First Take SA

Former president Jacob Zuma's financial benefactor and diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg has denied allegations of racism levelled against him. This follows viral leaked audio where Liebenberg was allegedly recorded using racial slurs such as the K-word during a private conversation. Elvis Presslin spoke to Walter Niedinger, the attorney for diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg

The resignation of Liz Truss as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party has kick-started a contest to find the next Tory leader and Prime Minister. Truss' resignation follows a failed tax-cutting budget that rocked financial markets, which also led to a revolt within her own party. Speaking outside Downing Street yesterday, she said she could not deliver the mandate on which sh...

TALKING POINTS: ***We start off in Nigeria were mobile payments have surged... ***In Ghana, Producer Price Inflation for September Jumped to 45.6 Percent ***And lastly in Nairobi, Kenya, Electric vehicle manufacturer ROAM has unveiled its first mass transit electric bus.

A South African choir has won gold at the inaugural World Choral Cup in Europe. The Johannesburg-based choir Quava Vocal Group was announced as the winners of both the jazz and adult choir categories, beating thirty-one choirs from 24 other countries, at the international choir competition which took place in Barcelona and Calella, Spain last week. Elvis Presslin spoke to Quava Vocal Group Music D...

The National Assembly will today vote on the new Electoral Bill which will usher in changes to South Africa's electoral system. Civil society organisations such as the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend our Democracy and the Rivonia Circle are calling on Members of Parliament to reject the Bill in its current form. They say the Bill does not favour voters, It is unconstitutional and undermines the...

An alleged kingpin linked to Transnet fuel theft is expected to appear in the Witbank magistrate's court today. The 35-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday during a joint operation between the Hawks and Bidvest Protea Coin for his alleged involvement in a syndicate linked to the theft of fuel from the Transnet pipeline and damages to essential infrastructure. Elvis Presslin spoke to Hawks spoke...

The Democratic Alliance has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of misusing public resources, saying he should not blur the line between his party and the state. This, was after images emerged of Ramaphosa landing in a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) helicopter in Welkom, in the Free State, where he was to participate in the ANC's Letsema campaign and engage with party branches. SAfm Se...

Former DA MPL in Gauteng Makashule Gana says he is building a political alternative to contest the 2024 elections, in order to fulfil the 1994 promise for all South Africans. He says a new formation is needed as current political parties have betrayed that promise. Elvis Presslin spoke to Makashule Gana, a former DA MPL in Gauteng Makashule Gana.

Today South Africa celebrates media freedom and commemorates Black Wednesday. It is on this day 45 years ago after Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko was murdered in detention, the apartheid government arrested editors and banned three publications and 19 Black Consciousness organisations. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Glenda Daniels, associate professor of media studies at Wits University and SAN...

Billions in assets and properties belonging to former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste have been attached by the South African Reserve Bank. The bank executed the order yesterday after the Western Cape High Court earlier this month granted the reserve bank's application to attach all assets linked to Jooste. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC Economics Editor, Tshepo Mongoai... 

Transnet has signed a three-year wage agreement with the United National Transport Union (Untu), the majority union at the state-owned ports and rail operator. The deal, which comes after a week-long nationwide strike, includes a six per cent wage increase for this year and five point five per cent for the following year. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has not accept...

Ministers will no longer receive free water and electricity after President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the withdrawal of the new Ministerial handbook. This follows public outcry over the amendments which exempted ministers and their deputies from paying for water and electricity at their state-owned houses. The DA gave the President an ultimatum to scrap the Ministerial Handbook or face mass protests...

TALKING POINTS: ***West Africa Hopes to Strengthen Cocoa Prices With New Members Cameroon, Nigeria ***And in Uganda... Entebbe Airport Records Decline in Passenger Traffic ***And lastly, Kenya Airways Wins 4 Awards at the Prestigious World Travel Awards

Lobby group AfriForum is calling for a boycott of Dis-Chem following its moratorium on hiring white people. This after the pharmaceutical retailer's CEO Ivan Saltzman through a now leaked letter told managers to effect the moratorium to improve the company's employment equity profile and effect transformation. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Ernst van Zyl, a campaigns officer for strateg...

The newly launched party All African Alliance Movement has endorsed former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as their president. The party launched its election campaign for the 2024 national elections in Soweto at the weekend. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the party's general secretary Bishop Meshack Tebe

A DA ward Councillor in the City of Cape Town is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's court today on charges of rape. The incident allegedly took place after the woman approached the 56-year-old Councillor for employment. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the DA's provincial executive committee member and former Cape Town mayor, Mr. Dan Plato

Businessman and diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg has defended his decision to foot former President Jacob Zuma's legal bills. This follows Zuma's decision to privately prosecute state Advocate Billy Downer and Journalist Karyn Maughan. Zuma has accused Downer of leaking his confidential medical records to Maughan - which the pair have denied. Our senior producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Mr. Liebenberg...

Economists estimate that the ongoing strike action by Transnet employees is costing South Africa billions of Rands, also warning that it could have a wider negative impact in that countries can lose confidence in ordering goods from South Africa. Concerns have been raised over the timing of this strike, as the country battles inflation and load shedding and the recent announcement from the Interna...

Time to take 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.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has received the amended version of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture Report, which incorporates corrections made by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who chaired the Commission. The release follows the granting of permission by the Pretoria High Court on the 4th of October 2022, to allow Zondo to make corrections to the final volume...

South Africa's economy is facing yet another setback as several labor unions from various sectors have declared wage disputes with employers. Workers at Transnet have embarked on a nationwide strike, which has impacted the port of Durban, the largest and busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as other unions, including the Public Servants Association ( PSA) and the National Education, Health...

Public protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe has resigned from the position. The office of the Public Protector announced Segalwe's departure after 13 years of service. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Oupa Segalwe 

Wage negotiations between trade unions at Transnet and management are expected to continue today. This is as the parties seek to find solutions to the current wage impasse that has resulted in a nationwide strike. Both the United National Transport Union (Untu) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) have rejected Transnet's latest offer of a 4 to 5 percent salary increase. They are...

The Special Tribunal will today hear arguments in the application to review and set aside an R6.7 million lease agreement entered into between SABC and Rybak Properties in 2016. The application relates to the office accommodation of the SABC's Mpumalanga Office. The SABC is seeking to recover all the monies paid by Rybak. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate Selby Makgotho, Spokesper...

Half of Durban was without power following a massive explosion at Klaarwater substation last night. The substation is a key supply point to the city from Eskom. Many areas around Durban have been affected by the power outage. For the latest, Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC senior reporter in KZN Fanele Mhlongo