First Take SA

South Africa has less than half the ambulances it needs to meet the country's population service delivery requirements. This was revealed by Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla In a written reply to parliament. According to the minister, 967 ambulances are not in use due to accidents or maintenance and repairs. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to National Health Department Spokesperson, Foster M...

Members of Parliament were today supposed to vote on whether to adopt the section 89 independent panel report. But Parliament's special sitting has now been postponed voting to next week Tuesday. The report found that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have a case to answer with respect to the theft at his Phala Phala farm in 2020. Opposition party leaders in the multi-party forum say they will vote in...

Members of the ANC Women's League in the Western Cape were to picket outside Parliament in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa this morning. This as the National Assembly was expected to debate and vote on the possible establishment of an impeachment committee to probe Ramaphosa today. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the ANC Women's League Western Cape provincial task team spokesperson...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, OUTA has referred a criminal complaint against Deputy President Mabuza to the NPA. The referral asks the NPA's Investigating Directorate to investigate charges of organized crime against Mabuza in connection with an alleged land restitution scam. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage

The EFF in the Western Cape has closed the Hanks Olde Irish Pub due to an alleged racist incident over the weekend. The Hank's Olde Irish is allegedly turning away people of colour unless they are accompanied by a white person. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson Dr. Wandile Kasibe

The fate of Cyril Ramaphosa as President lies in the hands of the ANC - As the party's National Executive Committee will deliberate over the Phala Phala report today. The ANC NEC will discuss the section 89 independent panel's report that found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer regarding the theft on his Phala Phala farm, in Limpopo. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Fikile Vilakazi,...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed he will challenge the section 89 panel report in the Constitutional Court - according to reports. Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the President was seriously considering taking the report on legal review. The section 89 panel report found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer regarding his Phala-Phala Farm robbery in 2020. Magwenya says the pre...

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) has called for a full investigation into the conduct of two members of the Phala Phala panel. SADTU says it will lodge a formal complaint with the Judicial Services Commission against Justices Sandile Ngcobo and Thokozile Masipa. The union says the panel made findings based on hearsay evidence in circumstances where the evidence is wholly inadmi...

The search for missing church members who were swept away in the Jukskei River continues today. 14 people drowned during a baptism ceremony when they were caught by flash floods. Several church members are still missing. For the latest on the search, Elvis Presslin spoke to Johannesburg Emergency Services Spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi

Domestic workers will soon be able to claim compensation for work injuries or diseases as a result of labour - If President Cyril Ramaphosa signs into law the compensation bill. Prior to the bill, domestic workers were excluded from occupational monetary benefits until the Constitutional Court ruled in 2020 that a section of the Compensation Act was invalid. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin...

The National Executive Committee of the ANC is now scheduled to hold a special meeting today. The virtual meeting was meant to take place yesterday to deal with the Phala-Phala Farm saga surrounding President Cyril Ramaphosa. The NEC is set to discuss the Section 89 Panel Report, handed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke t...

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the decision President Cyril Ramaphosa makes has to be informed by the best interests of the country. This follows the release of a scathing Phala Phala panel report that found Ramaphosa had a case to answer for the 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. Ramaphosa did not address the nation last night, contrary to previous expectations. In...

Business Unity South Africa, BUSA says the country cannot afford further erosion of confidence and instability following the release of the scathing Phala Phala report against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The report compiled by the Section 89 panel states there's prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have acted inconsistently with his oath of office. BUSA has called on leaders to be statesmanlike...

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

Janusz Walus, the killer of former SACP General Secretary Chris Hani, will officially be a free man today. The Polish immigrant Janusz Waluś, convicted for the 1993 murder of Hani, was stabbed in prison, on the eve of his release on parole. Last week the Constitutional Court set aside Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola's March 2020 decision to refuse Walus parole, ordering his release wi...

The Section 89 panel has found that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have a case to answer, pertaining to the theft on his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. The report states Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct, violated sections of the PRECCA Act, acted inconsistently with his oath of office, and exposed himself to a conflict of interest. For more on the report, Elvis Presslin spoke to Genera...

The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Ebrahim Patel has temporarily placed a ban on the export of scrap and waste metal. The six months ban comes amidst growing concern over the impact of copper theft on the economy and infrastructure. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to GroundWork Waste Campaigner, Musa Chamane

The Gauteng education department is warning parents and aspiring students to be wary of bogus schools in the province. This was after the department shut down Milton Park English Foundation school which has been operating illegally in Ivory Park, Tembisa since 2018. The illegally-run school had been offering tuition for learners from Grade R to Grade 9, with a learner enrolment of 111 and most of...

The National Professional Teachers' Organisation, NAPTOSA has raised concern over the increasing number of sexual misconduct cases by teachers against learners. NAPTOSA says due to the disconnect between legislation and implementation, the provinces that find unethical educators guilty of offenses, do not report to the South African Council for Educators. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to...

The SACP will today protest outside Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria against the release of Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus. The party has also filed papers with the Constitutional Court asking it to reconsider and rescind its decision to parole Walus - who was stabbed in prison yesterday, on the eve of his release. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Central Commit...

Two suspected ATM bombing kingpins have been arrested in connection with the killing of a Tshwane metro police officer. The suspects were apprehended by the Johannesburg metro police. Meanwhile, the JMPD says it has also intensified its visibility in shopping centers across Gauteng as part of its crime prevention campaign during the festive season. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to JMPD sp...

Economists have warned that South Africa's unemployment crisis is likely to get worse next year. This is as Statistics South Africa prepares to release its latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey in Pretoria later today. The official unemployment rate was recorded at thirty-three-point-nine percent in the second quarter; however, the rate is even higher according to the expanded definition, at forty-...

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has welcomed the arrests of 16 suspects accused of swindling R2,2 million from the Fund's COVID TERS scheme. The suspects were apprehended in Gauteng and the North West province. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner, Teboho Maruping

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

Eastern Cape ANC member Andile Lungisa has been suspended again. Lungisa, who is competing to become the ANC's next treasurer-general at the party's upcoming 55th national elective conference in December was reportedly suspended for the second time by the party's National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Andile Lungisa