First Take SA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA says it will not participate in the planned national shutdown today. Speaking to our senior producer Ronald Phiri after welcoming the labour court's decision to dismiss Ruth Ntlokotse's application to hold Numsa in contempt of court for proceeding with its congress last month, the Union's General Secretary Irvin Jim says while they agree wi...

The Constitutional Court has dismissed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO's leave to appeal a decision against its plans to donate over 50 million rands to Cuba. Earlier this year, the High Court in Pretoria granted an application by Afriforum against the donation. Afriforum had argued that the funds could rather be used to help South Africans in desperate need. Elvis...

The City of Tshwane says it has consistently been engaging power utility Eskom over its outstanding electricity debt. This, after Eskom athe nnounced that it is considering disconnecting electricity supply to the City in an effort to secure the payment of up to one point six billion rand. Eskom says the City of Tshwane is in breach of the the Electricity Supply Agreement which was due on 17th of t...

Thousands of workers affiliated with South Africa's two largest workers union federations are expected to down tools tomorrow (Wednesday) and join the planned national shutdown. Labour federations, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) say the strike is in response to the socioeconomic challenges faced by the poor and working class, caused by escalatin...

Private schools have been paying ten times more for rates and tariffs since the reclassification of private schools as businesses by the City of Johannesburg. Joburg Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse says 741 private schools and 921 public schools which have been paying ten times the usual rates will now pay five percent more. Mayor Phalatse says the private schools were categorised as business and commerci...

The family of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a medical doctor in his Kimberley consulting room last week is demanding that the Health Professions Council of South Africa remove the doctor from its list of practicing health practitioners. It also demands that Home Affairs investigates whether the doctor who originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo is in the country legally. T...

TALKING POINTS: *** Sudan Offers More Oil Blocks to Russian Company *** Ghana: Bolt Food Rolls Out Mobile Money Payment Option *** Malawi: Inflation Rate Rises to 24.6 Percent

The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union will be picketing today against the possible closure of the only nursing college in the Northern Cape. The Hendrietta Stockdale Nursing College faces the danger of being closed as it has yet to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education and the South African Nursing Council. Elvis Presslin spoke to General Secretary of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union,...

Ahmed Kathrada's widow and anti-Apartheid activist Barbara Hogan says BEE is only benefiting a small political elite, damaging competitiveness and discouraging investment, while the bulk of black South Africans remains not empowered. Hogan was speaking at the launch of the Ahmed Kathrada Exhibition at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg at the weekend while honouring the legacy of anti-apartheid a...

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...