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

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...

Fellow musicians have continued to pay their tributes following the passing of jazz musician, Gloria Bosman. The Soweto-born award-winning icon died at the age of 50. Renowned South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka told our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri that she is saddened and shocked by Bosman's passing...

The African Transformation Movement, ATM's Mncedi Ndzwanana has been elected the speaker of the City of Tshwane. This comes after a squabble compromised the voting process yesterday afternoon when two DA councilors displayed who they chose during a secret ballot vote. The ballots were quarantined after the IEC declared that the voting process was not free and fair due to the squabble. The council...

The Democratic Alliance, DA will today announce urgent legal steps against the planned national shutdown by the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF. The party's national spokesperson, Leigh-Ann Mathys told our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri, the national shutdown - which calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation over the country's current woes, will go ahead as planned, irrespective of any interf...

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.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, Popcru will today join in the public service strike currently underway in South Africa. COSATU-affiliated unions, NEHAWU, DENOSA, POPCRU, and SAPU are demanding a pay hike of 10%. The strike has led to severe disruptions to government services, especially in health facilities. Elvis Presslin spoke to Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for the Police and Prisons C...

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson Bongani Baloyi is reportedly set to leave the position after allegedly falling out with party President Herman Mashaba. A proposal for a change of role for Baloyi comes from irreconcilable differences in the running of the Gauteng structures. Meanwhile, a leaked Public Protector report has absolved President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing at his Phalaphala farm. Elv...

The Democratic Alliance, DA will today lead a picket outside the ministerial estate, in Bryntirion, Tshwane against the "luxurious" lifestyles of Ministers. The party has accused Ministers and Deputy Ministers in President Cyril Ramaphosa's Cabinet of living like rockstars while ordinary citizens endure load shedding, crime, poverty, and the spiraling costs of living. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA le...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS has promised to intervene in the ongoing accommodation crisis following widespread protests by students at several universities. Students from Wits, UKZN and TUT have been protesting over NSFAS' R45 000 cap for residence, financial and academic exclusion. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to NSFAS spokesperson Slumezi Skosana

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the violent nature of Nehawu's wage strike at various health facilities is unacceptable. Ramaphosa lashed out at the union during his oral reply session in Parliament yesterday. Reports of intimidation against health workers and a recent preliminary report indicate that the death of at least four people can be linked to the wage strike. Ramaphosa has called on striki...

The multi-party coalition in Tshwane is investigating the authenticity of a certificate of rehabilitation submitted by Dr. Murunwa Makwarela. This was after he was reinstated as Mayor after providing a certificate of rehabilitation. Makwarela was disqualified and removed from office this week for failure to present evidence of a rehabilitation process following a 2016 insolvency declaration agains...

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

Gauteng police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following the death of a three-year-old toddler at the Little Ashford Centre in Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg. The toddler reportedly died after a bookshelf fell on him. Our senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane about what the preschool is saying about the circumstances surrounding the incident

Some doctors and patients were barred from entering hospitals by striking workers affiliated with Nehawu as the union's wage strike continues. The nationwide strike has affected various health services at public facilities such as Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where doctors and patients were prevented from entering. The nationwide strike will enter its...

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, PAC will join the EFF's national shutdown on the 20th of March this month. The EFF has been gaining support for its planned protest against load-shedding and service delivery issues from different organizations. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jaki Seroke, the PAC's Secretary for Publicity and Information

Former BOSASA COO Angelo Agrizzi is expected to appear virtually before the Pretoria High Court for an inquiry into his fitness to stand trial. The court will this morning hear arguments on whether corruption-accused Agrizzi, can stand trial. Agrizzi, who is charged alongside former ANC MP Vincent Smith was arrested in 2020 on fraud and corruption charges. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

The City of Tshwane is without an executive mayor yet again - Cope councilor, Dr. Murunwa Makwarela has been disqualified as Proportional Representative Councillor, leaving the City without a mayor. Makwarela was elected Mayor last Tuesday. The disqualification is in terms of section 158 of the Constitution. Makwarela was declared insolvent in 2016 and according to the Constitution, a person who i...