First Take SA

We get an update on the stories making headlines in Africa 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 Road Accident Fund is calling on all road users to help lower the number of crashes this Youth Month. According to the Fund, an average of 74 people die in road accidents each weekend, with a significant number of these fatalities being young individuals. Between 2020 and 2022, there were nearly 14-thousand young lives lost out of a total of 34,946 road fatalities in South Africa. For more on...

A study by the University of KwaZulu-Natal has found a link between heat exposure in pregnant women and miscarriages in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers warn that climate change will likely exacerbate reproductive health problems, resulting in more pregnancy losses. For more on the research, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Yoshan Moodley, study lead researcher at UKZN

ActionSA in KwaZulu Natal says the removal of eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda is not surprising. This after Kaunda was redeployed to the National Council of Provinces, NCOP.  The party says the move exposes the true nature of the coalition agreement between the DA and ANC, which they claim is not a genuine government of national unity, but rather a political arrangement that serves the interests of...

The South African Correctional Services Workers Union, SACOSWU is disputing the Department of Correctional Services' attempts to deny human rights abuse allegations made by inmates. This comes after Thabo Bester testified in the Bloemfontein High Court that he suffered abuse at the hands of correctional services staff. The union is calling out the department for trying to shift blame and demanding...

Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Contralesa has expressed concern that traditional leaders are being left out of discussions regarding the proposed government of national unity. The organization feels their exclusion from these talks is a significant oversight, as traditional leaders play a vital role in representing the interests of their communities. To discuss this further Elvis...

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation will today commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Rivonia Trial. The trial between 1963 and 1964 was a landmark court case in which ten leading figures of the ANC, including Nelson Mandela, were tried and sentenced to life imprisonment for fighting against apartheid in South Africa. The trial shaped the country's struggle for freedom and democracy. For more on this E...

Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla will today provide an update on the Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak in South Africa. So far there have been four laboratory-confirmed cases reported in the country, with three cases in KwaZulu-Natal and one case in Gauteng. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Angelique Coetzee, former Chairperson of the South African Medical Association, SAMA

The MK Party has filed an urgent application with the Constitutional Court to interdict Parliament's first sitting on Friday. The party seeks to halt the proceedings, citing its dissatisfaction with the recent election results. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Elton Hart, Legal Analyst and an attorney affiliated with the University of Johannesburg, UJ's Law Clinic

A historic coalition agreement has reportedly been reached in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC, DA, IFP and the National Freedom Party, NFP are set to join forces to govern the province. The coalition is set to announce its joint governance plan today. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dean Macpherson, Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance, DA in KZN

A US court has granted permission for Moroadi Cholota, the former assistant to former Free State premier Ace Magashule, to be extradited to South Africa. Cholota faces corruption charges connected to a R255 million asbestos contract. The court determined there was sufficient evidence against her and confirmed that the extradition treaty between the US and South Africa is applicable. For more on th...

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) has raised concerned over health and safety of initiates amid cold weather in Eastern Cape. The province has recently been battered by extremely cold weather and floods. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Contralesa Secretary General, Zolani Mkiva

Parliament says the first sitting of the seventh administration will go ahead this Friday despite the MK party's court challenge. The party has approached the Constitutional Court to interdict the sittings where Members of Parliament will elect the country's President. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political analyst and lecturer in the department of political sciences at the University...

Malawian authorities are still searching for a missing plane carrying the country's Vice President, Saulos Chilima. The plane went off the radar while Chilima and nine others were travelling to Mzuzu International Airport. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to our SABC correspondent in Blantyre, Malawi, George Mhango

Johannesburg's City Power is implementing load reduction in various areas to safeguard the grid from total collapse. City Power says the decision follows extensive efforts to encourage customers to use electricity sparingly. Elvis Presslin spoke to Energy expert Professor Sampson Mamphweli

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

Mining unions are threatening a full-blown strike at Sibanye-Stillwater after the dismissal of 213 workers. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are demanding the reinstatement of miners who were fired for staging an underground sit-in over company dividends from the employee share ownership scheme. To discuss this further Elvis P...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling for an independent forensic investigation into the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF). The party wants the probe to focus on the period during Deputy President Paul Mashatile's tenure as MEC of Human Settlements in Gauteng to date. The Fund's board appointments lack transparency and has numerious dubious payments made to a law firm associated with Mas...

The Electoral Commission of South Africa, IEC is facing more legal challenges seeking to nullify the recent election results. The Hola Bon Renaissance Foundation has filed a complaint with the Electoral Court, citing the IEC's failure to address over 500 objections, which led to recounts in 24 cases. For more on this Boutshitswe Preddy Mothopeng, Chairperson of Hola Bon Renaissance Foundation spok...

The Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is inviting public input on the Municipal Structures' Amendment Bill. The Bill aims to address challenges in municipalities governed by coalitions. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to COGTA Deputy Director-General, Kevin Naidoo

The Azanian People's Organisation, AZAPO is calling for a national forum following the 2024 election results. The party believes the outcomes of the May polls reflect a rejection of all political parties after the ruling ANC also failed to secure its majority. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to AZAPO National Spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena

Lobby group AfriForum is taking the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa to court. The group filed an urgent High Court application against Nersa's electricity tariff increases in July next month. Afriforum says Nersa should review municipal tariff applications in a legal manner. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Afriforum Manager of Local Government Affairs, Morné Moster...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary hikes for ministers, deputy Ministers, MPs and premiers. The 2.5% salary hikes came into effect in April this year. For more on this Claude Naiker, National Manager for the Public Servants Association spoke to Elvis Presslin

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party has decided to form a Government of National Unity. Ramaphosa was briefing the media last night on outcomes of the party's special NEC meeting. He says parties will be invited to hold dialogue on how the ANC will constitute government. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Tessa Dooms

The South African Police Service is investigating a bomb threat at Cape Town International Airport. This after Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) was alerted last night to a possible security threat aboard a flight departing for OR Tambo International Airport. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to one of the passengers, Tony Gaffane who says they were on the tarmac for nearly four hours foll...