First Take SA

Several political parties have reignited calls for the reinstatement of South Africa's death penalty. Capital punishment in the country was abolished in 1995. The African Transformation Movement, ATM and Patriotic Alliance say the death penalty should be applicable where heinous crimes have been committed. Now to talk more on this, we spoke to  Patriotic Alliance Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Soll...

Nearly 5,000 post office workers are facing retrenchment yet again. This after an unsuccessful application for relief funding by the Business Rescue Practitioners to halt the retrenchment process. The Post Office has been struggling to pay creditors and salaries given its deteriorating financial position. To speak to us more about the ordeal, we spoke to South African Post Office worker, Bonisani...

The Freedom Front Plus has denied being an exclusively Afrikaner party. The statement follows the resignation of Advocate Lennit Max who accused the party of advancing and prioritising the interests of Afrikaners over other race groups. FFPlus' Chief Whip in Parliament and Western Cape Premier candidate, Dr. Corné Mulder says the allegations are unfounded...

New political party Xiluva says it wants South Africa to move from Constitutional Democracy to Parliamentary Sovereignty. The party is also advocating for the removal provincial government to only have two spheres of government, which is National and Local Government. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Xiluva President, Bongani Baloyi

Illegal electricity connections have resulted in the tragic deaths of three individuals, including a young man and two women, in the Eastern Cape. These unauthorized connections, performed without Eskom's consent or knowledge, strain the system and cause power failures. As of August 2017, Eskom had documented 15 fatalities and 147 injuries due to electricity-related accidents. Elvis Presslin spoke...

The Inkatha Freedom Party in eThekwini municipality will today boycott Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda's State of the City Address. Kaunda is expected to provide a detailed account of the Municipality's performance at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. The IFP says its planned boycott is to express their displeasure with the current administration. For more on this Elvis Pre...

Former three-time world boxing champion, Dingaan Thobela, has died after battling illness. The legendary boxer from Chiawelo, fondly known as the "Rose of Soweto" was found dead in his flat in Mayfair, Johannesburg, on Monday. For more on the legend and his impact on South African boxing, Elvis Presslin spoke to another legend, all the way from Toekomsrus or better known as Toekies, the  former So...

A coalition of health advocacy groups will today march to the Gauteng department of health offices. SECTION27, Cancer Alliance, and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) are calling on the department to use the R784 million set aside by National Treasury towards cancer treatment. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Sidwell Mbatha, Gauteng provincial chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign,...

The Western Cape E-Hailing Association has embarked on a strike at the Cape Town International Airport. The association says the strike that started on Saturday is in response to the lack of parking provided by the app companies and poor working conditions. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Chairperson of the Western Cape E-Hailing Association, Siyabonga Hlabisa

A SASSA grants office in Mpumalanga has reportedly been closed for two months due to employees refusing to work in a bewitched environment. This after a senior employee reportedly came to the office with a sangoma who then performed rituals at night over several workstations. To further discuss this matter Elvis Presslin spoke to SASSA Mpumalanga Spokesperson, Senzeni Ngubeni

The International Criminal Court is reportedly expected to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's attack on Gaza. The reports come amidst massive protests against Netanyahu's administration, as the war between Hamas and Israeli forces rages on. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African...

Former president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says her father will not meet with expelled uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo to discuss his expulsion. Khumalo and four other MK members were axed from the party last week Friday for allegedly attempting to destabilise the party. The expulsion of Khumalo has since sparked concerns of uncertainty among other MK member...

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise, says a task team to deal with elections related crimes has been set up to respond to any form of criminality ahead of the May 29 general elections. Modise was speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing in Pretoria. She was joined by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, Inte...

Defend our Democracy Movement is urging individuals and organisations to register to observe the 2024 elections. The organisation says observers help protect the integrity of the elections in a politically non-partisan way. The Movement has also called on civil society organisations across the country to collectively observe the elections and share feedback into a common app system. To discuss thi...

South African Post Office workers say the temporary suspension of retrenchments are merely an election ploy by Government. Disgruntled workers are questioning a recent agreement signed by unions and the employer to withdraw retrenchments - saving roughly 4,700 jobs. But workers feel the decision to withdraw retrenchments is aimed at averting a planned strike next week. For more on this Elvis Press...

Former ANC president Thabo Mbeki has commended the party's decision not to expel former President Jacob Zuma for endorsing the MK party. Speaking during a campaign trail in Soweto, Mbeki says the decision to summon Zuma before the party's disciplinary committee is not cowardice but prescribed in the ANC's constitution in terms of procedure. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC National...

The ANC in Mpumalanga will today march against gender based violence, crime and drugs in Matsulu township. Disgruntled community members say crime in the area has spiked drastically in recent months. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Mpumalanga spokesperson, Sasekani Manzini

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa has condemned recent acts of vandalism and theft of election posters. Political parties have raised concern over the removal of their elections posters in the run-up to the May elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi

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 leader of the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara), Colleen Makhubele is proposing a R150 000 voucher for citizens to curb the housing crisis in Gauteng. Makhubele says the ANC-led government has failed over 6,000 Madala hostel residents, especially women, who continue to live in appalling conditions in Alexandra's township in Gauteng. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Ms. Makhubele 

The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will today march against gang violence in the Northern areas of Gqeberha. The march is in honour of 3 year old Emilio Hutchinson who was killed by a bullet while sitting inside his home during a gang shoot out. DA Federal Leader Helen Zille will be leading the march. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Caucus Leader in Nelson Mandela Bay, Retief Od...

The sheriff of the court has raided the house of Diamond Businessman Louis Liebenberg, just days after announcing his independent candidacy for the May elections. The raid comes after Liebenberg's company Tariomix was placed under liquidation In April by the Mahikeng High Court in the North West. The 59-year-old diamond dealer is contesting the upcoming elections as an independent candidate. For m...

The City of Johannesburg says the warrant of arrest issued for City manager Floyd Brink is mischievous. This after a sheriff of the court failed to enforce a contempt of court order against Brink at his residence in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. The City failed to adhere to a court order prohibiting the City from unlawfully disconnecting services to a client over rates owed to the City. The City of Jo...

South African non-profit organisations are reportedly being used as a tool for terrorist financing. This according to a recent report by the Financial Intelligence Centre which found money is being siphoned off to suspected extremist groups in Syria and Indonesia. The report also revealed how religious students was reportedly sent to Syria with suitcases full of money to finance alleged terrorist...

A disgruntled group of grant recipients will today march to Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha's office. The Limpopo Pay-Point Organisation is demanding Sassa and Post Bank to rescind the decision to close all physical cash pay points in the province. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Limpopo Pay-Point Organisation, Noko Motibane