First Take SA

Anti-corruption non-profit organization Corruption Watch has released a report assessing the impact of corruption in South Africa. The survey, conducted face-to-face, involved interviews with 1,500 respondents across all provinces. According to the findings of the survey, respondents have little to no faith in law enforcement agencies. Now for more on this we are spoke to Melusi Ncala, Acting Lead...

The United Nations in South Africa says the signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law is a significant milestone in the journey towards universal health care that leaves no one behind. In a statement issued yesterday, the UN said the law ensures that all citizens have access to quality healthcare services, regardless of their socio-economic status through the establishment of th...

The Information Regulator of South Africa says if political parties and independent candidates want to use personal information of voters for campaign purposes, they must collect such personal information from you, the voters directly, and not from data brokers or lead generators and use it for campaign purposes only. The Regulator has published a new guidance note for how political parties and in...

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in his meeting with the non profit organisation sector has assured the sector of continued support from the province. Lesufi announced the  suspension of the 70/30 clause on the service level agreements and that the budget will be reinstated from R1.7 billion to the original R2.4 billion and prioritizing immediate payment of NPOs. This follows cries from several NPO'...

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has turned down the request from the families of the Lily Mine victims to have their legal representatives attend a stakeholders meeting. In a letter to ActionSA, which represents the families, the Ministry stated that the invitation is non-transferable, hence barring the presence of their legal representatives. This decision comes as the department w...

The South African Federation of Trade Unions says it is vindicated by the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) that has shown that the country suffers from structural unemployment. SAFTU says this has led to the official unemployment increasing from 7,8 million to 8,2 million. To discuss this further we spoke to SAFTU National Spokesperson, Trevor Shaku.

The Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (HAITU) has voiced its support for President Cyril Ramaphosa's imminent signing of the National Health Insurance Bill. HAITU says this action as the final step toward ensuring public access to high-quality healthcare. For More on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lerato Mthunzi Haitu General Secretary  

The South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC) says it is profoundly disappointed and concerned that the President will be signing the NHI Bill into law today. The SAHPC says the NHI, in its current form will reverse, rather than progress, equitable, quality healthcare in South Africa. The collaboration says it is also looking at legal options available in this regard. To discuss thi...

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 National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has successfully negotiated an above-inflation wage increase and a groundbreaking housing arrangement for workers in the engineering sector. NUMSA says it is satisfied with the three-year wage deal, effective from July 2024 until June 2027, which includes 7% increments in the first year, 6% in the second, and 6% in the third. Now for more...

The death toll from a building that collapsed in George in the Western Cape has risen to 32. The George Local Municipality says there are still 20 workers that are unaccounted for. The municipality further said there were 81 people on site when the collapse occurred over a week ago. We spoke to Chief Director for Western Cape Disaster Management, Colin Deiner.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has spent more than R2 billion in compensating civil claims for wrongful arrests and detentions since 2018. Minister of Police Bheki Cele's revealed this when responding to a question by DA member Andrew Whitfield in parliament. SAPS has seen a 52% increase in civil over the past five years, with settlements totaling R406 million in the last three quarters o...

The South African Prisoners Organization for Human Rights is calling on all correctional facilities to prepare for large-scale protests unless fair elections are ensured. Inmates across the country are unhappy with the voter registration process by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the upcoming elections. The movement insists that eligible voters in prisons, who are South African citi...

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has raised concern about the recent deaths of school children. The party says the recent deaths of five children due to ingesting poison and the suicide of a boy last year, over his sexual orientation needs immediate intervention from the Department of Basic Education. Elvis Presslin spoke to UDM Secretary General, Yongama Zigebe

Gauteng police are still searching for suspects who shot and killed a five-year-old boy during a hijacking in Soshanguve, Pretoria. Ditebogo Junior Phalane was killed last week Friday, while running to welcome his father, only to be shot during his father's hijacking. For the latest development Elvis Presslin spoke to Gift Makoti, Spokesperson for the Phalane Family

Search and rescue efforts continue in the George building collapse tragedy in the Western Cape. This as the number of fatalities from last week's multi-storey building collapse has now risen to 20. For the latest development Elvis Presslin spoke to George Mayor, Leon van Wyk and National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Police Minister Bheki Cele says investigations are underway to...

The ANC and IEC's chairperson have been accused of trying to sabotage the ATM party in the 2019 national elections. Former ANC researcher in the Western Cape legislature, advocate Winston Erasmus made the allegations in a written complaint to the Electoral Court. Erasmus has accused IEC chair Mosotho Moepya and the ANC of working in cahoots to deregister the ATM ahead of the 2019 polls. Elvis Pres...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will tomorrow (Saturday) embark on a mass protest against Sibanye-Stillwater' decision to retrench more than 4 000 workers. The mine recently issued a Section 189 retrenchment notice, notifying workers about its plans to retrench about 4 000 mineworkers. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lupert Chilwane, Media liaison officer for the National Union of...

Master Builders South Africa has expressed concern over the safety of workers at construction sites. This follows the tragic death of 8 construction workers during a multistory building collapsed in George, Western Cape on Monday. Over 40 workers are still unaccounted for, while 37 others are in hospital. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Roy Mnisi, Executive Director for Master Builders So...

Former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro has passed on. Mokgoro, the first black female Justice of the Constitutional Court died after a lengthy stay in hospital following car crash in April last year. Judges Matters Research and Advocacy Officer, Mbekezeli Benjamin has described Justice Mokgoro as "a pioneer in the legal profession". 

The Constitutional Court will today hear the IEC's challenge over former president Jacob Zuma's eligibility to serve in the National Assembly. The IEC is seeking clarity from the Apex court on the implementation of Section 47 of the constitution. This after the electoral court ruled Zuma can remain on the list of candidates vying for seats in parliament. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Le...

The Tshwane Metro Police Department, Men for Change and other law enforcement agencies will today march to the Union Buildings, in Pretoria against gender-based violence. The marchers are expected to handover a memorandum, underscoring their commitment to combating this societal challenge. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tshwane Metro Police Department spokesperson, Isaac Mahamba

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

Former ANC Tshwane chairperson Dr. Kgoši Maepa will today open two criminal cases against the DA. Maepa says the party should be charged for its election advertisement which depicts the South African flag being burnt. Maepa says he will also open a case of fraud against the DA-led Tshwane munipality at the Brooklyn Police station, in Pretoria for a R4.7-billion VAT liability. For more on this, Dr....

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has been admitted as a friend of the court in the matter between the Electoral Commission of South Africa, IEC and uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The Constitutional Court will this Friday hear the IEC's challenge on former President Jacob Zuma's eligibility to serve in Parliament. The IEC is challenging the Electoral Court's decision to allow Zuma to contest elections this m...