First Take SA

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng will today lodge a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against the Gauteng Department of Education over its alleged failure to pay scholar‑transport service providers. A strike that has left thousands of pupils without transport for a second week. For more on the League's complaint, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANCYL Gauteng Provincial Chairma...

March and March founder and leader Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma has called for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and urged South Africans to stop renting space to those harbouring them. Speaking at a recent campaign event, she asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency, deploy the army to assist police and involve courts and the defence force in removing illegal foreigners....

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan is expected to testify in person today before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, which is investigating allegations of corruption and political interference in South Africa's criminal justice system. O'Sullivan had asked to appear virtually, citing security concerns. The EFF had earlier accused Speaker Thoko Didiza of trying to shield Brown Mogotsi and Paul O'Sull...

The ANC Study Group on Agriculture has rejected the Democratic Alliance's claim that Minister John Steenhuisen single‑handedly revived local Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine production after 21 years. The ANC says the groundwork was laid under its 6th administration, with Agricultural Research Council scientists already developing strains from 2010 to 2018 and registering a vaccine in 2023. Th...

The Gauteng Department of Education is calling for calm as it continues talks with public scholar transport service providers to settle outstanding payments. The department says it's working in good faith to reach a sustainable solution and urges providers to keep services running for learners who rely on them. Schools have been told to prepare academic recovery and catch up programmes to address...

Police say arrests are imminent in the 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbense. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that eight people remain alive among the original twelve persons of interest in the case. Mbense was allegedly tortured and killed by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officers, with his body later found dumped in a dam near Nigel. So far, four of those per...

ActionSA Parliamentary Caucus Leader, Athol Trollip will conduct an oversight visit to Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape to assess a recurring foot‑and‑mouth disease outbreak. The region is experiencing its second outbreak within a year. Trollip's visit will focus on how the government's delayed response is affecting large dairy farmers. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Trollip, who is also a sixth‑genera...

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party is calling for a debate in Parliament to address South Africa's worsening national water crisis. Communities across the country are experiencing dry taps, polluted water and failing sewage and wastewater systems. The party says the issue has moved from a municipal service delivery problem to a national governance failure. The MK Party wants Parliament to investigate how...

The South African Municipal Workers Union, SAMWU says the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West has not paid employees' pension contributions for 14 months. Last August, workers also went three months without salaries after Treasury withheld the municipality's equitable share grant to enforce financial compliance, including payments to creditors such as Eskom and water boards. At the end...

The Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 kicks off today at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Over 10,500 delegates, including mining executives, global investors, government officials, service providers and community representatives will gather for four days of talks, exhibitions and networking under the theme "Stronger Together: Progress through Partnerships". Elvis Presslin spok...

The Motor Industry Staff Association, MISA has welcomed South Africa's inclusion in the one-year African Growth and Oppportunity Act  (AGOA) extension. MISA says duty-free US access gives relief after 2025 exports plunged from R26.5 billion to R9.8 billion following the programme's lapse and a 30% tariff from August. Elvis Presslin spoke to MISA's new spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, who...

The City of Tshwane's Customer Relations Management Department will later this morning hold an open day in Region 6 today at Eersterust Civic Centre, starting at 08:00. Residents can meet officials from finance, billing, metering, electricity, indigent services, building control and other units to resolve long‑standing service‑delivery queries, with priority given to cases logged between 2019 and...

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa says security for Madlanga Commission witnesses will be tightened after an attempted hit on Wiandre Pretorius in Ekurhuleni yesterday. Pretorius was named by murdered witness Marius Van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, who testified that Pretorius took part in the 2022 torture and killing of Emmanuel Mbense by Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers. Van der Merwe, was killed...

The Democratic Alliance has called on the President, the Public Protector and Parliament to investigate allegations of maladministration and abuse of power at Parliament. The party submitted a 393‑page dossier requesting probes into the rapid salary increase of Secretary to Parliament Xolile George, questions over his appointment and alleged misuse of millions of rand for the 2023 BRICS Parliament...

Intermittent water supply in Midrand, Johannesburg has left some schools in the area grappling with sanitation challenges, increased staff and learner absenteeism and disrupted classroom activities. The dire situation has prompted SADTU's Site Secretary for Midrand High School, Lebogang Shovhote to call for urgent municipal intervention. She spoke to Elvis Presslin, to elaborate further on her con...

Thousands of Gauteng learners are reportedly without transport after the provincial education department failed to pay scholar‑transport operators.  The Democratic Alliance says at least 20 schools are affected, with operators reporting they have not received payments for more than three months, breaching  a 30‑day contract term.  The Gauteng Small Bus Operators' Council says the De...

Members of the National Union of Mineworkers, NUM have been protesting outside the Industrial Development Corporation's head office in Sandton, demanding action over imminent job cuts at Cast Products South Africa, which faces liquidation. The union says hundreds of jobs are on the line and is calling on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to intervene and find a solution. For more o...

AgriSA has welcomed the United States Senate's approval of a one‑year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. The Act grants eligible sub‑Saharan African nations, including South Africa, duty‑free access to the US market. AgriSA says the so‑called "Liberation Day" tariffs of 30 percent have reduced some of AGOA's benefits but the programme remains vital for local exporters. To d...

The Baphiring Tribal Authority, in partnership with The Princess & Friends NPC, is hosting the first Annual "The Rural" Career Expo. The event is currently underway at the Baphiring Tribal Offices and Sports Grounds in Mabaalstad, exposing around 4 000 learners to career paths in accountancy, commerce, STEM field - science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) , medical sciences, art...

The water shortage in Johannesburg, especially in Midrand, has entered its seventh day, leaving thousands without running water. As local elections approach, RISE Mzansi says the crisis must be addressed at the ballot box. The party is urging residents to vote for new leadership in the upcoming local government elections to address the ongoing water challenges. Elvis Presslin spoke to RISE Mzansi...

The Democratic Alliance in the City of Ekurhuleni has raised concerns over salary increases awarded to two senior officials who are now on precautionary suspension. Caucus leader Brandon Pretorius says Khemie Beharie, Head of Legal Services, and Linda Gxasheka, Head of Human Resources, each received a 28 percent raise, about R585,000, just two months after being appointed to their departmental pos...

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen is expected to announce today that he will not seek re‑election at the party's federal congress In April. Steenhuisen, who has led the DA since 2019 and also serves as Agriculture Minister, has faced mounting criticism from groups such as AfriForum and Solidarity, as well as from some farmers. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel described Steenhuisen's centralise...

Today marks World Cancer Day, which is observed globally on the 4th of February. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says the country's cancer burden is growing fast with new cases projected to double by 2030, reaching around 220,000 annually. The Association says people‑centred care can save lives, restore dignity and give hope. Elvis Presslin spoke to CANSA Clinical Health Specialist...

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has condemned the refusal by Paul O'Sullivan and Brown Mogotsi to appear before Parliament's Ad-Hoc Committee, citing alleged security concerns. The party says no individual is above the law and all persons summoned to appear before the committee must comply. The MK Party notes inconsistencies in Mr. O'Sullivan's position on security concerns and says adequate security a...