First Take SA

BOSA is calling for the abolition of the 30% pass mark in Basic Education, citing concerns that it undermines the intellect of South Africa's youth, entrenches mediocrity and low expectations. The party has gathered over 20,000 signatures in support of this move, which is part of a broader effort to rethink and rebuild the country's education system. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane has emphasized the ne...

The Institute of Race Relations says South Africa's minimum wage has led to a staggering 230,000 job losses in 2024 alone. The Institute says this represents 3.4% of the 6.7 million low-wage jobs in the country, where workers earn up to R7,500 per month. The IRR is blaming the mandated minimum wage of R27.58 per hour for this devastating impact. The Institute is urging the National Minimum Wage Co...

Foreign prisoners now outnumber local inmates in some correctional services facilities, putting a strain on South Africa's prisons. Parliament's Correctional Services Committee Chairperson Anthea Ramolobeng, who revealed the statistics yesterday says over 22,500 foreigners are currently incarcerated in correctional centers. She says the surge in foreign prisoners has significant implications for t...

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will today open a criminal case against Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, at the Pretoria Central Police Station. The party alleges that Macpherson, in collusion with the Democratic Alliance, is abusing state institutions to serve the interests of white minority capital. Last year Minister Macpherson allegedly pressured a junior staff...

The South African Police Service has denied allegations that hospital admissions are being denied to rescued illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West province. This after the Mining Affected Communities United in Action organisation, MACUA expressed concerns about the health and treatment of the miners. To shed more light on this matter, Elvis Presslin spoke to Christopher Rutledge, Executive Dir...

A brazen shooting at the Lenasia Magistrates' Court in Johannesburg has raised alarming concerns about witness protection in South Africa. A witness scheduled to testify in a 2021 murder case was gunned down, sparking a massive manhunt by police to apprehend the suspect. This shocking incident bears a disturbing resemblance to a similar attack in November 2023, where a key witness in a police tort...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled South Africa's ambitious vision for its G20 presidency, aiming to elevate cooperation and collaboration among the world's leading economies to new heights. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa's commitment to harnessing its presidency to consolidate G20 initiatives supporting African countries. To delve...

The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, CAPRISA has expressed concerns over the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). CAPRISA Director Professor Salim Abdool Karim told our senior producer Ronald Phiri that Trump's executive order, suggests the US is relinquishing its leadership role in global health

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has strongly condemned Minister Parks Tau's announcement of a R100 billion Transformation Fund reportedly aimed at exclusively assisting black businesses. The DA views this move as a unilateral and irresponsible policy decision that undermines Cabinet and the Government of National Unity. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry &amp...

As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he has reaffirmed the government's commitment to partnerships in addressing South Africa's pressing issues. With the country set to outline its priorities for the G20 Presidency, we'll explore the significance of this global gathering for Africa's economic growth. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dawie Roodt, Ch...

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced a groundbreaking plan to limit nicotine levels in cigarettes to minimal or non-addictive levels. If implemented, the move would make the United States the first country to take such drastic action to combat smoking-related diseases and deaths. The proposed rule would cap nicotine levels in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Elvis Presslin spoke...

The ANC is embroiled in a dual crisis, as the party undertakes a significant overhaul of its Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) while one of its senior ministers, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, faces allegations of corruption. The ANC's decision to reconfigure its PEC in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal is seen as a strategic move to revitalize the party's structures and improve its electoral prospects. However...

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

The ANC is standing by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, despite allegations of her involvement in a R2.5 million tender corruption scandal during her tenure as Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. The Democratic Alliance is calling on Ntshavheni to step down immediately, citing the completion of the Hawks' investigation into the matter. However, ANC Secretary Gene...

US President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the ban on TikTok, a Chinese-owned short-form video app. This conversation comes as American content creators continue to push for a repeal of the ban, which was upheld by the US Supreme Court due to national security concerns over China's potential access to user data. For insights into the implications...

A new US law banning TikTok has just taken effect, leaving millions of users in the dark. The app stopped working across the country late Saturday, with a message informing US users that a law banning TikTok had been enacted. Elvis Presslin spoke to US-based former SABC journalist Amina Accram-Brooks to break down the implications of this ban

The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) has strongly condemned the City of Tshwane's decision to review the reinstatement of five managers implicated in the Rooiwal Water Treatment plant scandal. This move comes after the South African Local Government Bargaining Council ruled that the suspension of these officials was unlawful. The five managers are accused of disregarding legal protoc...

The Public Servants Association, PSA has strongly condemned the Prudential Authority's decision to seek the liquidation of Ithala Bank. The Association says the decision is 'reckless' and 'devastating', accusing the Prudential Authority of disregarding the bank's vital role in serving marginalised communities in KwaZulu Natal. To elaborate further on their concerns Elvis Presslin spoke to PSA Prov...

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa will engage with labour unions this week to explore solutions to continue supporting Community Work Programme (CWP) participants aged 55 and older, despite budgetary constraints. The move follows his decision to extend contracts for these participants until the end of March, while exploring viable and sustainable solution...

ActionSA's KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, has slammed Premier Thami Ntuli for a selective insourcing plan, calling it a betrayal of exploited workers. While welcoming the decision to insource staff at new healthcare facilities, Mncwango criticized its exclusion of existing workers in exploitative conditions. The party marched to the Premier's Office last year, demanding insourcing fo...

The South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) in Mpumalanga will today march to the Riverside Government Complex, to demand the employment of unemployed medical doctors in the province. This move comes after numerous attempts to address the issue with the National Department of Health. Elvis Presslin spoke to SAMATU Mpumalanga provincial chairperson, Dr. Mandla Matshabe, to discuss th...

The Hawks have conducted a raid on the Johannesburg home of an Edumarks director as part of an investigation into the alleged leak of matric results. The probe, initiated by a complaint from the Department of Education, seeks to identify those responsible for selling matric results to students for R100. To provide more insight into the operation, Elvis Presslin spoke to Hawks spokesperson, Colonel...

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have been served with letters of demand by AfriForum and Solidarity, contesting the promulgation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. The two organizations claim that the proclamation is irrational and unconstitutional, giving the government 10 days to respond. To delve deeper into this matter, Elvis Presslin spoke...

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

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish an independent Commission of Inquiry into the Buffelsfontein mine disaster, which has claimed over 70 lives and rescued 246 illegal miners. As the government-led rescue operation comes to a close, the DA emphasizes the need for accountability and a thorough investigation into the systemic failures that led to this traged...