First Take SA

Late former Minister Pravin Gordhan will today be laid to rest in a special official category 2 funeral at the Durban ICC. Gordhan, who passed away last week at the age of 75 after battling cancer, left an indelible mark on the country's politics. As Minister of Public Enterprises until the May elections, Gordhan played a pivotal role in shaping South Africa's economic landscape. His portfolio als...

Former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr. Naledi Pandor has vehemently denied allegations made by EFF leader Julius Malema that she received a bond from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Malema's claims, made during an interview with the SABC, suggested that several ANC leaders, including Pandor, benefited from VBS. Pandor has dismissed the allegations as baseless and is demand...

The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee is set to announce its highly anticipated decision on interest rates today. With inflation having dipped to 4.5%, analysts are hopeful that the bank will initiate a rate-cutting cycle, mirroring the trend of global central banks. For his insights on the potential monetary policy direction, Professor Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic an...

The HBT Movement for Peace and Justice will today march against alleged harassment of documented immigrants in South Africa. The protesters plan to submit a memorandum to the Minister of Home Affairs in Pretoria, to demand an end to the exploitation and mistreatment of law-abiding immigrants. To elaborate further on the march, Elvis Presslin spoke to Rollence Mabula, President of The HBT Movement...

The National Wills Week takes place every year from 16th to 20th September serving as an annual reminder for South Africans to draft or update their wills. Launched by the Law Society of South Africa, this initiative aims to ensure more people have a legally valid will in place and to address the Shockingly, 7 out of 10 adult South Africans who pass away without one. For more on this Elvis Pressli...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is gearing up for a massive strike in response to Seriti Resources' plans to retrench over 1,000 workers. This decision, driven by unsustainable operations at the Middelburg and Klipspruit mines has sparked outrage among NUM members, who represent 3,000 Seriti employees. The union accuses the coal mining company of replacing permanent workers with contractor...

Controversy surrounds the City of eThekwini as allegations emerge that they paid a staggering R500 million for smart electricity meters that are reportedly non-functional. In response, council officials have launched an investigation to uncover the truth behind the meters, including whether Africa Utility Solutions, the contracted supplier, actually delivered the devices. DA eThekwini Caucus Leade...

Build One South Africa, BOSA is pushing for a constituency-based electoral system. The party wants citizens to directly vote for their leaders, rather than through political parties. This proposed reform aims to increase accountability across the nation. The current electoral system in South Africa is a closed-list proportional representation system, where voters choose parties rather than individ...

The Democratic Alliance, DA will hold a National Day of Action across all nine provinces to oppose Eskom's proposed 36% electricity tariff increase. This significant hike, which still requires approval from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, NERSA would come into effect on April 1 next year, adding to the already substantial financial burden on South Africans. To shed more light on thi...

The Democratic Alliance In the Western Cape, is urging the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to classify attacks on social workers as attacks on the state. This as social workers, already vulnerable to hijackings and assaults while serving high-risk communities, are now being targeted by extortionists demanding protection fees. According to the provincial social development depart...

The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested eight examiners and four traffic officials for allegedly colluding with driving schools to issue fake licenses. The officials were arrested in different licensing centres at Sabie, Graskop, Lydenburg and Verena. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Road Traffic Management Corporation Spokesperson, Simon Zwane

Workers at BMW's Rosslyn plant in Pretoria have gone on strike amid allegations of medical aid fraud involving the company's employee scheme. According to BMW, law enforcement is investigating suspected fraudulent activities within the BMW Employees Medical Aid Scheme. Six employees have been arrested, 20 have been dismissed, and over 500 face disciplinary action. Labour union Numsa has criticized...

The Babel Restaurant in Menlyn, Pretoria, has reached an agreement with the EFF to comply with South African labour laws. The party's intervention follows a social media exposé by a former employee who accused the restaurant of exploiting employees and operating outside the law. A Department of Labour and Employment-led sting operation at the restaurant on Sunday night preceded the agreement. For...

Concerns are mounting within South Africa's Afrikaner community about a perceived decline in their population and threats to their cultural identity. Changes to language policies, notably the contentious Bela Bill, have sparked fears for the future of Afrikaans-speaking schools and the preservation of the language. Joost Strydom, Chief Executive of the Orania Movement says self-sustaining communit...

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

Nearly three decades after South Africa's land claims process began, many restitution projects have failed to deliver benefits to communities. In Ixopo and Umzimkhulu, once-thriving farms now lie abandoned, a testament to the struggles of land reform. The Dawn Valley and Ponderosa farms, formerly commercial hubs, are largely deserted, with crumbling buildings and minimal crop cultivation. To discu...

The Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Teboho Maruping has been placed on precautionary suspension. This pending an investigation into allegations surrounding a R5 billion agreement with Thuja Holdings. The deal, led by Mthunzi Mdwaba, was deemed invalid by the Pretoria High Court in May this year, with the Supreme Court of Appeal upholding the decision in August. To discuss th...

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has called for Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to resign after boycotting the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa. While Ramaphosa signed the bill, its implementation will be delayed for three months to address concerns about clauses which cover schools admission and language policy. For...

Former President Thabo Mbeki has called on the ANC to utilize state power to regain its majority in Gauteng. Speaking at the ANC Gauteng Renewal Workshop in Johannesburg over the weekend, Mbeki emphasized the need for the party to focus on internal strengthening and improved service delivery. The ANC received 40% of the national vote in the May 2024 elections. Mbeki believes the party can improve...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile's office says he is recovering well after collapsing mid-speech at an event in Limpopo. This comes after Mashatile had previously mentioned struggling with food poisoning in an unrelated incident last week. However, his team has downplayed speculation that there may be underlying health issues contributing to the collapse. Elvis Presslin spoke to Keith Khoza, Acting...

ActionSA has severed ties with the DA in Tshwane, leaving City mayor Cillier Brink's future in jeopardy. Party leader Herman Mashaba announced the decision at ActionSA's Gauteng Provincial Imbizo in Tshwane's Saulsville Arena over the weekend. Mashaba attributed ActionSA's disappointing election results to the Multi-Party Charter, criticizing the alliance's effectiveness. He also hinted that Actio...

The ANC Study Group on Agriculture in Parliament has commended Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen's decision to request the resignation of his Chief of Staff, Roman Cabanac, following widespread public outcry. Cabanac, a podcaster known for his alleged polarizing views, had faced intense criticism for his support of Helen Zille's colonialism remarks and opposition to COVID-19 lockdown measures....

The Northern Cape Province, in collaboration with Who Am I Who Are We SA (WAI-WAW) and the Indigenous First Nation Advocacy South Africa (IFNASA), is set to host its Inaugural Skills Career Dialogue and Exhibition in Olifanthoek on the 18th of September. This event aims to introduce young people from the Northern Cape to various skills, enabling them to meet the critical skills requirements in dif...

The ANC will embark on a trip to Zimbabwe and Zambia this weekend to repatriate the remains of struggle combatants. A senior delegation will visit the two countries to facilitate the exhumation and return of mortal remains of anti-Apartheid activists who laid down their lives for South Africa's freedom. Elvis Presslin spoke to Obed Bapela, Deputy Chairperson of the ANC's International Relations Su...

Lobby group AfriForum says it will take legal action against the government as soon as President Cyril Ramaphosa signs the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law. Despite fierce opposition from the Democratic Alliance, AfriForum, and other groups, Ramaphosa is expected to sign the bill today at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, paving the way for a potential court battle. To elaborate...