First Take SA

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...

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...