First Take SA

Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda says he is studying a court judgment which nullified the appointment of City Manager Floyd Brink. The High court yesterday ruled Brink's appointment unlawful. The Democratic Alliance challenged Brink's appointment earlier this year claiming due process was not followed. For more on this had Prince Mlimandlela Ndamase, Communications Advisor to Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council's National Dialogue on building a corruption-free South Africa. The Council appointed by the President last year, is a multi-sectoral partnership to oversee the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. The two-day dialogue will take place at the B...

Police are still searching for suspects who robbed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and her bodyguards on the N3 on Monday. The Minister and her protectors were robbed at gun-point after her vehicle stopped on the N3 highway between Heidelberg and Vosloorus to change a burst tyre. The criminals stole laptops, a phone and weapons from the Minister's bodyguards. To further discuss this further,...

The month of November marks Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM). The theme for this year is 'Consolidate and Accelerate Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the Future'.  South Africa joins the rest of the world in commemorating the Awareness Month annually between 3 November and 3 December. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Vice President of Blind SA, Christo de Klerk

Two suspects arrested in connection with the theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's PhalaPhala farm will appear in the Bela Bela Magistrates court today. One suspect was arrested in Rustenburg on Sunday while the second suspect was apprehended in Bela Bela yesterday. An undisclosed amount of foreign currency allegedly hidden under a couch were stolen in 2020 on Ramaphosa's Limpopo farm. For more on...

The Democratic Alliance says Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi must account to Parliament on the dodgy 5-billion-rand Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) deal. The party has written to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour requesting that Minister Nxesi appear before the committee. The DA want the minister to account for the dodgy job creation deal between Thuja Capital and...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories wtih 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

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has called for an urgent meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa over cabinet's decision to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv. This amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni announced Cabinet decided that South Africa's diplomats in Isreal be withdrawn for further consultation on the situation in Gaz...

With the energy crisis in South Africa, many people have become accustomed to finding alternative ways to source energy from solar panels and generators. However, while many South Africans have become accustomed to the realities of load shedding, many are still concerned and skeptical of alternative modes of mobility. Audi South Africa says the prospect of electric vehicle (EV) ownership and adopt...

DA leader, John Steenhuisen says internal polls shows, that the 8 party coalition - can garner 50% of the votes in KwaZulu-Natal in next year's elections. Speaking at the DA's first 2024 election campaign rally, Steenhuisen says it is within the coalition's reach to win the national election. This as 3 independent polls put the ANC's support nationally between 41 and 45%. The DA kicked off their e...

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says plans are at an advanced stage to release the long awaited Integrated Resource Plan. Ramokgopa was briefing the public on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. He says the electricity infrastructure plan which speaks to multiple sources of energy will help mitigate against load shedding and safeguard the country's economy. This comes amid con...

The Transformation Alliance (TTA) has welcomed the Public Protector's report on the Hammanskraal water crisis. Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found that the City of Tshwane failed to supply Hammanskraal residents with clean water. The TTA says it lodged a complaint with the Public Protector last month, against the City of Tshwane Municipality following an admission by the City's Counci...

Democratic Alliance, DA shadow Public Enterprises Minister Ghaleb Cachalia has been removed from the party's shadow Cabinet, over his views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Cachalia tweeted that he "will not be silenced" and that "Israel is committing genocide". The decision to remove Cachalia was communicated through a leaked letter from DA leader John Steenhuisen. For more on this, Elvis Pressli...

Former University of Cape Town, UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng is considering legal action following a damning report by the University against her. The report found Phakeng and Council chairperson, Babalwa Ngonyama, guilty of serious governance failures at the institution. Professor Phakeng says she will study the report further with her legal team as it is inaccurate and potent...

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

Gold One Mine has reportedly suspended 34 mineworkers who held 500 fellow colleagues hostage underground in the East Rand last week. The miners were suspended earlier this week and will face internal disciplinary proceedings. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Gold One Mine Head of Legal, Ziyaad Hassam

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced additional funding to frontline sectors such as Health, Education and Police Services. Godongwana tabled the 2023 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) yesterday.  Funding of R24 billion this year and R74 billion over the medium term will be used to fund the 2023/24 wage increase and the associated carry- through costs in these sectors. For a r...

South Africa will host the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA Forum in Nasrec, Johannesburg. AGOA is an American legislation that allows Sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets. More than 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the Forum. South Africa's non-alignment role in the Ukraine-Russia war and its solidarity with Palestine in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war...

Lobby group AfriForum says its legal team is investigating the possibility of appealing a High Court decision to dismiss its application challenging the expiry of driving licence cards. Afriforum sought to review the constitutionality of the requirements to renew a driver's licence card every five years. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Afriforum Campaigns Officer, Louis Boshoff

Members of the Muslim Judicial Council in Cape Town is today expected to march to Parliament in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Various political and union formations including Cosatu, the ANC and PAC will be joining the march to hand over a memorandum requesting the South African government to intervene to stop the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. This follows an attack by...

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will today table the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in the National Assembly. The mini-budget sets government policy goals, priorities and projects the fiscal framework over the next three years by outlining spending and revenue estimates. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Matthew Parks, Acting National Spokesperson and Parliamentary Coordinator for CO...

The Gauteng Department of Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko will today hold a meeting with Faith-based Organisations following a recent spate of armed robberies targeted at places of worship. Last month, Pastor Dwayne Gordon was fatally shot at the Eagles Christian Centre and three other congregants injured when a gang of armed men stormed the church and opened fire in Newlands, Johannesburg. T...

The Public Servants Association, PSA and the State Information Technology Agency, SITA will today sign a wage agreement in Erasmusloof, Pretoria. PSA-affiliated workers downed tools at SITA offices countrywide, over a wage dispute. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to PSA Chief Negotiator, Zamani Dladla

Bogus Doctor Matthew Lani has been arrested by security personnel at the Helen Joseph hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg and will appear in court today. Lani will appear on a charge of impersonating a doctor. Lani was caught disguised in a hoodie and wearing a surgical mask with a stethoscope around his neck. Lani had also previously entered the same facility to create misleading content unde...

The Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF have rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of a public holiday in celebration of the Springboks win. Ramaphosa declared the 15th of December a public holiday in honour of the achievements by South Africa's sports men and women - and as a tribute to the country's unity. The President made the announcement last night during his national address. Meanwhi...