First Take SA

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for more disruptive rains that could lead to localised flooding in KwaZulu Natal, from today (Wednesday). This, as recovery operations were still under way following the deadly floods in the province.  For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Siyabonga Hlatswayo, South African Red Cross Society KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Manager, who talks t...

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Blade Nzimande has announced a new student loan scheme for missing middle. Nzimande says government has set aside R3.8 billion to fund the country's 'missing middle' students who were not covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Nzimande, also announced the appointment of Professor Lourens van Staden as acting chairperso...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is accusing the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of double standards for its alleged failure to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable over the Phala Phala farmgate scandal. This after SARS opened a criminal case against Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa, who bought buffalos from President Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. In December 2019,...

ActionSA in Tshwane has announced Dr. Nasiphi Moya as its nominee for the position of deputy mayor of Tshwane. ActionSA has been advocating for the position to ensure the principles of co-governance were applied. But the EFF has rejected the proposal citing wasteful expenditure and political expediency. To discuss this further Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to ActionSA's nominee for Deputy Mayor of Tshw...

Anti-poverty group, Oxfam International's latest report points to a widening gap of inequality between the haves and have nots. This as five of the richest men having more than doubled their fortunes to nearly 860-billion-dollars since 2020, while five-billion people have become poorer. The report comes as some of the world's most influential people and business elites gather for the annual World...

Sebenzile Nkambule 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

Sanlam Investments says it investigating one of its employees after a Cape Town motorist was reportedly attacked for displaying pro-Palestine posters on her vehicle. The woman wrote on X that she was a target of hate speech by another motorist who confronted and attacked her for showing solidarity with Palestine as the conflict between Hamas and Israel rages on. Her post has since gone viral with...

The Department of Basic Education says it is aware of the challenges that confront schools in KwaZulu Natal due to floods caused by heavy downpours. Schools are opening on Wednesday nationwide for the start of the academic year. At least ten people are feared dead in the province. Search and rescue teams were still looking for at least two bodies of people who were washed away in oThongathi.  Four...

The death toll in the latest KwaZulu-Natal floods has risen to six. Another four people are still missing in areas north of Durban. This follows a level 2 warning by the South African Weather service of disruptive rainfall and thunderstorms. For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to South African Weather Service Forecaster, Lehlohonolo Thobela

The Democratic Alliance has slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to deploy the South African National Defence force to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. The DA says the deployment to the eastern DRC to neutralize the M23 rebels is reckless and must be reversed. For more on this Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kobus Marais, DA Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Defence an...

The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu has called on teenage mothers to return back to school to break the cycle of poverty. She was speaking during her visit to the local SASSA office in Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga on Wednesday. Teenage mothers had visited the SASSA office to apply for Child Support grants for their new borns. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Minister Lindiwe Zulu

The ANC will mark its 112th anniversary in Mbombela, Mpumalanga tomorrow. President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the party's January 8th statement to ANC supporters in attendance at Mbombela stadium. Ramaphosa is also likely to use the event as an opportunity to unveil the party's manifesto for this year's national and provincial elections. For the party's state of readiness, Elvis Presslin s...

Some political analysts believe South Africa's genocide case against Israel will likely bolster its International standing and garner support for the ANC ahead of a crucial election this year. South Africa has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Hague accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. More than 20, 000 people have been kil...

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

Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that more than 1 700 official police firearms were stolen between April 2021 and July 2023. Minister Cele was responding to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA). The party says this amounts to 61 firearms stolen every single month, over the last two and a half years. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Shadow Deputy Minister of...

The International Court of Justice will today hear South Africa's genocide case against Israel. South Africa's 84-page submission, filed in December last year, accuses Israel of  genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel in October last year. Oral proceedings on the matter will take place today and tomorrow at the Hague...

Leader of the Congress Of the People (COPE) Mosiua Lekota is calling for change to the electoral system. Lekota says the constitution should be amended so voters can directly vote for a candidate of their choice to lead the country. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to COPE acting general secretary, Erick Mohlapamaswi

Former police minister Nathi Nhleko has reportedly lashed out at ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula over his Nkandla fire pool remarks. Nhleko, who served as Minister under former President Jacob Zuma's administration and presided over security upgrades at his private Nkandla residence is reportedly heard on a leaked Whatsapp voice note saying Mbalula is the worst secretary general since the par...

The UN Human Rights Council will today elect its new President from two competing African States - Morocco and South Africa. Moroccan Ambassador Omar Zniber and South African Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi have been nominated for the position of President of the Council. The candidate with the most votes will occupy the year-long term to manage proceedings of the United Nations' premier human rights bod...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS has welcomed the Labour Court's decision to reject its axed CEO's bid for reinstatement. Andile Nongogo was fired after corruption allegations emerged involving four NSFAS service providers who were awarded tenders irregularly. This as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is calling for the resignation of Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzi...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the management of mining company Impala Platinum has withdrawn the suspension notices it had issued against some workers for their involvement in a three-day sit-in underground last month. Employees have been protesting over a number of issues including pension funds and the employee share scheme. Some workers were expected to report back at work last n...

The South African National Civic Organisation, SANCO says its national leadership will meet with former President Jacob Zuma following his decision to support the newly formed Umkhonto Wesizwe party. The civic organization says no SANCO member can campaign for another political party either than the ANC. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to SANCO President Richard Mkhungo

Gold One has fired 401 mine workers following an illegal strike. The miners were dismissed for taking part in the illegal underground strike last year at the company's Modder East operation in Springs, Gauteng. Workers downed tools due to a labour dispute over organising rights at the mine, leading to over 500 workers staging a sit-in underground. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Krister...

The Competition Commission says it is inundated with complaints from parents who are forced by schools to buy school uniform from exclusively selected suppliers. Parents say they are still forced to buy prescribed mandatory school uniforms from exorbitant pre-selected suppliers of school uniform. The Commission says parents must be given options when purchasing uniforms. For more on this Elvis Pre...

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