First Take SA

What are the views of the youth on the myriad of issues and challenges that South Africa is faced with? This morning Elvis Presslin was joined in studio by two young gentlemen; Mikyle 13 and Mason 9 years old to briefly share their views on some of the pressing issues affecting society - such as load shedding, unemployment, and corruption

Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan's public lecture on reforming state-owned entities was disrupted by a group of young men at the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg last night. Minister Gordhan was whisked away by security personnel after the group started chanting for him to go. Elvis Presslin spoke to Douglas Ngobeni, the Spokesperson and NEC member of the Congress of South...

The African Transformation Movement, ATM is giving acting Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka 24 hours to withdraw her letter to the Court which withdraws her office's applications to reverse Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's suspension. The Public Protector's office has indicated through a statement that it will no longer fund Mkhwebane's court challenge but will fund her defense for her impeac...

Time to take 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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that children and teenagers are not permitted to enter drinking establishments such as bars or taverns. A symbolic funeral has taken place for the 21 young people who lost their lives at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London last week. Forensic investigators are examining the evidence that led to the deaths - however, a stampede has been ruled out as a contrib...

The presidency has dismissed reports of President Cyril Ramaphosa being mum on challenges facing Eskom. This after opposition parties accused Ramaphosa of failing to take the country into his confidence by addressing the nation on load shedding and the ever-growing crisis at the power utility. Ronald Phiri spoke to Presidency spokesperson Mr. Vincent Magwenya who says the president will make an an...

Civil society organization, Democracy in Action and supporters of former president Jacob Zuma, will this morning hold a briefing addressing issues concerning South Africa's justice system. The organization says the country's courts are corrupt and are failing. They have also called for action to be taken against President Cyril Ramaphosa. They want the National Prosecuting Authority to pave the wa...

Trade unions Numsa and NUM have signed a wage deal with Eskom of 7% across the board. The agreement follows a weeks-long strike by Eskom workers and days of Stage 6 load shedding. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA National Spokesperson

The Democratic Alliance marched to Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi's office in protest against the proposed Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to amend the South African Schools Act and address a variety of issues including the language policy at schools, home education, and alcohol use at school premises among others. The DA says it seeks to capture schools and increase the...

The Democratic Alliance handed in its Fuel Price Deregulation Bill to Parliament yesterday. The Bill seeks to lower the price of fuel by removing what they term "the government's unnecessary control". This is as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced fuel increases from Wednesday. The price of petrol will increase by 2-rand-37-cents per litre, diesel is set to increase by 2-rand-...

Eskom has rejected the City of Tshwane Municipality's offer to enter into payment settlement arrangements for the R878 million owed to the power utility. Eskom says the city has failed to pay R908 million which was due on the 17th of last month and only made payments of R10 million on the 23rd of June and R20 million on the 30th of June. The power utility says the non-payment by the city has contr...

A woman, who was retrenched for refusing to take the Covid 19 vaccine a year ago, has won her case against her employer. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration - CCMA- has ruled that her dismissal was substantively unfair and ordered the employer to compensate her a year's salary by July 25th. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Senior Commissioner at the CCMA Pieter Vent...

AfriForum, the DA, and the Helen Suzman Foundation are challenging the decision by former Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser, to release Zuma on medical parole. AfriForum contends that Fraser was duty-bound to uphold the recommendations of the Medical Parole Advisory Board not to release Zuma on medical parole. The organization has accused the lawyers of former President Jacob Zuma a...

Time to take 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

Political analyst, Professor Sethulego Matebesi says the office of the Public Protector is becoming a political battleground. This is after Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June. Professor Matebesi says the suspension of Advocate Mkhwebane underlines the need to depoliticize the Public Protector's Office...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya has dismissed reports of the President being personally liable for the Marikana tragedy as false and misleading. He was reacting to media reports that President Ramaphosa may be held liable for the 2012 Lonmin mine strike where police gunned down and killed striking workers. This after Judge Frits van Oosten on Friday found that Ramaphosa...

The government of eSwatini has declared Swaziland News and its editor Zweli Martin Dlamini terrorists. The government published a notice declaring Dlamini a threat to the Kingdom through his articles and online publication where he reportedly urged people to protest against King Mswati. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Zweli Martin Dlamini...Editor of Swaziland News

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) says a total of 3 point 4 billion rands has been voluntarily returned to the Fund by employers who benefited from the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). The UIF says that the over 14 billion rands that was disbursed through Covid-19 TERS has been audited during phase one of its "follow the money" project. This is after thousands of comp...

Yesterday Equal Education marched to parliament to demand the scrapping of the proposed changes to education infrastructure laws. The civil organization says the proposed changes will see the removal of deadlines for the delivery of necessities like water, electricity, and classrooms in schools. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Head of Equal Education Western Cape, Ntsiki Dlulan...

Time to take 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 National Blood Service is currently experiencing critically low blood stocks. The Blood Service is pleading with South Africans to donate blood amid the shortage. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Khensani Mahlangu, Spokesperson for the Blood Service

The United Democratic Movement is calling for an urgent debate on the National Importance of load-shedding and its impact on South Africa. UDM Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa has written to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula requesting the debate. Kwankwa says the UDM also wants Eskom to be called to account to Parliament. This comes at a time when Eskom has been implementing stage 6...

The Constitutional Court has given legal recognition to Muslim women married under Sharia law. The apex court delivered its judgment on Tuesday - confirming a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling which legally recognizes Muslim marriages, and declares certain sections of the Marriage Act and Divorce Act unconstitutional. The case was brought by the Women's Legal Centre. For more on this, Elvis Presslin...

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has denied suspending a pupil from school over her traditional attire. This is after a 15-year-old pupil and sangoma Mbalenhle Ngobese from Nombika High in the iLembe district reportedly committed suicide after the school suspended her. However, the education department in the province says the learner was not suspended but failed to show up to school for...

The National Union of Mineworkers, Num, and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Numsa say there is no wage agreement with Eskom. Yesterday Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced the power utility had reached a wage agreement with striking workers. The two unions say this is false. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Livhuwani Mammburu, the National spokesperson...