Sibiya denied meddling in murder probes or ties to sh...

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, POPCRU, has raised concern over unexplained reductions in pension fund values reported by its members in recent statements from the Government Employees Pension Fund. POPCRU says these changes were made without consultation or clear explanation. The GEPF attributes the reductions to actuarial projections, but POPCRU argues these should not affect existing...

A Protea Is Not a Flower, is a thrilling exhibition presented by Zeitz MOCAA featuring South African contemporary visual artists Robin Rhode and Lerato Shadi based in Germany, responding to the life and works of poet Don Mattera, painter Gerard Sekoto and writer Bessie Head. The exhibition opens on 16 October 2025 and runs until 15 November 2026. Elvis Presslin spoke to Khanyi Mawhayi, the Curator...

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina is reported to have fled the country on a French military plane. The move comes after mass protests led by young people, dubbed "Gen Z", rocked the nation with demands for change escalating into unrest. Segments of the military allegedly refused orders to crack down on demonstrators, instead siding with protesters, fuelling the crisis. Elvis Presslin spoke to...

Suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has told Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee he wasn't solely responsible for disbanding the Political Killings Task Team. Sibiya says he acted on instructions from National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Appearing before the committee probing allegations of corruption and political interference in the justice system, Sibiya denied being the key...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, 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

ActionSA has reportedly obtained the confidential agreement behind the ANC's R150 million debt settlement with Ezulweni Investments, which it says breaks the Political Party Funding Act. The deal, now public through ANC court papers, shows the ANC ordered R190 million worth of election materials to write off the R150 million debt - a move ActionSA calls an unlawful donation-in-kind exceeding the R...

All 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are back in Israel after two years in captivity. The freed hostages mark a major development in the US-brokered ceasefire deal. Bodies of 28 deceased hostages remain in Gaza but are due to be returned. In exchange, Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners serving long sentences and over 1,700 Gaza detainees held without charge since October 2023 at...

The United Democratic Movement, UDM has voiced concern over the surge in kidnappings across South Africa. In the latest incident, Tshwane officers on Saturday stopped a suspicious vehicle on the R80 highway in Rosslyn and freed a bound and hooded man from the back seat. Four suspects were arrested on the scene, with police seizing an AK-47 rifle loaded with live rounds, dashboard blue lights, a ve...

Former Passenger Rail Agency, PRASA CEO Lucky Montana is due to address the media this afternoon over a disputed tax bill of more than 55 million rand. Montana, now an MP with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, filed criminal charges against SARS officials last week, alleging they fabricated a court judgment to pursue the massive debt and sequestrate his estate - calling it a political vendetta linked to...

The Democratic Alliance, DA In Gauteng has raised fresh concerns over the legality of the Gauteng Traffic Warden unit, known as "AmaPanyaza." The DA is demanding that Premier Panyaza Lesufi clarify whether the unit complies with the South African Police Service Act, citing its lack of accreditation and inadequate training for wardens. The party claims the programme, launched just before the 2024 G...

A potential coup is unfolding In Madagascar. An elite military unit, CAPSAT, has declared control of the armed forces and is demanding President Andry Rajoelina's resignation. This follows youth-led protests against the government. Yesterday, the armed forces minister recognized a military-backed officer as the new army chief. President Rajoelina has called the move an attempted coup. Meanwhile, S...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, 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 Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, PSiRA, has suspended eight employees following irregularities uncovered at Cat Protection and Security, owned by controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. The move comes after probes found procedural flaws and weak oversight at the firm, amid allegations pointing to systemic control failures. Matlala faces murder charges, adding to scruti...

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group is launching a nationwide campaign today to mark World Mental Health Day, themed "Together for Mental Health." With one in three South Africans likely to face a mental illness in their lifetime, and nine out of ten lacking access to treatment, the issue is critical. SADAG is partnering with government, businesses, schools, and communities to raise awa...

The Chief of staff to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Cedrick Nkabinde has accused National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KZN's Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of orchestrating raids to intimidate him. Nkabinde says devices were seized from him and Mchunu ahead of their respective appearances before the Madlanga Commission and Parliament's Ad Hoc committee probing corruption and political interference...

The Democratic Alliance, DA has welcomed the Special Investigating Unit, SIU's seizure of assets linked to Hangwani Maumela, a key figure in the Tembisa Hospital tender scandal. The SIU raided Maumela's Sandton luxury home, confiscating high-end vehicles including three Lamborghinis and artwork in effort to recoup R820 million amid probes into over R2 billion in alleged Tembisa Hospital fraud. DA...

ActionSA has strongly criticized Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber's decision to extend the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits until May, 2027. The party calls the move another example of government indecision on South Africa's immigration challenges. ActionSA says it supports a humane and orderly immigration process but opposes temporary measures that weaken public trust, border secu...

Two university buildings have been set ablaze at the University of Fort Hare's Alice campus in the Eastern Cape, amid fierce clashes between students and police. The violence erupted this week as protesters demanded a halt to planned changes in student governance. A student demonstration has now shut down all in-person academic activities, forcing the institution to suspend classes indefinitely. T...