First Take SA

Nine police officers have been arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in connection with a May shooting incident in Pinetown. The officers reportedly pulled over a local businessman on the M13 and opened fire while he was still in his vehicle. The businessman escaped uninjured as his vehicle was bullet-proof. The officers are now facing charges of attempted murder. Elv...

The MK Party in Durban is planning a march and legal action against DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille over alleged racist remarks. The party claims Zille's comments about KwaZulu-Natal being "thrown to the dogs" were derogatory and targeted MK and EFF members. However, Zille maintains that her statement was misconstrued and meant to convey concerns about the potential consequences if MK a...

Kenyan political economist Martin Andati says President William Ruto's decision to dissolve his cabinet has come too late. In a move that has been seen as a response to mounting pressure, Ruto fired his entire cabinet, with the exception of the deputy president and one senior cabinet member. Andati argues that the President is finally yielding to the intense pressure generated by the widespread pr...

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has announced plans to retrench around 152 non-academic staff members. The decision comes after the university has already let go of 21 staff members in the past year due to operational requirements. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to Nehawu Durban regional secretary, Prince Mthalane

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

Build One South Africa leader, Mmusi Maimane, has been appointed as the Chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations. The committee oversees government spending, amends legislation, and reviews reports on actual expenditure before they are presented to the National Assembly. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mmusi Maimane, the new Chairperson of Parliament's Standing Com...

48% of South Africans are without a retirement plan in place. This is according to the 2024 FNB Retirement Insights Survey. The survey found that most South Africans are unprepared for retirement due to economic pressures and financial illiteracy. Our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to FNB's Wealth and Investments Product Head, Samukelo Zwane about why a large number of South Africans are witho...

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is calling for criminal charges against individuals found negligent in the Life Esidimeni patient deaths. The court found former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and Mental Health Head Dr. Makgabo Manamela responsible for the deaths of 144 mental healthcare patients who died in 2016. The DA says criminal charges against Qedani Mahlangu and all individuals impli...

Equal Education (EE) has vehemently denounced the appointment of former minister Zizi Kodwa, who is currently facing corruption charges, to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. In a strongly-worded letter to ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, the Movement urged the party to immediately withdraw Kodwa's nomination and initiate proceedings to remove him from his position as a member of parliamen...

The highly anticipated cabinet lekgotla, a gathering of 11 political parties, is now scheduled for this weekend in Cape Town. This after being rescheduled from its original dates of Thursday and Friday. This crucial meeting will bring together the Government of National Unity (GNU) parties to outline the government's strategic plan for the next five years - setting the stage for a unified approach...

The ANC Youth League has slammed Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie over his decision to end government-funded trips for superfans. The League is also criticizing McKenzie's decision to release a list of creatives who received funding from the Department during the Covid-19 pandemic. To elaborate on the ANCYL's stance, Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANCYL spokesperson Zama Khanyase

The Democratic Alliance has vehemently opposed Dr. John Hlophe's election to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The party argues that Hlophe's prior removal as a judge for gross misconduct makes him unfit to represent the National Assembly on the JSC.  The DA says that appointing Hlophe could damage the JSC's credibility and efficiency, potentially leading to numerous objections and legal chal...

Newly appointed Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has announced on social media platform X that he has terminated all sponsored trips for 'super fans'. According to Minister McKenzie, the funds previously allocated for these trips will now be redirected to support struggling athletes and artists in attending events and exhibitions. Notably, the two individuals known as the faces of the 'super-fans',...

Eskom has reintroduced load reduction measures to mitigate excessive demand on its strained networks. The power utility is reporting widespread overloaded transformers, particularly in seven provinces, namely: Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. Eskom has deemed load reduction necessary to prevent repeated equipment failures and explosions. Elvi...

The eThekwini municipal council is set to elect a new mayor today, following the deployment of Mxolisi Kaunda to the National Council of Provinces. The new mayor will inherit a raft of challenges, notably the persistent service delivery issues and concerns over the quality of water sources and rivers in the metro. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Zwakele Mncwango, ActionSA's KZN Provincial...

The highly anticipated judgment in the Life Esidimeni inquest is expected to be delivered today by Judge Mmonoa Teffo at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The inquest aimed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragic deaths of 141 vulnerable mental health patients. The patients lost their lives after being transferred from Life Esidimeni facilities to under-equipped and ill-prepared Non...

The South African Defence Force has been plunged into mourning once more, as the grim toll of the conflict-torn DRC claims another soldier. A South African soldier, deployed under the United Nations Mission (MONUSCO), has lost their life while serving in the country. This latest casualty comes on the heels of a recent mortar attack by M23 rebels on a base in eastern DRC, which claimed the lives of...

The election of chairpersons for Parliament's Portfolio Committees is set to take place today. ActionSA says it will nominate Athol Trollip as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), a crucial body responsible for overseeing government spending and accountability. For more on his nomination, Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA Parliamentary Caucus Leader, Athol Trollip

The Western Cape Education Department has confirmed that all schools in the province will resume classes today. This despite severe weather conditions which have damaged 29 schools in the province. To provide more information on the situation, Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communication at the Western Cape Education Department spoke to Elvis Presslin

Several NGOs are supporting Dr. John Hlophe's bid for a seat on the Judicial Service Commission. Hlophe, previously impeached as a Western Cape judge, has been nominated to the very body that initiated his impeachment. The Concerned Young Peoples Forum of South Africa, a group backing Hlophe's candidacy, has endorsed him as the ideal candidate for the JSC position, citing his exceptional qualifica...

Wildfires in KwaZulu Natal have resulted in widespread destruction, leaving scores of people displaced and without homes. The provincial Department of Human Settlements reports that it has received preliminary and incomplete information regarding the destruction of homes in multiple areas, including eShowe, Nkandla, UMtshezi, Utretch, and Umtubatuba, due to the recent fires. For more on this Elvis...

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

Heavy rains and powerful winds continue to batter the Western Cape - causing widespread damage and disruption. The intense weather system, part of a series of cold fronts, made landfall over the weekend. The South African Weather Services is warning that the severe conditions will persist throughout the week. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to Colin Deiner, Chief Director of the West...

Al Jama-ah Party leader and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks has engaged in crucial discussions with various non-governmental organizations to address pressing challenges facing the sector. The meeting comes a midst a severe funding crisis affecting NGOs in Gauteng. To shed more light on this critical issue Elvis Presslin spoke to Anisa Moosa, a representative from the Natio...

A fire at the National Hospital in Bloemfontein has led to the evacuation of over 80 patients. The Free State Department of Health says no fatalities or injuries were reported following the weekend fire, which is currently under investigation. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to  Free State Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi