First Take SA

Israel says its preparing a full scale land, air and sea invasion of the Gaza strip. The country has deployed military troops on the border fence with Gaza, in preparation to expand its offensive on the enclave, amid continuous bombardment. A week of fierce gun fire and airstrikes have left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead since the fighting began following an attack by Hamas in Israel....

WaterCan is demanding accountability from Johannesburg and Rand Water over constant water shortages. Residents in Johannesburg and Tshwane have been plagued by water supply interruptions in recent days as reservoirs in both metros were at critically low. Parts of Gauteng are still without water despite authorities reporting steady progress in reservoir recovery. WaterCAN, an initiative of the Orga...

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it is deeply concerned about the significant risks that fake doctors pose to public health and safety. This comes after the Gauteng Health Department opened a criminal case against a man, who claims to be a medical doctor. The bogus doctor, Matthew Lani, who also uses the names - Bongani Zingelwa or Sanele Zingelwa - claimed that he was a medical g...

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO has suspended eight South African UN peacekeepers following reports of sexual exploitation and abuse. The personnel involved were deployed at a MONUSCO base in Beni, east of the country, were arrested earlier this month. The men are accused of "fraternizing, after curfew hours, at an out-of-bounds bar known to be a place where transaction...

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union, SADTU will today march to the Durban City Hall over a myriad of challenges facing schools and teachers. Disgruntled educators in the province are threatening a full-blown strike if their demands and outstanding issues are not addressed. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to SADTU's KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza

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

The Inyanda National Land Movement will today march to the offices of the Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in Bisho, in the Eastern Cape. They are demanding access to water. The province has been battling a growing water crisis, where water disruptions have affected residents in a number of municipalities. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Andile Mapisa...

Judgment has been reserved in the Western Cape High Court on the City of Cape Town's application to move homeless people to Culemborg Safe Space. The City says its Safe Space model is a cheaper and more comprehensive intervention than its emergency housing programme. However, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), representing the people living on the streets, says the Safe Sp...

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise will today visit the Lohatla Combat Training Centre in the Northern Cape. A memorial service is expected to be held for the six soldiers who lost their lives when a veldfire swept through the base last week. This as another fire has broken out at an army combat training centre in the same area. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to SANDF...

Disgraced Dr. Nandipha Magudumana has opened a case against prison officials at the Correctional Centre in Kroonstad for alleged assault. Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester's girlfriend Magudumana accused prison authorities of manhandling and forcing her to attend court proceedings yesterday despite being unwell. Our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Dr. Nandipha Magudumana's lawyer, Ad...

Agri SA will today host its annual congress to address challenges facing the agricultural sector.  The gathering at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg will bring together leaders from the private and public sector to find lasting solutions to problems facing farmers and food security in South Africa. Elvis Presslin spoke to Christo Van der Rheede, Agri SA's Chief Executive Officer.

Afriforum Youth has denied stirring racial tensions by posting 'Blacks only' and 'No whites allowed' protest stickers at the entrances of the University of Pretoria. The group says the controversial stickers on campus entrances were meant to spark debate about racial exclusion at the University. Afriforum Youth's protest was allegedly sparked by the Institution's inaction against EFF members who r...

South Africa's great white shark population is heading for possible extinction after a rapid decline in numbers. A study of the country's coastal waters conducted by researchers at the Stellenbosch University concluded that the numbers of great white sharks are alarmingly low. The study was carried out in the Gansbaai area near Cape Town, a popular cage shark diving spot, and along the country's c...

The Democratic Alliance, DA says it will introduce legislation to align South Africa with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. This after the Agency's compliance review committee issued a statement saying South Africa had not updated its anti-doping code. South Africa's national teams playing at international level will be barred from displaying the country's flag or singing the national anth...

The ANC Youth League says it remains focused on having a 50% representation on the ANC list in parliament. The League is demanding for youth representation in parliament and provincial legislature after next year's general elections. ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has dismissed the League's demand as absurd. To further discuss this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Youth League Spokesperson, Z...

The Gauteng Health Department has opened a criminal case against a man claiming to be a medical doctor. "Dr Matthew Lani" trended on social media after giving out medical advice on the app TikTok and claiming to have obtain his medical qualification from Wits University. The University has since issued a statement saying Lani never obtained any medical qualifications from its institution. For more...

Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana has resigned. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan confirmed Makwana's resignation in a statement yesterday. Makwana will leave the power utility at the end of this month. Current Eskom board member Mteto Nyathi will assume the role. Elvis Presslin spoke to Energy expert, Professor Sampson Mamphweli

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that the original inquest into the death anti-apartheid activist, Imam Abdullah Haron, be set aside. This after the court found six former apartheid security police officers responsible for the Muslim Cleric's murder. A 1970 inquest found that Haron died after falling down a flight of stairs. A new inquest found Haron's death was not accidental and that the ac...

Elvis Presslin discusses 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

The Department of Health has called on communities and organisations to create an enabling environment for people to openly discuss mental health challenges and share experiences to help break down barriers. This as health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla, will today lead the World Mental Health Day commemorative event in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Dudu Shiba, Dire...

The African Christian Democratic Party says it will be joining the Multi-Party Charter that is being spear-headed by the DA. The party says it has joined the charter since it was made clear when the party was approached that the initiative is not a coalition of some sorts. The ACDP says it is still against any formation of coalitions before elections. To discuss this further we are joined on the l...

The relatives of six soldiers killed in a fire at a military camp, in the Northern Cape are expected to identify their bodies from today. A wild fire swept through the Lohatla Military Combat Training Centre killing troops who were part of a military exercise named Vukuhlome. Three other soldiers remain in hospital after sustaining severe burns. The South African National Defence Force has since r...

Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for a gang of armed men who shot and killed a young preacher during his sermon to church congregants, in Newlands, Johannesburg. Prophet Dwayne Gordon was a guest speaker at the Eagles Christian Centre when he was shot by six armed men who stormed the church. Three other church congregants were also wounded in the incident. The shooting was captured during a...

Hundreds have been killed and scores others injured, in the latest escalation of violence in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. The latest retaliatory strikes by the two countries follows a surprise attack at the weekend by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Israel has since declared a state of war as battles with the Palestinian group rages on. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Rolene Marks, Spokesp...

Newly established political party Rise Mzansi will today host its three-day People's Convention at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg. The party will outline how its policies will address the socio-economic challenges facing the country. Rise Mzansi - which was launched this year, has joined the list of political parties contesting in next year's general elections. Elvis Presslin spoke with Rise Mzan...