First Take SA

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...

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

The Rankapole family who lost their daughter in a crash which killed three learners and a driver at Ga-Mashashane in Limpopo, say they are failing to come to terms with her passing. Both vehicles, a bus and a minibus taxi were carrying learners. Several learners were injured and were hospitalised at various health care facilities. The Education Department says it has initiated psychosocial support...

Public Protector of South Africa, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka is calling on faith based organizations to help root out corruption by reporting suspicious financial contributions offered to them as donations. Gcaleka was speaking at the St Paul African Apostolic Church's Annual Feast in Moletsane, Soweto. The annual feast brings together congregants from across South Africa and neighbouring countries...

National Liquor Traders says it agrees children must be protected from underage drinking, but opposes blanket closures of taverns near schools. The group is responding to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa's proposal, made at the party's manifesto launch to close taverns operating near schools. Convenor Lucky Ntimane told our senior producer Ronald Phiri that many outlets hold valid licences and should...

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has given his party's prospective mayors and councillors 100 days to change the face of their wards and municipalities. This is contained in the 65 page ANC 2026 local government election manifesto he unveiled at Riversand Park Diepsloot north of Johannesburg on Sunday. Ramaphosa said within 100 days all ANC local government representatives must have fixed streets lig...

Seven Emfuleni Local Municipality employees will appear in court today on charges of fraud and theft. This follows their arrest by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team in Vanderbijlpark. Police allege the suspects took payments from residents to illegally reconnect electricity. Investigations are continuing and further arrests have not been ruled out. We spoke to DA Emfuleni Local Municipality...

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, POPCRU says ActionSA's court bid to review disciplinary outcomes for two Presidential Protection Service officers must not turn Major-General Wally Rhoode and Brigadier Hennie Rekhoto into political targets. The union says approaching the High Court is a constitutional right, but guilt cannot be assumed before a court rules. Popcru adds that all SAPS memb...

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA has found the South African Police Service committed an unfair labour practice after overlooking Captain Christiaan du Plessis for a station commander post in Moorreesburg. It ruled less qualified candidates were shortlisted and the process had numerous irregularities and ordered SAPS to pay Du Plessis 10 months' salary. Trade union...

Residents and small business owners in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, have accused mining company, Seriti, of overlooking them for employment and business opportunities at its recently opened pit. The residents say they have not benefitted from the mine in terms of job opportunities, business opportunities, skills training or infrastructure development since it began operations, earlier this year. They c...

The sexual assault case against Dobsonville church elder and political figure, Tshepo Ntsimane, has been postponed to the 3rd of September for pre-trial proceedings. Ntsimane appeared before the Johannesburg High Court in his first appearance since the matter was transferred from the Roodepoort Magistrates' Court. The case is now before a new judge and a new legal team, who are still familiarising...

The bail hearing of a Pretoria man accused of the murder of his wife in front of their two children, has taken an emotional turn after the State presented social media posts allegedly written by one of the children following the death of their mother. The woman was allegedly shot and killed in March this year her home in Valhalla, Centurion.  The State says the posts highlight the trauma suff...

EFF Treasurer-General Omphile Maotwe says Speaker Thoko Didiza will be ousted in next Wednesday's no-confidence vote. Speaking to Bongiwe Zwane, Maotwe said the motion is over Didiza's handling of the Section 89 impeachment process, and the EFF is lobbying other parties for support.

The National Assembly will vote in a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, Thoko Didiza, next Wednesday. The motion, tabled by EFF leader, Julius Malema in June, relates 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 over the Phala Phala matter. The court has in the mean...

A third suspect linked to the Reiger Park shooting will appear in the Boksburg Magistrates' Court today. The 27-year-old faces charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.  Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says the arrest follows ongoing investigations into the attack that claimed the lives of two officers and two women.  

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party and United Africans Transformation are back in the Western Cape High Court today. They are seeking urgent leave to appeal a ruling that froze Parliament's Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa. The court halted the Impeachment Committee's work last month at the President's request, pending a review of the independent panel's Phala Phala report. Th...

The National Assembly will vote next Wednesday on an EFF motion of no confidence against Speaker Thoko Didiza. The motion, tabled by Julius Malema in June, relates to Didiza's decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to halt the Phala Phala impeachment process. The Western Cape High Court has since granted that interdict. It remains unclear whether the vote will be held...

The South African National Editors' Forum, SANEF, has strongly condemned the alleged intimidation of Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi at the Madlanga Commission. Moloi opened a criminal case against businessman Stuart James Scharnick alleging Scharnick confronted and threatened him during a tea break for recording video footage. SANEF Executive Director Reggy Moalusi spoke to producer Tracey Boomga...

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

A new University of the Witwatersrand study reveals how female entrepreneurs are keeping Westbury's economy alive amid chronic gang warfare. Researcher Ilene Abrams found that local businesswomen face extreme mobility restrictions and emotional trauma, yet successfully bypass these barriers through informal community networks. The findings show these women deliberately adapt their daily operations...

The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) has strongly condemned a partnership between March and March and Afriforum. The organisations say their engagement aims to strengthen communities, promote the rule of law, improve education and tackle crime. But GIWUSA President Mametlwe Sebei argues the alliance promotes xenophobic populism and Afrikaner nationalism. 

A new University of the Witwatersrand study reveals how female entrepreneurs are keeping Westbury's economy alive amid chronic gang warfare. Researcher Ilene Abrams found that local businesswomen face extreme mobility restrictions and emotional trauma, yet successfully bypass these barriers through informal community networks. The findings show these women deliberately adapt their daily operations...