First Take SA

Almost 3 000 detainees are unable to afford bail of R1,000 or less. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola in response to a question raised by EFF MP Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. A 2023 report by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services also found unaffordable bail as one of the main contributors to overcrowding in prisons. Now for more on this El...

uMkhonto weSizwe Party Member Visvin Reddy will today appear before the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court on charges of inciting violence. This after Reddy allegedly said there would be violence and unrest if the MK Party was excluded from the May 29 national elections. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Sabeena Chetty, Spokesperson to Visvin Reddy and the African Democratic Change party, ADEC...

Farmers are warning of food insecurity amid the recent mammoth electricity and fuel hike. This after Eskom's electricity tariff increase of 12.74% came into effect on the first of April. Farmers say the cost of food production will be further exacerbated by the fuel hike which came into effect at midnight. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Jaco Minnaar, President of Agriculture South Africa...

12 suspects in the Fort Hare University murders are expected to apply for bail in the Dimbaza Magistrate's Court in the Eastern Cape today. Two of the 15 people accused in connection with a string of charges such as fraud, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder at the University, were granted bail yesterday. A total of 24 suspects have been arrested in this case. Our senior producer Ronald Phiri...

Action SA has given Mpumalanga's National Prosecuting Authority 14 days to decide on whether to prosecute Individuals complicit in the Lily Mine tragedy. In February 2016, a mine collapsed in Mpumalanga leaving workers trapped underground. Pretty Nkambule, Solomon Nyirenda and Yvonne Mnisi remain trapped inside a container they were working in at the mine. Now for more on this, Elvis Presslin spok...

The City of Ekurhuleni says it is working tirelessly to restore power in several areas in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. The work comes after residents embarked on a protest after enduring 10 days without electricity. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Ekurhuleni Councillor Simon Lapping

Former President and MK leader Jacob Zuma has until today to appeal the IEC's decision that he may not run as a candidate in the May 29 polls - should he so wish. The decision was taken following the public candidate list inspection process which took place last week. Elvis Presslin spoke to Legal Expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala

The ANC Women's League will today honour anti-Apartheid activist Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former president Nelson Mandela, died on this day in 2018, at a hospital in Johannesburg after a long illness. She was 81. The league is expected to commemorate the revered struggle icon's 6th anniversary with wreath-laying ceremony. Now for more on this Elvis Pressli...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the 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....

RISE Mzansi Leader, Songezo Zibi will today lead a picket at the Department of Labour and Employment in the City of Tshwane. The party says it has been asked to take up the plight of people over the age of 35, who are blocked from applying for job opportunities by virtue of an arbitrary age barrier. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to RISE Mzansi Leader, Songezo Zibi

Motorists have expressed outrage at yet another fuel price increase set to take place this Wednesday. On the other hand the National Taxi Alliance says it hasn't decided on whether it will increase commuter fares due to the fuel increase. The Mineral Resources and Energy Department says petrol will increase by 65 cents a litre for 93 unleaded and and 67 cents for 95 unleaded at midnight. To furthe...

The Eastern Cape Liquor Board is urging learners to avoid underage drinking and hosting pens down parties. This after the board received numerous reports and seen posters circulating with invitations to learners from Buffalo City to attend a pool party that requires a bottle of whisky or gin as an entry. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Liquor Boar...

Today marks seven years since the death of struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada in 2017. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation will today commemorate his legacy by hosting a multi-party event, where political parties will pay tribute to Kathrada and commit to free and fair elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Zusipe Batyi, Communications Manager at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

The Pretoria High Court has dismissed Afriforum's urgent application to interdict Rand Water from implementing water restrictions. The civil rights organisation brought an urgent application against Rand Water following the water supplier's decision to reduce water supply to several municipalities across the country. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Petrus Coetzee, Advisor for Local Govern...

Arise South Africa will today march to the headquarters of the country's Electoral Commission, IEC in Pretoria. The party is accusing the IEC of removing it from the national ballot ahead of the May 29 elections. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpho Dagada, President of Arise South Africa

The City of Ekurhuleni will today launch its Easter Season safety campaign. The Easter weekend is known for high traffic volumes and long-distance travel which often lead to numerous road accidents and fatalties. The launch of the safety campaign is expected to take place in Tsakane, East of Johannesburg. Now for more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa, spokesperso...

The ANC will today square off against the uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party over its alleged trademark infringement of the ruling party's disbanded paramilitary wing, Umkhonto weSizwe. This after the ANC failed in its legal bid to deregister the Zuma-endorsed party before the Electoral Court. The matter over the copyright infringement will be heard before the Durban High Court, In KwaZulu Natal today. Fo...

The fate of National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's position in Parliament is uncertain. This after acting Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli accepted a DA-led motion of no confidence against her. Mapisa-Nqakula is facing allegations of corruption during her term as Defence Minister. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Annelie Lotriet MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip

Build One SA leader, Mmusi Maimane, says the Democratic Alliance, DA does not own the Western Cape. This after party leader John Steenhuisen lashed out at smaller opposition parties for trying to unseat the DA in its stronghold province. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Maimane 

ActionSA will today oppose Eskom's appeal against a ruling, which prevents the power utility from load shedding key public institutions. The troubled state entity lodged an urgent appeal against a North Gauteng High Court ruling which declared load shedding unconstitutional. The court made a ruling which exempts schools, healthcare facilities and police stations from load shedding. For more on thi...

The Young Communist League of South Africa will today picket outside the Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg over alleged racism by DA leader John Steenhuisen. The picket follows remarks made by Steenhuisen who last month labelled Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as a bunch of "drunkards" hired from shebeens, who wear clothes from Pep stores. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the League's n...

The Green Connection and Natural Justice are taking legal action against Total Energies over its authorisation to drill for gas and oil on South African coastline near Cape Town. In 2022, the French multinational company applied for a production license to explore two major gas fields off South Africa's west and southern coast. The two Civil Society groups have since approached the high court to c...

The Department of Higher Education says students will not be affected by its decision to deregister the Educorp group of Colleges. The Department cancelled the registrations of Damelin College, CityVarsity, Lyceum colleges, and Icesa City Campus for failure to submit annual financial certificates and reports. Meanwhile, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzim...

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor has welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza. The  Council yesterday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war-plagued Gaza strip for the month of Ramadan. Minister Pandor says more effort is needed for a permanent ceasefire. Meanwhile the Israeli government called off a US trip b...

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....