First Take SA

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in Gauteng will today hold public investigative hearing on women empowerment in the informal sector. In a statement the commission says This hearing will explore the impact of by-laws on women, identify transformation gaps, and assess the City of Tshwane's efforts to develop the informal economy. Key focus areas include inclusivity, skills development, and...

Prepaid electricity meters upgrade deadline expired last night with Eskom announcing an extension for customers who have not been purchasing electricity for the past six months and beyond. From today Zero Buyers will still need to visit Eskom offices to be assisted to register their pre-paid electricity meters. This is provided they bought electricity tokens from accredited vendors before Eskom's...

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has raised alarm over a significant error in the Geography Paper 2 exam which was written last week after it was discovered that 79 marks worth of questions in the Geography exam were incorrectly set, impacting a total of 967 students. Makaneta says this mistake threatens the integrity of the exams, adding unnecessary pressure on students already facing the cha...

The COP29 Climate Summit in Baku concluded with a contentious deal aimed at addressing global climate challenges. Delegates agreed on a $300 billion annual funding target by 2035, tripling the previous commitment to support developing nations in mitigating climate impacts and transitioning to cleaner energy. However, this figure, part of the New Collective Quantified Goal, drew sharp criticism fro...

The African Transformation Movement is calling for government to close all spaza shops and revitalize township economy run by citizens to ensure economic stability and security. The ATM says In light of the recent declaration of a national disaster due to the alarming rise in foodborne illnesses it asserts the urgent need for decisive action to protect the health and welfare of our communities. Fo...

The SACP has emphasised its opposition to the inclusion of the DA in the ANC led GNU pact. The SACP's public outbursts against the ANC's working relations with the DA prompted the two allies to hold a bilateral meeting yesterday. The crucial meeting was attended by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Deputy Paul Mashatile, together with the SACP delegation led by its General Secretary Solly Mapa...

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has raised the alarm over the rise in femicide cases with unidentified perpetrators, now at 44%, up from 30% in 2017. A briefing by the SA Medical Research Council revealed that South Africa records three women killed daily by intimate partners, making intimate partner femicide the leading cause. Over the past 20 years, the country has seen nearly 11,0...

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has issued an urgent recall of a batch of YAZ Plus contraceptives due to a quality concern. The Health Products Regulatory Authority is advising the public to immediately stop consuming the tablet and return affected packs to their pharmacist. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, Chief Executive Officer at...

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says plans are being put into place to ban the use of pesticides on school premises across the country. This follows a spate of food-borne illnesses that have led to the deaths of over 20 children in the past months. This week learners from Dumezweni Primary School in Diepkloof fell ill after allegedly consuming snacks from a local spaza shop which ultimatel...

Elvis Presslin looks 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

On World Children's Day, a global commemoration observed annually on November 20th. To coincide with this occasion, UNICEF has released a critical report highlighting the living conditions of children and young people in South Africa. The Situation Analysis report reveals concerning statistics that 62% of children face multidimensional poverty, malnutrition persists, and significant disparities in...

A step by step guide to ensure that your prepaid electricity meter is recoded... Insert the following number onto your meter keypad - 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416 If your meter displays a 2 or 2.2 it has been upgraded and there is nothing more that you need to do. If your meter displays a 1 or 1.2 you need to upgrade your meter.  To recode your meter: Purchase electricity from an approved vendor, and...

Hamza Chalan is a dedicated and passionate photojournalist who has spent years documenting the human stories in Gaza, capturing both the hardships and the enduring spirit of its people. His work has garnered international attention for its raw authenticity and emotional depth, providing a window into a world seldom seen by outsiders. Hamza Chalan is invited in the country to give a talk at the Sow...

The South African Reserve Bank is set to announce its latest interest rate decision today, with market expectations pointing to a 25-basis-point cut. This comes on the heels of easing inflation, which has slipped below the midpoint of the bank's target range. If confirmed, this would mark the second rate cut in the current cycle, following a similar 25-basis-point reduction in September. As the co...

An investigation is underway in KwaZulu-Natal after authorities discovered two warehouses storing expired food items, alcohol, and medication in Durban. The warehouses, located near the Bluff, also contained counterfeit goods. Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Premier Thami Ntuli are leading the investigation, which aims to determine the origin and intended destination of the e...

Time is running out for nearly 2 million South African prepaid electricity customers, who face a looming deadline of Sunday to update their meters. The Democratic Alliance's spokesperson on Electricity and Energy, Kevin Mileham has sounded the alarm, emphasizing the urgent need for customers to take action and recode their meters to avoid being cut off from the power grid. He spoke to our Senior P...

A crucial court battle is underway in the Johannesburg High Court as SECTION27, representing the Cancer Alliance, takes on the Gauteng Department of Health and nine others. The case centers on the department's alleged failure to utilize R784 million allocated for addressing radiation and surgical backlogs in the province. This delay has resulted in the loss of lives among cancer patients. To discu...

In a groundbreaking move, the Midvaal Municipality in Gauteng is taking steps to cut ties with Eskom, opting instead to partner with a private company for its electricity supply. Renowned for its strong financial management and a clean slate with Eskom, the municipality is planning a 20-year public-private partnership (PPP) to secure its energy needs. This bold initiative is being hailed as a pote...

Gauteng Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile has issued a stern warning to South African citizens against registering spaza shops on behalf of foreign nationals. This caution comes amid growing concerns over the legitimacy of some spaza shop operations in the province. Mec Maile spoke to our Senior Producer, Ronald Phiri about the requirements to register spaza shops and what the implications o...

Tensions are running high in Soweto as residents protest against foreign nationals owning spaza shops in the area. The demonstrations, which erupted outside the Customer Service Centre in Jabulani yesterday, come after President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive requiring all spaza shops and food handling facilities to register with their local municipalities within 21 days. At the heart of the unrest i...

The Department of Basic Education says it is still finalizing its position on the banning of the publishing of matric results in newspapers. This comes after the Information Regulator found that the Department failed to obtain the consent of matric candidates or their parents to publish the 2023 matric exam results. For further discussions, Elvis Presslin spoke to Afriforum's Head of Cultural Affa...

Public consultations on the proposed Marriage Bill have commenced in Gauteng, sparking intense debate across South Africa. The bill aims to establish a unified marriage system, consolidating the current three separate laws that govern different types of unions into one, accommodating all cultures and religious beliefs. The proposed bill has already ignited fierce discussions, with various stakehol...

The Balfour Magistrate's Court has slapped the Dipaleseng Local Municipality in Mpumalanga with a R160 million fine for severe environmental violations. The municipality's reckless actions polluted local water sources, leaving residents, livestock, and ecosystems to suffer the consequences from 2018 to 2023. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, has welcomed the ruling, calling...

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order against Groen Mintirho, a company linked to former ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe. The order is part of an investigation into alleged procurement irregularities involving the company, the Department of Agriculture, and the City of Ekurhuleni. The SIU is probing the purchase of 200 three-wheeler vehicles, worth R27.6 million, for a...

The High Court in Pretoria is set to hear a critical case today, determining the fate of hundreds of illegal miners underground at a Stilfontein mine in the North West province. In a recent interim ruling, the court ordered that all miners be allowed to exit the mine freely, without obstruction. This decision comes as the miners have been hiding from police, fearing arrest upon resurfacing. For in...