First Take SA

As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to announce his new cabinet, Defend our Democracy is holding out hope for a competent and effective team that can tackle the myriad of challenges facing South Africa. With the formation of a Government of National Unity, comprising of 10 political parties, the President has a unique opportunity to draw from a diverse pool of talent and expertise to appoint min...

There has been a significant shift in South Africa's political landscape as several parties defect from the Progressive Caucus to join the Government of National Unity. The UDM, Rise Mzansi, and Al Jama-ah have abandoned the opposition grouping to join the unity government. The Progressive Caucus, a recently formed alliance aimed to provide a united opposition front to the GNU, but its membership...

Stellenbosch University and the Special Investigations Unit have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop innovative strategies to combat corruption. This partnership aims to tackle corruption through a unique lens, recognizing the crucial role of gender dynamics in anti-corruption efforts. Advocate Andy Mothibi and Professor Sibusiso Moyo emphasized this importance at the recent Gender and...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to reveal his new cabinet soon. This after Ramaphosa was sworn in for his second term as head of state. As the Government of National Unity takes shape, a scramble is underway among political parties to secure cabinet positions for their members in the new executive. For the latest Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Sanusha Naidu

The South African Human Rights Commission in the Eastern Cape has filed a complaint with the Equality Court against a DA MP for alleged racism. Renaldo Gouws is accused of using inflammatory language inciting violence against Black individuals in recently surfaced videos. The DA has since suspended Gouws who was recently sworn in as a member of Parliament. Dr. Ellen Carter, the Eastern Cape Head o...

A woman posing as a medical doctor is expected to appear before the Tembisa Magistrate court. The women was arrested at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital on Tuesday. The Gauteng Health Department is currently investigating how the woman gained unauthorized access to the facility. For further details Elvis Presslin spoke to Provincial Health Spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba

Elvis Presslin takes 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

The Constitutional Court has rejected Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's appeal against a Pretoria High Court ruling that found the termination of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) unlawful due to a lack of fair consultation. The High Court faulted the department for failing to follow proper procedures in ending the permit program, which permits over 178,000 Zimbabweans to live and work...

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has expressed concern following reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is considering retrenchments as the entity struggles to stay on track. This follows the entity's announcement that it has been serverly impacted after passenger trips plummeted by a reported 95% from almost 600-million a decade ago to 15-million. UNTU says it re...

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has expressed sadness at news that South African media company, Media24 is shutting down print publications, including City Press, Rapport, Beeld, and Daily Sun, as it seeks to build what it terms a fully digital future. In a statement following the news, SANEF described these titles as being the cornerstone of the country's media landscape, provid...

Economists have noted that the South African rand broke below the R18/$ barrier for the first time in 11 months as the country's president-elect, Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second term yesterday. Since June 6, the currency has shown significant improvement, reflecting optimism about the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) bringing stability and economic reforms. JPMorgan has...

In his inaugural address, President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the clarity with which the South African electorate has voiced its expectations for national leaders to collaborate in tackling some of the country's most urgent issues. Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second term as president in front of thousands at the Union Buildings, yesterday. In an address following his inauguration, he als...

Gauteng police say they are analyzing video footage from an incident involving about 40 individuals who reportedly attempted to forced their way into an IEC storage warehouse in Johannesburg. Police say the group attempted to gain access to ballot boxes in the commission's Booysens warehouse. National Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says police have filed an intimidation case after t...

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has issued a stern warning for South Africa's youth to caution against the dangers of irresponsible and excessive gambling, following concerning findings in its recent Financial Literacy Baseline study. The survey examines the financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of adult South Africans as part of ongoing efforts to better understand, monitor, and p...

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has confirmed that its Deputy President, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, was kidnapped while traveling to Cape Town Airport yesterday and has since been rescued. The party has also revealed that a ransom of R10,000 was paid to secure his release. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to president of United Democratic Movement, Bantu Holomisa 

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have activated a 72-hour mobilisation of maximum resources in search of an unknown number of suspects who shot and killed six people and injured four others in the Entshele area, in Ezakheni. Police say 12 people were travelling in a bakkie on Helpmekaar Road when an unknown vehicle approached and its occupants opened fire at the occupants of the bakkie. Six people were dec...

The government of South Africa has announced its readiness to host the inauguration of President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa, marking the beginning of the 7th Administration. The ceremony will take place today at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This event also commemorates 30 years of freedom and will include a cultural program preceding the formal proceedings. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to...

President-elect, Cyril Ramaphosa will be sworn in today at the Union Buildings after securing re-election for a second term during the National Assembly's first session. There is significant anticipation regarding his cabinet appointments. This comes after forming a Government of National Unity with the DA, IFP, and other parties. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor William Gumede,...

With South Africa establishing a Government of National Unity (GNU) to address the election results and focus on reducing unemployment, poverty, and inequality, Professor Raymond Parsons from the NWU School of Business & Governance says that the success of the GNU will depend on its deliverables. These include effective collaboration with the private sector and bolstering the National Treasury...

Members of the tripartite alliance have raised concern over the inclusion of the Democratic Alliance in the Government of National Unity. The Unity comprising the DA, IFP, GOOD party and Patriotic Alliance was formed after the ANC failed to achieve a majority in last month's national elections. COSATU and the SACP have vehemently criticized the formation, raising questions about its viability and...

DA MP Renaldo Gouws has apologized for his controversial video that sparked accusations of racism. The newly sworn-in parliamentarian faces backlash for a 2009 video that resurfaced showing him making racially charged comments against the ANC government. A petition demanding his removal from office has gained momentum, with almost 30,000 signatures. Elvis Presslin spoke to Womanist and Socio-Econo...

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on the Government of National Unity (GNU) to make education a top priority and tackle crime with urgency. Makaneta argues that rising crime rates in some communities could infiltrate schools, compromising the safety of citizens. Speaking to Elvis Presslin, Makaneta elaborates further on his sentiments

The ANC has extended an olive branch to opposition parties, urging them to join the Government of National Unity. This development comes as five parties, including the ANC, DA, IFP, GOOD Party, and Patriotic Alliance, prepare to solidify their coalition ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's inauguration tomorrow. The ANC's move is seen as a bid to foster unity and collaboration in addressing the co...

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

Soweto township has been named one of South Africa's top three admired destinations at the Brand Africa 2024 Awards. This esteemed accolade follows extensive research across over 30 African markets. The township's significant heritage has made it a standout destination, showcasing the best of South Africa. Here is Thato Mothopeng, Chairman of Soweto Tourism...