First Take SA

Four additional suspects are expected to appear before the Soshanguve Magistrates' court today for a New Year's day mass shooting in Jukulyn. 14-year-old Vuyolwethu Ziwela, her uncle Mpho Kgobotlo and  two of his friends including a police officer were shot dead by armed gunmen after ushering in the New Year. The four suspects join two others who have already appeared in the same court on charges...

Political party Xiluva is calling for clarity from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on submission of signatures for this year's national elections. The party says without clear instructions on the process and deadline, new entrants are placed at a disadvantage. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Xiluva President, Bongani Baloyi

The African National Congress, ANC turns 112 today. The party was founded on the 8th of January 1912 in Bloemfontein and is the oldest liberation movement in Africa. ANC members are already gathering for this weekend's 112th birthday celebrations in Mbombela, Mpumlanga. The gathering comes at a time when the governing party - Which has been in power since the dawn of democracy in 1994 - faces elec...

The FF Plus is calling for an urgent meeting with Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education following allegations of corruption at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.  Leaked voice recordings by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) implicates Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa in alleged corruption and bribery claims...

Disaster teams are conducting assessments after inclement weather hit several parts of KwaZulu Natal in December, last year. The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance says 40 people died during the festive season due to floods that battered the province. For an update Elvis Presslin spoke to KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi

The United States has expressed concern following comments by Burundian President General Évariste Ndayishimiye calling on citizens to stone same-sex couples in the country. Homosexuality is illegal in Burundi and punishable by imprisonment for a term of up 2 year. Homosexuality is also illegal in other countries in the region, including Uganda. For reaction to this, Elvis Presslin spoke to South...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says municipalities must be punished for poor budgeting. Outa wants officials to be held accountable for poor financial management and failure to deliver services to communities. The organisation also highlights that municipalities face a R200 billion annual shortfall if the lack of revenue collection continues as it did between July and September. For mor...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will seek leave to appeal the ruling by the High Court in Pretoria that set aside his recognition of the Zulu Monarch, Misuzulu. The Court found Ramaphosa did not follow due processes in accordance with customary law and traditions when issuing the certification to Misuzulu as king. The president has since been ordered to appoint an investigative committee to probe the ma...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today officiate the passing-out parade of new police officers in Kimberley, Northern Cape. Today's parade is one of several ceremonies taking place in seven provinces this week. 10 000 new officers are expected to graduate from various police academies this week after completing their basic training. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to National Police Spokespers...

Political party Xiluva will challenge the appointment of Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens as Traffic Officers in court. This after Justice Minister Ronald Lamola granted the wardens dubbed amaPanyaza, the same legal status as provincial traffic officers. Police experts have raised concern over the legitimacy of the 6,000 wardens appointed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi earlier this year. For mo...

A report by American health information provider, Healthline Media, has revealed that social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression, especially during the holidays season. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) says there are a lot of people who feel lonely over the festive season. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tracy Feinstein, Call Centre Manager at th...

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's crime prevention wardens have been granted peace officer status. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has granted the wardens dubbed amaPanyaza the same legal status as provincial traffic officers. This follows fierce debates over the legitimacy of the 6,000 wardens who were appointed earlier this year to assist police. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Gauteng Pr...

Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato will host his Zimbabwean counterpart during a bilateral visit to South Africa today. The visit aims to showcase South Africa's model of administration and border management coordination. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Border Management Authority Commissioner, Dr. Michael Masiapato

Civil society organisations have raised concern over South Africa's efforts to increase nuclear power capacity. This after Electricity Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced a procurement process for 2500 megawatts of nuclear power to form part of additional generation capacity. Briefing the media in Pretoria yesterday Dr. Ramokgopa says the new nuclear procurement determination is in the p...

At least eight senior Eastern Cape government officials are out on bail after appearing in court on corruption charges. The suspects appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrates' Court over a fraudulent R20-million tender for the procurement of 72 temporary classrooms and furniture. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to NPA provincial Spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has called for an end to the discrimination against athlete Caster Semenya. Semenya has been frozen out of the sport for refusing to take medicine to lower her testosterone levels. The commission says there are still many discriminatory hurdles that intersex persons must overcome. This as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made a ruling on the Caster...

The lawyers of Prince Simakade Zulu say President Cyril Ramaphosa was warned not to declare King Misuzulu KaZwelithini as Isilo of the Zulu nation. This after the Pretoria High Court declared the President's certification of Misuzulu as King of AmaZulu was unlawful and invalid. Prince Simakade approached the court to challenge the legitimacy of his half-brother King Misuzulu's position. Prince Sim...

The alleged hostage situation at Gold One Mine in Springs, Johannesburg has entered its fifth day, today. More than 400 mine workers have been underground since last week. This is the workers second sit-in in three months at the mine. The miners want colleagues who were dismissed as a result of the first sit-in to be reinstated. The workers say they will not resurface until their demands are met....

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

SASSA and Postbank say physical cash payment points and cash withdrawal of social grants inside Post Offices will be phased out from January next year. The two entities say SASSA Gold Card social grant recipients using cash payment points and Post Office branches must now use those cards at facilities that accept bank cards. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Postbank Spokesperson, Dr. Bonga...

NSFAS will from next year take over the accreditation of Private Accommodation Providers as well as the accommodation of NSFAS-funded students. This is one of the agreements reached between NSFAS and institutions of higher learning in the new NSFAS Student Accommodation Pilot Project. NSFAS is calling upon all Private Accommodation Providers to apply for accreditation in order for them to be able...

Former banker Roger Jardine has launched his new political party "Change Starts Now". Jardine launched the party in his hometown of Riverlea, Johannesburg on Sunday. He says the party will contest next year's general elections as change in power is needed for South Africans to reclaim their stolen futures. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Human rights and social activist, Mark Heywood who...

The National Union of Mineworkers, NUM has threatened to review its support for the ANC In next year's elections. This after government representatives failed to receive a memorandum of demands from the union. NUM members to the Union Building at the weekend to raise concerns over the Transit crisis and mass retrenchments in the mining sector. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Bizzah Motuba...

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also says the appointment of Dan Marokane as the new Eskom CEO will restore stability to the power utility. Ramorokane replaces Andre de Ruyter who left Eskom end of March this year. Marokane has previously held positions within the group executives and group capital departments at Eskom. Meanwhile Tshepo Monaheng has been appointed as the new Group CE...

Mafube municipal workers face a bleak Christmas as the municipality is unable to pay salaries yet again. The troubled municipality in the Free State announced it will not be able to pay its workers' salaries in December and for the next two months. The municipality has reportedly been operating with an unfunded budget for the past five years. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Tiisetso Mahla...