First Take SA

Time to take 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 world celebrated World Water Day this week as South Africa grapples with issues of clean drinking water, water scarcity, and aging water infrastructure. Clean drinking water availability is a great challenge, especially in rural South Africa where some villages can go for months without water. Global emergency relief organizations, such as AmeriCares, CARE, Save the Children, and World Vision,...

The Democratic Alliance, DA's proposed motion to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to probe Phala Phala has been defeated. Yesterday Members of Parliament voted against the DA's motion for the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. 204 MPs voted against the motion, while 135 voted in favor of the establishment o...

British oil and gas company, BP says it has decided to pull out of the aviation industry in South Africa. The company says it is ending all aviation activities, including refueling planes at OR Tambo International Airport. BP says the decision was made as a result of its current global business strategy. To discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Aviation Analyst Phuthego Mojapele

The Public Service Commission will today release a report on the performance of public service departments with a focus on service delivery. The report looks into the failure to deliver things like medicine due to non-payment of suppliers by government departments and its impact. Just recently diabetic patients in the Eastern Cape municipality of Gqeberha could not get their insulin amongst other...

The City of Tshwane will today host a special council meeting to elect a new mayor. The special meeting comes after the Democratic Alliance requested a postponement due to alleged threats from the ANC. The mayoral position has been vacant since the resignation of Dr. Murunwa Makwarela after revelations he forged a court letter. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst Dr....

At least five people have been killed in two separate shootings in Durban yesterday. Two taxi drivers were killed in Berea and in the other shooting two people were killed In Springfield Park in a drive-by shooting - A Third victim was rushed to hospital and has also died. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda

DA leader, John Steenhuisen says Human Rights Day is meaningless if the challenge of pit latrines is not addressed and given the attention it deserves. He was speaking in Buffelsdorings in the Eastern Cape where a 3-year-old, Langalam Viki, died in a pit latrine at Mcwangele Primary School. Steenhuisen has outlined the reasons why the party will take legal action against the eradication of pit lat...

The South African Human Rights Commission has started its investigations Into the lack of hormone replacement therapy for transgender at health facilities in the North West. This follows a complaint lodged by a non-profit organization, Action For Social Justice against the provincial health department for its alleged failure to provide access to feminizing hormone therapy. The medication helps mal...

Gauteng police are investigating two cases of murder following the death of prominent liquidator, Cloete Murray and his son. The pair were killed in an apparent hit in Midrand, Johannesburg at the weekend. Cloete Murray was also involved in several high-profile insolvency cases such as Gupta-linked firms, and corruption at Eskom and Bosasa whose executives were implicated in state capture allegati...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed over 3400 soldiers to support the police in the maintenance of law and order during today's nationwide shutdown. The deployment comes as the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF is gearing up for its planned shutdown to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign over load-shedding and other social ills facing the country. SANDF members are on standby to assist polic...

Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says South Africa is aware of its legal obligation and the government will engage relevant stakeholders regarding the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court, for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In its warrant, the ICC accuses Putin of being responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, including the unlawful deportation of children. Russi...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a firm warning that no violence will be tolerated during the National shutdown planned by the EFF on Monday. He says while the right to protest is enshrined in the constitution this does not allow coercion and disorder. Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the National joints Operational and Intelligent (NatJoints) structure is on high ale...

The ANC will today embark on a people's campaign march to the City of Tshwane municipality. The party which is seeking to retain control in the capital through its Buya Tshwane (return Tshwane) campaign has accused the DA of neglecting poor black communities when providing services. The ANC says the past 7 years of DA-Coaltion rule in the City have segregated citizens on the basis of class and rac...

The United Democratic Movement, UDM will today march for electricity in the Eastern Cape. The party aims to force the government to supply uninterrupted electricity to the country and end load shedding. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to UDM Leader General Bantu Holomisa...

KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested five suspected hitmen in Cato Manor, Durban. The suspects were found armed with heavy-powered rifles. It is alleged they were targeting a high-profile figure. Provincial Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker spoke to our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri about how the suspects were apprehended...

Time to take 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

Bus company Putco will suspend its operations on Monday due to safety concerns emanating from the national shutdown. The company says it conducted a safety and risk analysis which informed its decision. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to PUTCO Spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu.

The National Education Health Workers Union, Nehawu has suspended its wage strike after possibly reaching an agreement with the government. Public servants affiliated with Nehawu embarked on a strike last week demanding a 10 percent wage increase. This disrupted operations at government facilities including state mortuaries, hospitals, and clinics. The union has called its members and workers at p...

The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa, PetroSA is planning to build a network of gas-fired electricity plants. The state-owned oil and gas company lodged an application in January this year to obtain a gas trading license. The company believes this initiative will produce and feed 180MW into the national grid. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to PetroSA CEO, Ms. Sandisiwe Nce...

Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers will face a motion of no confidence vote. This was after the South African Human Rights Commission found the University violated the rights of Afrikaans-speaking students when it banned the use of Afrikaans and allegedly only permitted the use of English in certain residences. The motion is set to be tabled by DA MP, Dr....

News agency GroundUp has uncovered new evidence that reveals suspicious circumstances in the prison fire thought to have killed "Facebook rapist" Thabo Bester. Last year in May, the Department of Correctional Services announced that Bester had been found dead in his cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre. The department reported that a fire had broken out and a dead body was found under a burnt...

Deputy Justice Minister John Jeffery says the new Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill will not stifle freedom of speech. The bill was passed yesterday in Parliament despite fierce debate from four opposition parties; the DA, Freedom Front Plus, ACDP, and Al Jama-ah. The parties believe the Bill will be abused by politicians and limit freedom of speech and expression. Deputy Minister John Jeffery has...

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola will host the National Conference on the Constitution at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg next week. The Conference themed "Reflections on the Constitution: Rule of law, accountability, social and economic justice" - aims to provide a platform for South Africans to reflect and dialogue on the past 25 years of...

Health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba has recommended the removal of Rahima Moosa Hospital CEO Dr. Nozuko Mkabayi following a damning report. A recent report into the state of the mother and child hospital in Johannesburg declared the facility unsafe, filthy, and dirty. Pediatrician and whistleblower Dr. Tim de Maayer and the then City of Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development Ashley...