First Take SA

Scientists have warned that more needs to be done to treat the cause of the invasive water hyacinth that has exploded on the Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West province. They have called on authorities to tighten regulations on wastewater management in order to deal with the problem. The dam used to attract countless tourists due to its scenic landscapes and recreational water sports. Now, visito...

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says there is a sense of urgency on President Ramaphosa's part to fill vacancies that currently exist in his cabinet and he will do so in the next few days. Magwenya was briefing the media at the Union Building in Pretoria on the president's weekly diary. Magwenya's briefing comes just hours after the resignation of David Mabuza as a Member of Parliamen...

Community members in Gqeberha say they are still struggling to access diabetes medicine in public health facilities. The health department recently said there was no shortage of insulin at its facilities after communities complained of being turned back as there was no stock. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Board Member of Diabetes South Africa PE, Megan Soanes

As South Africans grapple with the reality of the energy crisis, power utility Eskom is today marking one hundred years since its establishment. Eskom has been powering the nation since 1923 when the Electricity Supply Commission was instituted. Currently, with small businesses struggling to stay afloat, traffic lights not working and households frustrated due to the continuous power outages - do...

Cilliers Brink, Leader of the DA caucus in Tshwane lost to Cope's Dr. Murunwa Makwarela at a special meeting to vote for a mayor following the resignation of DA councilor Randall Williams. Elvis Presslin spoke to Cilliers Brink about this...

Former City of Tshwane speaker and Cope councilor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela has been elected as the new mayor. Makwarela received 112 votes while the DA's Cillier Brink got 101 votes. Yesterday the Tshwane council convened a special meeting to vote for a mayor following the resignation of DA councilor Randall Williams. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela

The minimum wage for domestic workers comes into effect today and will see their wages increase from R3 700 to R4 100. The 9.6 % increase stems from the new Minimum Wage Bill coming into effect. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Organiser for the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union, Gloria Kente

Today is the final deadline for Parliament to amend the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will allow independent candidates to contest the 2024 provincial and national elections. In June 2020 the Constitutional Court found the Electoral Act was unconstitutional as it made it impossible for candidates to stand for political office without being members of political parties. The court had then given P...

A new Mayor in the City of Tshwane is expected to be elected during a special council meeting today. The governing multi-party coalition has thrown its weight behind DA member and former parliamentarian Cilliers Brink. This follows the resignation of Randall Williams earlier this month. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the City of Tshwane multi-party coalition spokesperson and Freedom Fro...

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

Reiger Park community activist Kevin Koopman is calling on the community of Westbury, Johannesburg to speak out against widespread shootings and violence in the area. This after two people were killed and 11 others shot and wounded at the weekend. Koopman told our senior producer Ronald Phiri that witnesses would be more willing to talk if they felt protected by police

Millions of Nigerians are anxiously waiting on results from this weekend's tightly contested presidential election among three frontrunners. The Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria was expected to start the collation of the presidential results last night. After two terms under President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians hope a new leader can do a better job of tackling the widespr...

Diabetes South Africa in Gqeberha says there is a serious shortage of diabetes medicine in public health facilities. The organization says it has been asking for donations as diabetics cannot get insulin at clinics and hospitals in Gqeberha. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Megan Soanes, a Board Member of Diabetes South Africa in Gqeberha and Eastern Cape Health Department's Directo...

The government will provide Eskom with debt relief amounting to R254-billion over the next three years. The struggling power utility's debt currently debt stands at R423-billion. Presenting his budget speech in parliament yesterday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says the debt relief will allow Eskom to restructure and maintain its balance sheet. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Chris...

The University of Cape Town is yet to clarify media reports that it is set to part ways with its vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. It has been widely reported that Phakeng has been offered an early retirement package, and will be paid over  R12 million to leave the University before her second term expires in 2028. Her alleged exit follows the appointment of an independent panel of inv...

The man initially accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and murder of Hillary Gardee says his life and career have been destroyed. Philemon Lukhele, one of four men accused In the case, is currently out on bail after spending eight months behind bars. Hillary, the daughter of former EFF secretary, Godrich Gardee was kidnapped and killed in Nelspruit last year. Her body was later found dumped on...

Labor federation Cosatu is expected to picket outside Parliament and the National Treasury ahead of the country's national budget speech today. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table his budget this afternoon at City Hall in Cape Town. Cosatu says this year's budget needs to move away from ineffectual and failing budget cuts which further exacerbate our struggling economy. For more on this,...

The ANC NEC has ratified outstanding party deployments with Reverend Frank Chikane taking over the chairperson position of the integrity commission in the ANC, replacing George Mashamba. Chikane will be the one to hear what the commission recommended about the Phala Phala scandal. Newly elected Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been appointed head of the deployment committee. Meanwhile Free Stat...

The ANC in the Eastern Cape have welcomed the two life sentences handed down to former ANC Ward Councillor in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, Lucky Bethwell Mbuzi. The High Court, Eastern Cape Division, sentenced Mbuzi for killing his political rivals; ANC members, Hleliphi Mashusha Thotshe and Comrade Mduduzi Madikizela in the lead-up to the previous local government elections....

Türkiye has been rocked by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the country as it is still reeling from the effects of two previous earthquakes two weeks ago - which left over 46-thousand people dead. For the latest, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jasper Knight, a Professor of Physical Geography at the Wits University's School of Geography, Archaeology, and Environmental Studies

The Western Cape government says taxi operators continue to threaten and intimidate learner transport in Mfuleni, Cape Town. The operators have allegedly prevented about 1800 learners from going to schools. Principals have reported that some buses in Mfuleni were stopped and prevented from transporting learners, leaving children, some of them in primary school, stranded in the rain. To further dis...

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is encouraging all South Africans who are eligible to vote to register online to vote in the 2024 general elections. The IEC says it has instituted the 'Your Vote Is Your Voice' campaign as the beginning of its preparations for the elections. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the IEC's Electoral Matters Acting Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Granv...

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...

Heavy rains and subsequent floods continue to cause huge damage in some parts of the Eastern Cape. Six people died at Coffee Bay after they were swept away by the floods. Many households have been left devastated. Schools and clinics have been badly damaged.  For a national picture of the floods, Elvis Presslin spoke to Lungi Mtshali, Spokesperson to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Trad...

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to table the National Budget Speech this Wednesday, in Parliament, Cape Town. According to the ministry of finance, the budget allocation speech will aim to strike a balance between competing national spending priorities and the limited resources available to the National Treasury. For analysis, Elvis Presslin spoke to Treasury Economist at Investec Te...