First Take SA

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has added its voice, calling on its members to report for duty on June 30, urging workers to maintain stability and productivity amid ongoing economic and labour pressures. Last week, The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) warned its members that because the demonstrations are not protected under the Labour Relations Act, workers who stay home...

The Gauteng Department of Education has revealed the findings of an internal assessment into corruption, fraud, financial mismanagement, and governance failures in public schools across the province between 2023 and mid-2026. The report identifies 41 serious cases involving school principals, governing body members, officials, and service providers. It highlights systemic issues including procurem...

After reaching the Fifa World Cup knockout phase for the first time in their history, Bafana Bafana entered the lions den when they tackled Canada who were also playing in the 2028 Soccer World Cup knockout round for the first time. Unfortunately Bafana was bundled out of the World Cup by Canada after a muted display and a 1-0 loss  which some suggest was reminescant of their first match agai...

The African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association says legitimate cross-border operators are being undermined by illegal bus companies repatriating undocumented passengers using embassy-issued repatriation certificates instead of valid cross-border permits. The association warns this practice may violate the Cross-Border Road Transport Act No. 4 of 1998 and the National Land Transport Act of 2009,...

Despite the benefits of global connectivity, there is also the growing risks of AI-generated content such as deepfakes, which are increasingly used for fraud and cybercrime. Tayyibah Suliman of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr warns that deepfakes can deceive audiences, enable cybercrime, and damage reputations, often created and shared anonymously. South Africa has already seen cases of identity misuse thro...

The Organization Undoing Tax Abuse says Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's ultimatum to the City of Johannesburg is a welcomed move. Godongwana has given the city until Friday to explain why National Treasury should not stop transferring funds to the metro. OUTA says this is a welcome development, with Treasury now doing what it ought to have done years ago, placing pressure on the City of Johann...

Suspended National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola and over a dozen other senior police officers are due back in the Pretoria Magistrates court today in connection with the 228-million rand Medicare24 SAPS tender awarded to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi "CAT" Matlala's company. Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach MP and DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development has raised concerns, following...

The Department of Basic Education is threatening legal action as Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube demands immediate restoration of electricity and water at the department's head office in Pretoria.  The department says its account is in good standing and the disconnection was made in error by the City of Tshwane. It is now warning legal action if services are not restored. This comes a...

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

Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee investigating serious allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi met last night to consider its draft preliminary report, along with submissions made by various political parties. This process forms part of Parliament's effort to interrogate allegations that have raised important questions about governance, acc...

More than 20 anti-migrant organizations and civil groups have declared their intention to take to the streets come June 30. The groups, say their action will remain peaceful, with no violence, looting, or loss of life. However, their central message is clear: they are calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by Tuesday. At a media briefing, March and March leader Jacinta Ngo...

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