First Take SA

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi is appearing in the Germiston Magistrates' Court today over fraud and corruption charges linked to blue lights fitted to vehicles linked to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. This is the fifth arrest warrant issued against him. His lawyer attorney, Shafique Sarlie says the defence has not yet received the charge sheet and other suspects are expe...

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

The Joburg Crisis Alliance has condemned the City of Johannesburg's appointment of Lesiba Arnold Malotana as Head of Public Safety. The group says the decision ignores calls for ethical and accountable governance, citing unresolved integrity issues, ongoing investigations and a reported high-risk lifestyle audit. The JCA is calling for the appointment to be rescinded, a legal review of council's d...

Western Cape Police Commissioner, Sizakhele Dyantyi, says investigations are at a crucial stage, following Wednesday morning's shootout between police and a suspect in Knysna, which left a policeman dead, as well as the suspect. Police were following up on leads in the recent deaths of Knysna's former Mayor, Aubrey Tsengwa and two others, when the shootout occurred. Sagree Chetty reports.

The South African Automotive Masterplan 2035 is under review, and labour is pushing for changes. MISA says the current plan focuses too much on vehicle manufacturing and ignores hundreds of thousands of jobs in dealerships, workshops and fuel stations. The union has told the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition the retail motor sector must be included. We speak to MISA spokesperson, Phaka...

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is calling on residents to plant more trees ahead of Arbor Month in September. The city says its tree population is ageing and under pressure from development, illegal felling, fires, pests and climate change. We speak to Joburg City Parks and Zoo Senior Manager, Jenny Moodley on why expanding the urban forest is urgent and how residents can help.

South African salary earners may have had some relief from easing inflation in July, but economists warn that the pay squeeze is far from over, as pressures on the economy persist. According to the latest PayInc Net Salary Index, average nominal net salary - which is the money paid to workers after deductions - increased further to R21,642. The index tracks take-home pay for about 2.1 million Sout...

The EFF's motion to remove National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, has been defeated. The motion related to Didiza's decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent interdict application in the Western Cape High Court to halt the Parliamentary impeachment process against him. During the debate in the House, EFF leader, Julius Malema, argued that Didiza has not shown impartiality and cho...

The Democratic Alliance, DA is in the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg today seeking to have the Finance Minister's power to raise VAT declared unconstitutional. The party argues tax rates should be decided by Parliament, not by ministerial proclamation. Last year the DA successfully blocked a proposed 2 percent VAT increase through the courts. For more we're joined by COSATU Parliamentary Coo...

The South African Freight and Logistics Association and the Road Freight Association are calling for an immediate recovery plan for the Durban Gateway Terminal. They say vessel waiting times have more than doubled since June, with truck delays also rising sharply at the port. The groups blame system, equipment and landside failures and are proposing a 30-day recovery compact with daily targets and...

A new Wonga survey shows the cost-of-living crisis is pushing more households into debt just to cover basic needs. 41% of people say they use credit every month for groceries, transport and electricity. 32% borrowed from informal lenders or mashonisas, in the past year, up from 15% in 2025. We speak to Wonga spokesperson, Tina Manyanya about what the findings reveal on household finances and debt.

The Johannesburg Magistrate's Court has heard how North West businessman, Brown Mogotsi, allegedly plotted to stage an escape from court during his previous appearance, disguised as a Prison Officer. The State presented the evidence in the form of an affidavit provided by the investigating officer. This is Mogotsi's forth bail application attempt after two bail applications were denied by the same...

The ANC Youth League in Ekurhuleni has accused city officials of deliberately blocking jobs meant for young people. The group claims approved positions for cleaners, security guards and grass cutters remain vacant months after interviews concluded. We spoke to Youth League's Regional Chairperson, Simphiwe Patose.

E-hailing groups in the Western Cape have condemned what they call institutional failure at Cape Town International Airport. The Western Cape E-Hailing Association and Operation Ubuntu say neglect by Uber, ACSA and police has led to violence and intimidation in the staging area. They report that unauthorised operators are beating drivers, while legitimate grievances over space and illegal operator...

The Government Employees Medical Scheme, GEMS has placed its Principal Officer Stan Moloabi on precautionary suspension. GEMS says the suspension is pending an internal process but has not provided reasons for the decision. With hundreds of thousands of public servants covered by the scheme, there are growing calls for transparency on what prompted the move. For reaction we spoke to Simon Hlungwan...

Members of the National Assembly will today vote on a motion of no confidence against Speaker Thoko Didiza. The motion was tabled by EFF leader Julius Malema in June over Didiza's decision not to oppose President Ramaphosa's court application to pause the Phala Phala impeachment process. The EFF says Didiza failed in her constitutional duties by not challenging the interdict. The DA's position is...

The Gauteng Department of Health is calling on communities to register as organ and tissue donors. Officials say about 1,100 people in Gauteng are waiting for a kidney transplant, while more than 6,500 people are on waiting lists nationwide. The department says one organ donor can save up to seven lives and tissue donation can help up to 50 people. They are urging families to discuss donation wish...

South Africa needs to move infrastructure projects from the drawing board to construction, faster. That's the focus of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium, which is taking place in Cape Town. It brings government and the private sector together, to unlock investment, improve delivery and create jobs. Mkhokheli Bandla filed this report.

The portfolio committee on Land Reform and Rural Development expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of farm worker equity schemes, while the portfolio committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources says the processing of the South African National Petroleum Resources Company Bill is at an advance stage. As Abongwe Kobokana reports, the committees briefed the media on their oversight respons...

Years of collapsing service delivery have destroyed trust in politics among some residents in the North West. They have expressed mixed feelings about the ANC's eight mayoral applicants for the Rustenburg Local Municipality, ahead of the much-anticipated local government elections in November. Initially only one candidate per municipality were supposed to be unveiled, instead the ANC announced the...

The SACP in the Western Cape has launched its election manifesto at Crossroads in the City of Cape Town. The 2026 Local Government Elections will mark the first time the SACP will contest for elections since 1994, marking a departure from their-long standing arrangement with the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance. They say they are currently working on localizing the 6 priority areas that national has cr...

The Madlanga Commission was delayed on Monday as the legal team representing attempted murder accused and businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala sought more time to consult with their client. Matlala eventually appeared before the Commission and invoked his right against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions about matters linked to ongoing criminal cases. His lawyers had also threatened to...

The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein will hear the state's appeal against a High Court ruling on the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant. The High Court previously found parts of the application process were unconstitutional and unfairly excluded vulnerable people. Government is challenging that decision. Civil society groups say barriers are still leaving some of South Africa's poorest wi...

Affected mining communities are appearing before Parliament today to demand a formal inquiry into a century of environmental damage and economic debt. Leading the "100 Year Debt Campaign", the groups are presenting their case directly to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources. They are calling for an immediate investigation into corporate exits, abandoned shafts, and failed lan...

A new political movement, Move SA, has officially registered to contest this year's municipal elections. The organization, spearheaded by prominent housing entrepreneur Rali Mampeule has reportedly established seventy branches and signed up over five thousand members across Gauteng within its first month. Mampeule, known for driving large-scale infrastructure projects says the party will focus dir...