First Take SA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA is warning commuters to prepare for possible service disruptions at Gautrain due to its planned strike. The union has issued a 48-hour notice to management, citing stalled wage talks that began in April. NUMSA is demanding a 13% increase among other benefits. However Gautrain spokesperson Dr. Kesagee Nayager has assured Gautrain passengers...

Disgruntled workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) are set to picket outside Durban City Hall in KwaZulu-Natal today. This follows the eThekwini Municipality's decision to terminate their contracts due to alleged funding constraints. To discuss the matter further, Elvis Presslin spoke to Xolani Dube, Regional Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) in eThek...

ANC Youth League Free State spokesperson, Phiwe Mathe has stepped aside from his duties. Mathe, a provincial executive committee member is facing charges for assaulting the mother of his child. The ANC's 54th National Conference resolved that members charged with corruption or serious crimes must step aside from leadership positions. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ANCYL National Spokespe...

Free State police have raised concern about the alarming increase in rape incidents in the province. Authorities says there is a concerning trend of reported rape cases where victims were under the influence of alcohol or other substances. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Free State police spokesperson, Sergeant Peter Kareli

Television presenter Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye has thanked his legal team for their dedication to truth and Justice after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped all charges against him. Maarohanye faced 14 charges, including rape, attempted murder, and assault, but the Director of Public Prosecution deemed there was insufficient evidence for a successful prosecution. Maarohanye's lawye...

The African Transformation Movement has condemned Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber's decision to extend temporary concessions for foreign nationals awaiting visa outcomes. Schreiber says the decision will reduce the 145 000 visa backlog. However, the ATM feels the move disregards the well-being and economic prospects of South Africans, and undermines efforts of skilled local workers. For m...

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 Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union, or HAITU, has expressed their approval of Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi's appointment as the new Minister of Health within the Government of National Unity. The nursing union has praised Motsoaledi for his notable achievements in enhancing public health conditions and his proactive engagement with labor unions. Haitu urges the new minister to put an end to...

ActionSA has dismissed the new Gauteng Provincial Executive Council announced by Premier Panyaza Lesufi as a continuation of failed politics. Lesufi unveiled the Council of 10 MECs from various political in Johannesburg last night. The council, formed after talks with the DA collapsed, includes members from the ANC, IFP, PA, and Rise Mzansi. The team is expected to work together to address key ser...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg has voiced its opposition to the newly introduced R200 electricity surcharge. In a statement, the party condemned both the 12.7% tariff hike and the additional fee imposed on prepaid customers as unjust and unfair. The DA warned the City Council that this move will disproportionately affect residents, who are already seeing a significant reduction in th...

The family of Xolani Kunene has turned to AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit for assistance after investigators and prosecutors allegedly pressured them to accept a controversial plea deal in their son's murder case. The murder accused, Buhle Mabaso, reportedly offered R500,000 in compensation for a culpable homicide conviction and suspended sentence, despite CCTV footage showing the shooting. T...

The Road Freight Association (RFA) has raised concern about the recent Cabinet announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Association says the new Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa may lack experience in transport and the road freight supply chain. The Association is urging the new Ministers to build on existing efforts to address the logistics crisis and turn aro...

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is intensifying its efforts to address tax non-compliance, in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). This as the filing season for the 2024 tax year gets underway. The Tax Administration Act of 2011 outlines various criminal offenses related to tax non-payment and outstanding returns. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Jashwin Ba...

Is AI code generation a friend or foe to developers? The latest advancements in artificial intelligence have sparked a divided response among programmers. Some coders are concerned about the potential threat to their livelihood, while others embrace the technology's potential to streamline processes and boost productivity. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to Mvelo Hlophe, CEO at Zaio, an online...

Negotiations between the DA and ANC on forming a Government of Provincial Unity in Gauteng have stalled. DA Federal Chairperson, Helen Zille, says the party is willing to join the provincial Unity only if it's based on a genuine power-sharing partnership. She was briefing the media about the impasse with the ANC in Gauteng. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimang...

The Save South Africa Civic Movement has expressed disappointment and criticism towards the recent cabinet appointments and ministry changes announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The movement says the alliance between the ANC and DA in the 7th administration is the worst in South Africa's democratic history. They view the alliance as a "fake marriage" which prioritizes the interests of the "whit...

In a significant victory for consumers, the Gauteng High Court has ruled that municipal electricity distributors cannot increase their prices from July 1, 2024. This decision comes after AfriForum's successful urgent application to block the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) from considering tariff hike requests from municipalities. The court found that distributors failed to submi...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent cabinet reshuffle has sparked widespread surprise and skepticism, particularly with the appointment of Angie Motshekga as the new Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Motshekga's move from the Basic Education portfolio to Defence has raised eyebrows, with some South Africans questioning her suitability for the role. For more reaction, Elvis Presslin spoke t...

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

ActionSA in Ekurhuleni is calling for an investigation into Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, Director of Special Services at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), amid serious allegations. The party claims that Mkhwanazi has abused his power, misused police vehicles, and engaged in a "sex for jobs" scandal, where he allegedly solicited favours from female officers in exchange for career...

The umKhonto Wesizwe, MK party has sent a cease and desist letter to the SABC demanding the public broadcaster to stop using terms like "Government of National Unity" to describe current coalitions. The party claims the term is misleading and goes against the SABC's obligation to provide accurate and unbiased reporting. For reaction on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Moshoeshoe Monare, SABC Grou...

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has voiced its strong objection to the Democratic Alliance (DA) heading the Ministry of Basic Education, following the appointment of DA MP Siviwe Gwarube to the position. SADTU has expressed concerns about the DA's education policies and their potential detrimental impact on the education sector. Elvis Presslin spoke to SADTU spokesperson, Nomus...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new cabinet, comprising of 11 political parties. The newly formed National Executive, comprising 77 members, including the President, Deputy President, 32 ministers, and 43 deputy ministers, has pledged to work collectively to serve the best interests of South Africans. So! Do you feel that the diversity of political parties in the new National Executive...

The Business Federation has urged the newly appointed cabinet to collaborate and drive economic progress. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new executive team under the National Government of Unity (GNU). The cabinet comprises 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, whose policies and decisions, the Federation says will have a profound impact on South Africa's economic growth, inves...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has expressed its approval of President Cyril Ramaphosa's new cabinet appointments. Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks has praised the president's decisions, describing them as logical and well-considered, including the consolidation and separation of various government departments. Matthew Parks shares his thoughts in more detail wit...