First Take SA

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, 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

Minister of Police, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, has welcomed the arrest of four individuals, including a farm owner and two Mexican nationals, in connection with a secret laboratory uncovered in Groblersdal. The Limpopo Hawks and Limpopo SAPS collaborated on the operation, which led to the seizure of chemicals worth an estimated R2 billion. Elvis Presslin spoke to Chad Thomas, IRS forensic investigator

The Gauteng government has reiterated its dedication to ensuring timely payments to non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the province. Briefing the media at the weekend, Provincial Finance MEC Lebogang Maile announced that the province has committed to restoring the NPO budget to  R2.1 billion for the 2023/24 adjustment period. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to Gert Jonker, CEO of the...

South Africa is witnessing a disturbing increase in the number of people going missing. According to experts, this surge can be attributed to a rise in depression cases triggered by severe economic hardships, as well as the growing prevalence of human trafficking. In light of this alarming trend, Missing Children South Africa is urging citizens to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. T...

An inmate, accused of stabbing Janusz Walus, the killer of anti-apartheid activist Chris Hani, has reportedly not been formally charged. This despite the incident happening over a year ago. The accused inmate, Mandla Madonsela, a former member of uMkhonto we Sizwe and sergeant in the South African Air Force reportedly stabbed Walus' just two days before his controversial release on parole in Novem...

US President Joe Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris as his preferred Democratic Presidential candidate. This announcement follows his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, which he made on X on Sunday - less than four months before the election. Biden says despite his initial intention to seek re-election, he has decided not to run for presidency again, citing the best interests of h...

ACTIONSA leader Herman Mashaba appears to be reconsidering his previous stance on collaborating with the ANC. This despite his party's repeated assertions of never working with the ANC. Mashaba revealed on the sidelines of the recent Opening of Parliament in Cape Town that discussions are underway with the ANC regarding a potential partnership in Gauteng. Additionally, ACTIONSA is scheduled to hol...

A survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has found that over two-thirds of South African agribusinesses engaged in innovative activities from 2019 to 2021, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. survey Conducted by HSRC's Centre for Science, Technology, and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) for the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The survey included sectors s...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is paving the way for a "cooperation nation" by initiating a National Dialogue. This initiative aims to stabilize governance in metros, improve service delivery, and ensure that qualified and capable individuals are appointed to senior municipal positions. Ramaphosa shared these plans during his address at the opening of parliament at the Cape Town Cit...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government of national unity plans to broaden and formalise the Presidential Employment Stimulus and Expanded Public Works Programmes, with the aim of providing more job opportunities and skills development for young people. During his Opening of Parliament Address last night, Ramaphosa also highlighted the significant potential that small businesses and the info...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has expressed concern over the City of Johannesburg's new prepaid electricity surcharge. Starting this month, the city's power utility, City Power has implemented a R200 surcharge, which includes a R130 monthly network capacity fee and a R70 service fee on prepaid meter users. OUTA  has criticized the initiative, calling it a simplistic revenue-raising effort by...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, 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 uMkhonto weSizwe Party says the disciplinary hearing against its leader and former African National Congress President, Jacob Zuma has been postponed to next Tuesday. Zuma did not appear physically during the hearing yesterday, but was represented by former ANC NEC member, Tony Yengeni via a virtual platform. Zuma has been hauled before the ruling party's  National Disciplinary Committee follo...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) calls on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to cut interest rates. This as The Reserve Bank is expected to keep the repo rate unchanged when it makes its announcement later today. The union in a statement says SARB's decision to hike interest rates to their current high of 11,75% prime lending has signif...

Rise Mzansi says it expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritize areas such as crime, corruption, and the economy. This as president Cyril Ramaphosa will today open Parliament  for the 7th Democratic Administration. The party in a statement says the President should support the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, focusing on halving the murder rate, removing illegal guns, profession...

Cooperative Governance Minister, Velenkosi Hlabisa has expressed his condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives while fighting wildfires in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, Hlabisa visited the home of 38-year-old, Mabongi Shishane in Vulindlela, near Pietermaritzburg. Shishane was part of the teams that have, for the past 10 days, f...

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has sounded the alarm on Premier Panyaza Lesufi's plan to launch a Provincial State Bank. The party says this initiative might become a vehicle for corruption and political favouritism. To elaborate on their concerns is Ruhan Robinson, MPL and DA Gauteng's Shadow MEC for Finance

Former president Jacob Zuma's disciplinary hearing is expected to get underway today. This after being postponed earlier this year to accommodate the May 29 elections. Zuma is facing allegations of violating rule 25 of the ANC constitution for endorsing and supporting the Umkhonto weSizwe party in the run-up to the elections. The virtual hearing will determine whether Zuma's ANC membership will be...

Experts are urging workers to exercise caution with new two-pot pension system to avoid draining retirement savings. The system which comes into effect in September, permits members to withdraw up to 10% of their retirement savings, capped at R30,000, taxed at the marginal rate. But experts says this system could result in many individuals not having sufficient funds for their retirement years. Fo...

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced a successful start to the tax filing season, with 191,000 online tax returns submitted on the first day alone. Additionally, over 5 million taxpayers have been automatically assessed through the auto assessment process within the first two weeks of July. SARS has also disbursed nearly R16 billion in tax refunds since July 1st. To discuss this...

The City of Johannesburg has refuted claims of corrupt Metro Police officers renting firearms to criminals. This follows the murder of City forensic investigator Zenzele Benedict Sithole, who was reportedly close to uncovering a 'guns for hire' syndicate within JMPD. However, the City claims Sithole's work was limited to routine matters and he was not involved in any high-profile or critical cases...

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department says over 100 motorists have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in a recent week-long operation. The Metro Police is issuing a stern warning to the public, stressing that alcohol-impaired driving poses a significant risk to the safety of all road users and will not be tolerated. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Johannesburg Met...

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has denied accusations that it received financial support from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. This rebuttal follows reports suggesting that the party had asked VBS to settle a R3-million conference bill at the Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park back in July 2017. The request was allegedly made by the then-Gauteng chairperson, Jacob Mamabolo. The SACP has lab...

Over 2000 security firms in South Africa are defaulting on pension contributions. This was revealed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority. Security guards are up in arms, claiming that their employers failed to make pension contributions on their behalf to the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF) in the previous year, leaving them without adequate retirement provisions. Elvis Pressli...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned recent comments made by PAC Leader and Minister of Land Reform, Mzwanele Nyontso to reportedly revive attempts to amend the Constitution to allow expropriation without compensation. The party views these efforts as contradictory to the principles of the Government of National Unity, and potentially harmful to the economy. The DA says any renewed attempts...