First Take SA

From navigating financial struggles to shaping public discourse, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has faced a complex journey of challenges and triumphs. As SABC News commemorates its 75th anniversary of news reporting today, we shed light into the past and present of this iconic institution. Elvis Presslin spoke to William Bird, Director of Media Monitoring Africa, to unpack the...

The Commission for Gender Equality has welcomed the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Semenya v. Switzerland case. The judgment found that Caster Semenya's right to a fair trial was violated, highlighting that restrictions on her participation in sport were based on World Athletics regulations rather than law. The Commission says these regulations unfairly discrimin...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as Acting Police Minister with immediate effect. He'll hold the role until Professor Firoz Cachalia steps in from August, following his retirement from Wits University. Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that his deputy, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, is on leave. This comes am...

The Green Connection has expressed shock and concern over the approval of Shell's Environmental Impact Assessment for the Northern Cape Ultra Deep oil and gas exploration project. The decision, made by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, comes despite strong objections from coastal communities and civil society groups, including The Green Connection and Natural Justice, who submitte...

The Presidency has warned South Africans not to treat disinformation from the Democratic Alliance (DA) on international relations as official government policy. The DA - a GNU partner, claims that the United States rejected the credentials of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Special Envoy to North America, Mcebisi Jonas. This amid looming U.S. trade tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. The Pres...

The Northern Cape was the last office, where the SABC established a presence for its news division in 1996. Some of the pioneers, say those early days as the country transformed into a democracy, things were difficult. But telling the stories of one of the biggest and most rural provinces had its own unique reward. SABC senior reporter, Ulrich Hendriks and Thabiso Radebe filed this report

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, SATAWU is calling on road freight and logistics companies to stop employing undocumented foreign nationals as truck drivers. SATAWU argues that truck driving is not a specialised skill and insists that such jobs should be reserved for South Africans. The union says it's unacceptable that locals remain unemployed while companies overlook them fo...

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements has taken over the management of temporary accommodations for victims of the 2022 floods. This follows reports of evictions from a Durban hotel due to unpaid bills by the provincial government. More than 150 people, including women and children, were left on the streets after the Bayside Hotel eviction. The department has since secured Montclair Lo...

A new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization shows global childhood vaccination rates remained stable in 2024, with 89% of infants, around 115 million - receiving at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. About 85% or 109 million, completed all three doses. Despite this progress, over 14 million infants remain unvaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to...

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

His master's voice - a phrase that once upon time was used when frequently referring to the SABC. The meaning, is that the SABC board - and inevitably the newsroom - pandered to the government of the day. And this was not only before 1994 It took former employees, Parliament and civil society to intervene to turn the ship around and to change the sentiment. In recent history the operations of the...

The Activists and Citizens Forum is calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa's immediate resignation for not firing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. The organisation is criticizing Ramaphosa for relying on commissions instead of taking decisive action. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dennis Bloem, Spokesperson of the Activists and Citizens Forum

The MK Party, Umnotho Wabantu Abansundu civic group, alongside other organisations, will today march in support of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This follows Mkhwanazi's explosive claims of a criminal syndicate within top police ranks. Mkhwanazi accused Minister Senzo Mchunu, Crime Detection Deputy, General Shadrack Sibiya, and other senior police officials of interfering...

Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo says more arrests may follow in the murder case of Jayden Lee Meek. Minister Boshielo was speaking outside the Roodepoort Magistrates Court, where Jayden's mother, Tiffany Meek, appeared yesterday for her son's murder. To elaborate further on the case Elvis Presslin spoke to Deputy Police Minister, Polly Boshielo

The Independent Electoral Commission has rejected the Islamic State of Africa's bid to register as a political party. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo outlined three reasons for the decision: over 200 objections were lodged, citing the party's Sharia-based policies as incompatible with South Africa's secular values; the group failed to provide 300 valid signatures from registered voters and the...

As we celebrate 75 years of news on the SABC's platforms, we revisit one of the most hilarious moments in South African television news history. Riaan Cruywagen is synonymous with professionalism and perfectionism - the ultimate South African news presenter. Cruywagen perfectly presented the Afrikaans television news for 37 years. One night, however, he showed his "human" side, after an on-air inc...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave amid ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The announcement was made during a national address last night. Professor Firoz Cachalia will assume the role of acting police minister from  August first. The decision follows claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant G...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Sunday regarding explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.  The speech comes in response to serious allegations made by Mkhwanazi, who has accused the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, alongside SAPS' leadership, of corruption and obstructing justice. For more on this Elvis Presslin spo...

Former leader of Reaction Unit 6, a unit of the of the Apartheid-era Police operating in Dunnottar Springs, Johan Marais has been sentenced to 15-years in prison. Marais was found guilty of the premeditated murder of student activist, Caiphus Nyoka, in 1987. The  plan to kill and raid Nyoka's home was devised by some members of the security branch under the then commanding officer Leon Louis...

Controversial tender mogul Vusimuzi Cat Matlala is expected back in the Alexandra Magistrates' Court today. He faces charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, linked to a 2023 hit attempt on his ex-girlfriend actress Tebogo Thobejane. Matlala recently ditched his bail bid and remains in custody. His wife, Tsakani, who is out on a R20,000 bail, also faces the same charges. The co...

Johannesburg residents have expressed outrage after Mayor Dada Morero announced that repairing the city's potholes could cost approximately R700 million. The staggering figure, announced during the launch of the city's "War on Potholes" campaign in Hyde Park, has ignited debate over budget priorities and years of infrastructure neglect. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA shadow Member of...

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 ANC will today hold a memorial for former Deputy President David Mabuza in three regions in Mpumalanga, where he served as premier from 2009 to 2018. The country is currently observing a period of mourning which entails national flags flying at half-mast until Mabuza's official state funeral on Saturday. Elvis Presslin spoke to Desmond  Moela, Spokesperson to former Deputy President David...

The Tshegofatso Pule Foundation has expressed outrage over the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court decision to grant R5,000 bail to 39-year-old Mduduzi Mnisi, accused of murdering 14-year-old Likhona Fose. Mnisi, who was on parole at the time, is alleged to have been seen with Fose in Durban Deep on the day she went missing in May. Her mutilated body was found the next day. The state claims premeditated...

ActionSA will today lead a protest outside the KwaZulu-Natal police headquarters to demand urgent action to address the deepening crisis within SAPS and the criminal justice system. This follows serious allegations by KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Zwakele Mncwango, ActionSA KZN Provinci...