First Take SA

Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Barbara Boswell, an Associate Professor and Head of Department for English Literary Studies at the University of Cape Town on protests taking place against Kenyan academic Professor Patrick Lumumba's public lecture at the EFF's 10th-year anniversary celebrations today

Elvis Presslin spoke to DA National Spokesperson Werner Horn on its court case in the High Court in Pretoria today - as it seeks legal certainty on the executive's obligations under international law despite Russian President Vladimir Putin not attending next month's BRICS summit 

Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Precious Lugayeni on the ANCWL conference scheduled to begin today

Elvis Presslin spoke to Police spokesperson Loraine Earl on Free State police search for an elderly black woman who is seen in a viral video being reportedly tortured by an unknown man

Our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Jones Ditsela, a Lawyer at Ditsela Incorporated Attorneys, a law firm specialising in class-action and civil litigation, who says those who are found responsible may be held liable for civil damages arising from the explosion

Elvis Presslin speaks to 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 to look at this week's top African Economic stories....

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has condemned acts of violence and intimidation against its officials at various institutions of higher learning. NSFAS officials who have been deployed to various campuses to facilitate the transition of NSFAS beneficiaries to the direct payment solution, have been subjected to acts and threats of violence by some students on campuses. For more on...

A suspected underground massive gas explosion has left a trail of destruction on Bree Street in Johannesburg CBD. A road caved and vehicles were damaged following the reported gas explosion - No fatalities have been reported but the public have been warned to stay clear of the area. For the latest developments Elvis Presslin spoke to Graham Fritz, a secretary of SANTACO in Gauteng, and  Johannesbu...

Economists are divided on whether the Reserve Bank will leave interest rates unchanged or increase them by 25-basis points when it makes its announcement on today. This as data released by Stats SA shows the consumer price inflation rate eased from 6,3-percent in May to 5,4-pecent in June 2023. The annual rate of inflation has fallen back within the Reserve Bank's three to six percent target range...

The South African Weather Services has warned South Africans to brace themselves for another cold front. The Weather Service issued a Yellow Level Two warning for possible disruptive snow and low temperatures. This is due to a cut-off low for the Southern Parts of the country. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Forecaster at the South African Weather Services, Dipuo Tawana

The Public Service Commission will host a whistleblowers symposium this Friday, as part of safeguarding the protection of whistle-blowers. The commission has highlighted the recent deaths of two prominent whistle-blowers in PPE and Home Affairs scandals as some of the reasons for the Symposium and calls for laws to protect corruption busters. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Public Service...

Human Rights Watch in Kenya says senior government officials have responded to the resumption of protests by an opposition coalition with threats and hostile rhetoric, heightening political tension. The organisation says Kenya's political leaders should stop the labelling of protesters as terrorists and respect the human rights to assembly and peaceful protest. The opposition coalition had previou...

State-owned Transnet has announced that the largest harbour in Africa, the Port of Durban, will be operated and controlled in part by International Container Terminal Services Incorporated, of the Philippines. Transnet will have a 50% plus-one share ownership in a new company that will administer the port for 25 years and work to increase its yearly capacity. Transnet says there were six bids for...

Sign language will become the 12th official language in South Africa today. President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign into law the South African Sign Language Bill during a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Thoriso Mndawe, a Sign Language Interpreter, responsible for Stakeholder Relations at the South African National Deaf Association, SANDA

The Democratic Alliance has welcomed a court judgement ordering President Cyril Ramaphosa to make public his confidential affidavit in relation to an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a judgment delivered yesterday, the court ordered government to publicly declare how it would execute an arrest warrant for Putin should he arrive in South Africa for the BRICS summit In August....

Sentencing proceedings in the 2015 murder case of North West businessman Wandile Bozwana resumes at the High Court sitting in Pretoria today. This after the case was adjourned numerous times ever since the accused were found guilty of murder last year. Taxi boss Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela and co-accused Sipho Patrick Hudla, Matamela Robert Mutapa and Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo were convicted for Bozwana...

The Nelson Mandela Foundation says it will continue its focus on dealing with poverty and inequality as South Africa marks Mandela Day today. Mandela Day is an annual global celebration that takes place today on the 18th of July in honour of the late statesman's life and legacy. The Foundation and its partners will be capacitating a community food garden in Diepsloot, Johannesburg today as part of...

Two statues of the late former President Nelson Mandela will be unveiled in the Eastern Cape today. The statues will be unveiled in Mthatha and his home village of Qunu as part of the Nelson Mandela Day celebrations. Elvis Presslin spoke to Eastern Cape Provincial Government Spokesperson, Khuselwa Ranjtie...

Disgraced celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana will learn her fate today - As the Bloemfontein High Court is expected to hand down its judgement on her application for leave to appeal. This comes after the Free State High Court dismissed with costs her application to declare her arrest in Tanzania unlawful. The court found that her arrest in Tanzania was unprocedural but dismissed it because she c...

Current Top African economic stories ***Ghana- Tullow Ghana limited partners begin Jubilee south-east project oil production ***Access Bank expands reach in Africa -they want to buy Standard Chartered subsidiaries in 5 countries  *** Kenyans to travel Visa-free to Senegal Elvis Presslin spoke to Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back. Victor is also the E...

The unveiling of the tombstone of the late poet and author Dr Donato Francesco Mattera affectionately known as Bra Don, will take place tomorrow 18th July 2023 at the Westpark Cemetry, Heroes Acre, Beyers Naude Drive, Montgomery Park in Johannesburg from 10.30 am. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Deputy Chairperson of The Don Mattera Legacy Foundation DMLF, Dr Teddy Mattera (Don's Son) 

Questions have been raised about former President Jacob Zuma's departure to Russia for medical treatment. This comes days after the Constitutional Court upheld a ruling by a lower court to set aside Zuma's medical parole. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mzwanele Manyi, Spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation... 

4 of the 5 suspects arrested in connection with the spate of arson attacks on trucks will appear in the Ermelo magistrate's court, In Mpumalanga today. Four suspects were arrested in Mpumalanga and another in Limpopo. Meanwhile, the South African Defence Force has been deployed in areas identified as hotspots, after 20 trucks were set alight last week in Mpumalanga, KZN, Limpopo and the Free State...

The Democratic Alliance has accused the Eastern Cape Health Department of paying 67 million rand in salaries to the Orsmond Tuberculosis Hospital staff, despite this hospital being closed to patients for almost 2 years. In response to a DA parliamentary question the department acknowledged that while the hospital has had no patients for almost two years, 45 medical employees have been paid for no...

Readers surveyed by UK's newspaper, The Telegraph, have named South Africa as the greatest country on earth to visit, and Cape Town the best city.  South Africa toppled New Zealand out of its ten-year running top spot position. The Telegraph Travel Awards stretch to 20 categories, covering everything from airlines and cruise operators to hotel groups and ski companies. Elvis Presslin spoke to Tshi...