First Take SA

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) says it expects increased budget deficit and government debt levels, given reduced tax revenue and expenditure overruns, when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement tomorrow. The party says the only long-term solution to this debt spiral is a rejuvenated economy, premised upon stabile energy provision and a vas...

Elvis Presslin looks 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.

The EFF in Kwa-Zulu-Natal has reacted to the killing of Inkosi Siphamandla Khumalo and his wife yesterday by saying the increasing number of political killings in the province is of concern and it believes political intolerance will affect the elections next year. Khumalo was a member of the traditional institutional structures, including the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa. Meanwh...

Grade 12s from all schools across the country will write their first language papers today. Over 800,000 candidates, most full-time learners, will be taking the NSC exams this year. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega has warned there will be no mercy for cheating learners. Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

The University of South Africa, Unisa is heading to court to challenge the decision by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to place the Institution under administration. Unisa was placed under administration following an Independent assessor's report which cited financial irregularities. The Institution says Nzimande's decision is premature as the issue of reviewing the Independent Assesor's...

South Africans are still in a state of euphoria following the recent triumph of the Springboks team at the World Rugby Cup in France. The Boks beat the All Blacks 12-11 by a solitary point in the finals at the weekend. Captain Siya Kolisi described the win as a symbol of hope and what diversity can do for the country. But how long will this sense of unity among South Africa's so-called "Rainbow Na...

The Democratic Alliance, DA is calling on acting Eskom CEO, Calib Cassim to immediately rescind a multimillion-rand tender for a new company logo. The debt-ridden and cash-strapped state-owned entity reportedly issued a tender asking suppliers to provide services for the design of a new logo and the development of a new corporate identity. Elvis Presslin spoke to Ghaleb Cachalia, DA MP and Shadow...

The ANC in the Free State will today march in solidarity with the people of Palestine. ANC members, its alliance partners and interfaith organisations are demanding an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza over the past weeks. The Israeli retaliation came after Hamas killed about 1-thousand 400 people in attacks on Israel. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Free State ANC provincial secretary, Po...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today lead an oversight visit to Emfuleni Local municipality in Gauteng to assess progress and steps taken to improve service delivery. The municipality has faced difficulties in providing basic services such as water to residents. The embattled municipality endures frequent water shortages and poor water quality for an extended period of time. For more on this, Elvi...

Magalies Water is warning residents of Tshwane of possible water cuts due to low levels at its Wallmansthal reservoir. The water supply entity say this is due to the growing water demand from customers amid the heatwave. Magalies says this has put a strain on the reservoir. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Magalies Water Spokesperson, David Magae..

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...

The South African Local Government Association, SALGA has concluded an international migration workshop to build consensus and unified approach in managing international migration. The workshop reviewed the impact of illegal immigration on local economies in borderline and inland municipalities from presentations that were done by the Metropolitan and District Mayors. For more on this Elvis Pressl...

All remaining miners who were held hostage underground for days at Modder East Gold One mine in Springs, Johannesburg have resurfaced. This according to the mine's management. Over 500 mine workers were held underground since Sunday against their will. A labour dispute over union recognition between AMCU and NUM prompted the situation. The mine's Chief Executive Officer, Jon Hericourt confirmed to...

Action SA in KwaZulu Natal has welcomed the provincial government's decision to cancel hosting the South African Music Awards, SAMAs. The department of economic development, tourism and environmental affairs withdrew its controversial R20-million funding of the SAMAs. The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA had been opposed to plans by government to fund the event. ActionSA wrote to President Cyril R...

Opposition parties will today march to parliament in protest against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, BELA. The parties say under the BELA Bill, the head of provincial education departments and MECs will ultimately decide what language is taught in your child's school and who is admitted to the school. They say one of the amendments in the bill is the Criminalizing parents who don't ensure...

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO Andile Nongogo has been fired amid a R47-billion payments scandal. NSFAS officials revealed this at a briefing of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that Nongogo has been axed. NSFAS revealed last week that a probe by law firm Werkmans Attorneys and Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi found that the fired Nongogo, had hand-picked four firms...

Workers from Gold One mine in Springs, on Gauteng's East Rand, say they will forge ahead with the sit-in until management gives in to their demands. More than 500 mine workers are currently staging a sit-in underground in one of the mine-shafts, whilst dozens others are picketing at the entrance of the mine shaft. They are demanding that mining union AMCU be recognised at the mine. For more on thi...

Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has directed all municipalities to audit spaza shops owned by foreign nationals in their jurisdictions. Dr. Motsoaledi say this is part of their inter-governmental approach to respond to the public outcry about the quality of food sold at spaza shops. Recently, two children have died, while several learners fell ill after consuming products from spaza sh...

The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO to appeal an interdict preventing it from donating R50 million to Cuba. AfriForum interdicted the payment of funds to Cuba last year at the High Court in Pretoria. The Department says the funds were set aside to respond to Cuba's request for humanitarian aid. Afriforum is cu...

The country's top business and public leaders will be meeting today to address the Future of Leadership in South Africa. The inaugural Future of Leadership Summit will bring together 100 plus top leadership voices from across South Africa to examine the key dimensions of co-creating the future of leadership. The summit comes as South Africa faces mass skills exodus with many graduates wanting to l...

Over 500 mine workers are reportedly being held at the Gold One mine in Springs, Johannesburg. The National Union of Mineworkers, NUM says at least 543 of its members are being held hostage underground by allegedly heavily armed individuals since Sunday. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to NUM's national spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu and Jeff Mphahlele, AMCU's General Secretary

The Independent Electoral Commission will officially launch the 2024 National and provincial elections today. The launch will focus on the final registrations, timelines and requirements ahead of the elections next year. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Mawethu Mosery, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for the IEC

85% of South Africa's Air Force fleet remain grounded due to a lack of funding and maintenance. This was revealed by Defence Minister Thandi Modise in a recent response to a question by the Democratic Alliance in parliament. DA MP Kobus Marais says the funding crisis affecting the South African Air and Defence Force leaves the nation vulnerable to security threats. Elvis Presslin asked Marais to e...

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

The African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association (AUBBTA) is calling on the Department of Transport to make public the list of bus companies benefiting from government subsidies. The Association has accused government officials of misusing the subsidy for their own benefit. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Phumudzo Mukhwathi, Chairperson of AUBBTA