First Take SA

Pro-Palestinian activists Africa4Palestine are threatening to disrupt Justin Bieber's concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg if the Canadian pop star does not cancel his upcoming performance in Israel. The group says Bieber should boycott Israel altogether due to its "crimes against the Palestinian people". For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Muhammed Desai, the Executive Director for Africa...

Four men have been arrested for the blockade of the N3 by striking truck drivers in KwaZulu-Natal. Yesterday disgruntled truck drivers blocked the N3 near Van Reenen's Pass causing a major traffic backlog. The arrested men face charges of obstructing a national route, damaging or interfering with essential infrastructure, and economic sabotage. The striking truckers say they are against the employ...

The provisional liquidation of Comair still raises some questions on what will happen going forward. Comair has officially been placed in provisional liquidation by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. This followed the failure of attempts to raise cash to resume operations at Kulula.com and British Airways. All affected parties have until 26 July to provide the court with reasons why the...

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 Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein has ruled that the tobacco ban during the Covid-19 Lockdown was unconstitutional and invalid. Cooperative Governance Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, referred the matter to the Supreme Court after various stakeholders in the tobacco industry successfully challenged the matter. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Francois Rossouw, CEO of the Southe...

South Africa has taken out another loan from the World Bank. The Bank recently approved a loan of almost 8 billion to South Africa, to help the country in financing Covid-19 vaccine procurement. In January this year, the World Bank also approved South Africa's request for a loan of 11-point-4 billion to assist South Africa with its recovery plan in the wake of the pandemic. For more on this, Elvis...

The High Court in Pretoria has granted the application for the postponement of the trial into the murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa. This follows an application by the counsel for the fifth accused advocate Zandile Mshololo so she can study the contents of the mysterious second docket in the murder case which she only got hold of last Wednesday. The date of the next sitting is yet to be determin...

Murder, kidnapping, and hijacking are on the increase in Gauteng and the country at large. Gauteng has reported a more than 45 percent increase in murder between January and March this year. This is according to the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela. The number of killings using firearms is also increasing at an alarming rate. Elvis Presslin spoke to Jonathan Deal, fo...

National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has rejected requests by the United Democratic Movement, UDM and the African Transformation Movement, ATM to Initiate a parliamentary action against President Cyril Ramaphosa following allegations of corruption after the burglary on his Phala-Phala farm In Limpopo. For more Elvis Presslin spoke to ATM leader Mr. Vuyo Zungula

Day one of water-shedding at the Kouga Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape commenced yesterday (Monday), due to the low levels at the Impofu dam and with the Churchill dam reaching below the 10% mark. Affected areas include Jeffery's Bay, Humansdorp, and the greater St Francis area. Elvis Presslin spoke to Water crisis Spokesperson for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Joint Operations Centre...

The trial into the murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa is expected to resume this morning following a postponement yesterday. This is after the defense for four of the accused, advocate Malesela Teffo raised objections to a lengthy postponement. The matter was expected to be adjourned until later this year following the request by defense counsel for accused number 5, Advocate Zandile Mshololo. Th...

A case of corporal punishment against two educators will be heard before the Gauteng High Court today. SECTION27's law division intends on taking the South African Council of Educators (SACE) to court for failing to train teachers and what they view as "lenient sanctions" on two teachers accused of assaulting learners in their classroom. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Demichelle Petherb...

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 Special Investigating Unit, SIU has refuted reports of issuing an apology to former Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize over the Digital Vibes scandal. For clarity on the apology, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Kaizer Kganyago, Spokesperson for the SIU

Three former senior officials from the Office of the Chief Justice have been accused of benefiting from a 225 million Rand I.T subcontract. The trio, former Chief Financial officer Casper Coetzer, former Case Management Director Yvonne van Niekerk, and former Spokesperson and Chief Director of court Administration Nathi Mncube are accused of facilitating the process which led to the awarding of th...

The ANC in the Western Cape province has dismissed reports that the party has expelled member of the provincial legislature, Danville Smith following his arrest last week. Smith was charged with theft of motor vehicles and fraud along with two other suspects. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC spokesperson in the Western Cape, Sifiso Mtsweni

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says it has noted with serious concern the allegations of involvement in a cash-in-transit heist leveled against the Deputy Mayor of Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality. The party, however, says the information it has at this stage suggests that the allegations are baseless and the Deputy Mayor will present himself to the police today (Monday). For more on this, Elvis...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has fulfilled his obligation to provide advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane with a fair hearing and has now decided to suspend her with immediate effect. In a statement, the President says Mkhwebane will remain suspended until the National Assembly's section 194 process to consider her fitness to hold office has been completed. The Presidency says it has granted Mkhwebane...

The jobs of over a thousand Comair employees hang in the balance after the company's flights were grounded indefinitely. Its business rescue practitioners have filed a court application for liquidation, citing that there is no reasonable prospect for Comair to revive domestic and regional flights for Kulula.com and British Airways which it operates. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Phakam...

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 Public Protector's office has initiated investigations into the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's game farm in Phala-Phala, Limpopo. This is after African Transformation Movement leader, Vuyo Zungula lodged an Executive Members Ethics Act complaint with the office. Elvis Presslin spoke to the ATM leader...

The Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF say they will not allow a criminal President to address members of Parliament. EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys says they have not ruled out the possibility of a national shutdown if President Cyril Ramaphosa is allowed to deliver the budget vote for his office in Parliament today. Speaking to our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri yesterday, Mathys confirmed that the...

Disgruntled 2022 Census field workers say they are suffering because they still haven't been paid. But Stats SA says most census employees had been paid, despite the organization experiencing difficulties with payments. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Zakhele Msweli, one of the Census 2022 ex-field workers...

EFF leader Julius Malema has accused the Sunday Times of bias when reporting on allegations of corruption against President Cyril Ramaphosa. Malema says the newspaper has appointed itself to protect and defend president Ramaphosa. He was addressing the media at the party's headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. For some reaction to this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the editor of the Sunday Times,...

The Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu Natal has issued former President Jacob Zuma with a nolle prosequi certificate. This is after the Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute Advocate Billy Downer due to insufficiency of evidence. The certificate allows individuals to institute private prosecution proceedings. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson...