First Take SA

A group of aggrieved ANC members in the North West, have served both the party's National Executive Committee and the newly-elected provincial officials with court papers. The group intends to challenge the outcome of the ninth provincial conference which was held in Rustenburg last weekend. It is questioning the legitimacy of the conference saying there were irregularities and non-compliance with...

SADC leaders say the new US law to curb Russia's influence and activities in Africa will have serious implications on the continent.  The Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act (CMRAAA) aimed at countering Russia's activities in Africa is soon set to become law as the United States looks at measures to deal with Russia over its war on Ukraine. SADC leaders have expressed unhappiness th...

DA Mayor for the City of Tshwane, Randall Williams will address members of the media today to respond to allegations of meddling in the city's administration. This follows allegations of Williams interfering with a controversial 26-billion-rand tender bid for an alternative energy contract for the city by allegedly directing the city's manager to appoint an energy service provider. Elvis Presslin...

TALKING POINTS: *** Nigeria: Emirates Shuts Down Operations in Nigeria Over U.S.$85 Million Trapped Funds *** Ghana: Over U.S.$600 Million Spent On Imported Chicken in 2021... Poultry Farmers Unhappy

Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the City of Tshwane, will this morning embark on protest action, calling for mayor Randall Williams to resign. The Union says it will submit a memorandum to Williams, also demanding that he honours the collective agreement signed at the bargaining council for a pay increase backdating to 2021, among other things. Tshwane...

Joburg metro police department employees yesterday embarked on a protest over salary negotiations. The striking officers blockaded the M2  in both directions at the Eloff Street Exit In Johannesburg yesterday demanding to meet the City Mayor over salary disputes. Elvis Presslin spoke to JMPD spokesperson, Xolani Fihla... 

A 45-year-old detective allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl inside a police station. The incident allegedly took place at Kei Mouth police station in East London on Women's Day eve. Our senior producer Ronald Phiri spoke to IPID spokesperson Grace Langa who says the suspect may face additional charges...

Opposition parties say they will use the courts and Parliamentary processes to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration accountable over the alleged cover-up following the robbery at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.  The forum made up of seven political parties including the DA, EFF, IFP, ACDP, UDM, NFP, ATM, COPE and the PAC said that Parliament must hold President Ramaphosa accounta...

Former President Jacob Zuma's daughter and ANC youth league national fundraiser Thuthukile Zuma says Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana must vacate office immediately. This follows reports that he allegedly sexually violated a female worker at a hotel at the Kruger National Park. Godongwana has denied the allegations. Elvis Presslin spoke to Thuthukile Zuma...

South Africa's military may not be in the position to deploy troops to tackle civil unrest in the country due to budget constraints, according to leaked information. The National Secretary for the South African National Defence Union (SANDU), Advocate Pikkie Greeff says several SANDF bases are in dire straits, with a fleet of aircraft in desperate need of repair. Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate P...

One municipal worker has been killed and three others seriously injured after they were shot outside the Steve Tshwete local municipality's head office in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The workers were reportedly shot by security guards during a strike over wage disputes. Elvis Presslin spoke to Samwu provincial secretary, Sam Lekhuleni...

The Public Servants Association is conducting a strike ballot among its members this week on whether to commence with its first full-blown public sector strike in over a decade. This is as Public sector unions and the government remains at odds in terms of wage negotiations. Unions are demanding a 6.5% wage increase while the government is offering unions 2%. Elvis Presslin spoke to Claude Naicker...

The Congress of the People, COPE is blaming the ANC for its decline in membership and electoral support. Briefing the media on the state of the party yesterday, the party's deputy chairperson, Willie Madisha said the ANC sent its members to infiltrate and destroy the party. Elvis Presslin spoke to COPE's Deputy president, Willie Madisha 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions will embark on a national strike next week Wednesday. COSATU says the strike is in response to the ongoing load shedding, fuel price hikes, and escalating food prices. The federation says the strike also represents a push back by the workers, against the ongoing class warfare directed at them by both public and private sector employers. Elvis Presslin spo...

Raila Odinga has rejected the results of Kenya's presidential election saying that the figures announced on Monday were null and void. According to the official results, Odinga narrowly lost to Deputy President William Ruto. Odinga has accused the head of the electoral body of blatantly disregarding the constitution. The 77-year-old long-time opposition leader was running for president for the fif...

Judgment has been reserved on the application to have former president Jacob Zuma's medical parole reversed. The matter was heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein yesterday. The Democratic Alliance contends that former Correctional Services Commissioner, Arthur Fraser, erred in judgment in believing that he was entitled to release Zuma on medical parole. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA MP...

Kenya's President-elect William Ruto has promised to oversee an open and all-inclusive government after he was declared the winner of the presidential election. Ruto narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5 percent of the vote, according to the official results. The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Odinga's campaign. Elvis Presslin spoke to Africa...

TALKING POINTS: *** Nigeria Hits 44.30 Percent Broadband Penetration, 84m Internet Subscriptions *** Zimbabwe: Reserve Bank to Release Smaller Gold Coins in November *** African e-commerce giant Jumia reported its second-quarter financial performance

ANC NEC member, Nomvula Mokonyane says a criminal case has been opened following the discovery of bogus delegates at the North West provincial conference. Briefing the media yesterday Mokonyane said the alleged duplicates would not compromise the election's outcome. The party's North West Conference has been marred by persistent delays, legal challenges, and allegations of registration rigging. Th...

The eldest son of late King Goodwill Zwelithini, Prince Simakade has been pronounced the new monarch by some members of the royal family. This after he performed the entering of the kraal ceremony at the Enyokeni palace at Nongoma at the weekend. The ritual was done privately. Entering the kraal is one of the key rituals following the death of an AmaZulu monarch and entails the recognition of a su...

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has called on the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy to outline how it plans to tackle illegal mining, following the gang-rape of eight women in Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg last month. Parliament visited several abandoned mines following the incident. This as the department says the government needs an estimated R49 billion to r...

Several July unrest suspects have been arrested In an operation by the Hawks targeting alleged instigators of last year's insurrection. The unrest saw a wave of looting, riots, damage to businesses and infrastructure worth over 50 billion rands, and violence that left over 350 people dead in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. In the aftermath of the unrest, the government said at least 12 instigators had...

State-owned arms manufacturer Denel has announced that all outstanding salaries owed to its employees have now been fully paid, after a two-year battle. Denel has paid 318 million rands in outstanding salaries. Head of restructuring, Riaz Saloojee, says the new restructuring plan will place the embattled arms company at the centre of defence industrial capability and excellence. Saloojee says they...

South African Airways has been given 90 days to provide details on Takatso deal or risk losing licenses. It has been reported that the Air Services Licensing Council wants SAA to address breaches of aviation law - including providing more information about the proposed deal and management changes. The airline, previously grounded for almost two years under business rescue, only resumed operations...

FOCUS POINTS: ***Central African ministers meeting in Cameroon have agreed to merge two regional blocs in a move to boost trade and growth.  ***The inauguration ceremony of the power generation second turbine of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is underway. ***The US and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to form a working group to protect the enormous Congo basin rainfores...