First Take SA

Zimbabwean small scale gold miner has filed multiple international legal actions to reclaim swathes of Mashonaland East based lithium. The communications authority in Kenya has extended the SIM card registration by another six monthsThe Standard Chartered Bank announces moves to completely exit some markets in Africa and Middle East. Africa Brief with Victor Kgomoeasoana....

KwaZulu-Natal has been declared a disaster area. Several areas have been affected by inclement weather conditions that have claimed the lives of more than 200 people. President Cyril Ramaphosa has visited the province. Elvis Presslin spoke to Senzelwe Mzila, the spokesperson for the COGTA MEC of the province Sipho Hlomuka...

Close to 300 girls were married before turning 18 in the past years, according to Home Affairs. The figures have prompted Justice Minister Ronald Lamola to put in place legislation to outlaw ukuthwala. Ukuthwala is a practice where young girls are abducted against their will to pressure a bride's family into endorsing a marriage. For more on the legislation, Elvis Presslin spoke to Chrispin Phiri,...

The Lebombo Border Post between Mozambique and South Africa will now operate 24 hours a day. Authorities of both countries made the announcement of their bilateral agreement in Ressano Garcia, Mozambique. The Border Management Authority believes that the agreement will boost the economies of both countries. Mthobisi Mkaliphi reports....

National traffic officials and other law enforcement agencies have urged motorists to adhere to all safety rules as major freeways are expected to be under strain this Easter weekend. This morning, holidaymakers are expected to be traveling on the N1 to Polokwane, N3 to KwaZulu-Natal, and  N4 to Mpumalanga, among other destinations. Last year, the department of transport recorded 189 crashes,...

"We are now facing a perfect storm that threatens to devastate the economies of developing countries." So says the United Nations Secretary General at the launch of a brief on the impact of the war in Ukraine on food, energy and finance systems globally - an initiative of a Global Crisis Response Group established by the UN Chief in March led by his deputy Amina Mohammed. The war has resulted in d...

Parliament's joint committee on ethics and members' interests has cleared former Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize of contravening its Code of Ethics for allegedly benefitting from the irregular Digital Vibes tender. The Executive Ethics Committee found that Mkhize did not breach the ethics code by not disclosing the benefit he received from Digital Vibes. Elvis Presslins spoke to the DA's Deputy C...

Once again, President Cyril Ramaphosa's message of anti-corruption and renewal is being tested. Despite having adopted the step-aside rule which bars party members facing serious criminal charges from position of leadership, the ANC in Mpumalanga has elected murder accused Mandla Msibi as Treasurer while in Kwa Zulu-Natal Zandile Gumede is elected eThekwini Regional Chairperson. Our Political Corr...

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance has confirmed that over 50 people have lost their lives in torrential rains and floods in the province. It is not yet clear how many people remain missing after heavy rains swept away cars and people crossing bridges in low-lying areas. In a statement, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Doctor Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma...

The eThekwini Municipality has been identified as among the hardest hit by the floods. eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda says at this stage they are unable to quantify the extent of the damage caused by the heavy rains. He held a virtual media briefing, where he revealed that a number of power stations had been severely affected by the storms. Nonkululeko Hlophe filed this report...

The University of eSwatini has closed all three of its campuses due to protests by students. King Mswati has reportedly deployed soldiers and the police to shoot at protesting students, according to local media reports. Law enforcement were dispatched at the university yesterday after students engaged in a protest action calling for the fall of King Mswati. Successive protests over several months...

Elvis Presslin takes 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

Eskom has suspended Stage 2 load shedding as of 5 am this morning. The power utility implemented Stage 2 load shedding just after 6 pm yesterday after Unit 5 of the Medupi Power Station tripped taking some 700Mega Watts capacity with it. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has granted former President Jacob Zuma a postponement in his corruption trial to May 17th. This is to allow the President of the Supreme Court of Appeals to reconsider his petition for leave to appeal against Judge Piet Koen's dismissal of Zuma's special plea that calls for the recusal of the lead prosecutor - Advocate Billy Downer. Two judges of the SCA had earlie...

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has announced that the former President will pursue a private prosecution against lead prosecutor, Billy Downer, in the corruption trial linked to the arms deal case, which is expected to get underway in Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal today. Zuma faces multiple charges of fraud and corruption alongside French arms dealer, Thales, over the controversial multi-billion r...

Zandile Gumede has been elected as the new ANC Regional Chairperson of the Ethekwini region. The regional conference was marred with delays over the weekend as delegates fought over credentials and questions on whether the party's Regional Task Teams should be allowed to vote in the conference. Nomination for leadership positions saw former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede accepting the nomination i...

The trial of seven senior government officials accused of looting public funds during the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela is expected to start today. Former Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and several others stand accused of defrauding the Buffalo City Metro of R10 million, linked to the funeral of the former president. The former officials allegedly...

The wife of Burkina Faso's assassinated revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, says she is relieved after his successor was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 37-year-old's murder. In reacting to the sentence, Miriam Sankara told members of the media that the people of Burkina Faso and the public would now know who her husband was and the values he stood for. Sankara was gunned down...

United Democratic Movement leader, General Bantu Holomisa says the concerns of organizations such as 'Operation Dudula' are legitimate although their methods of addressing them may be questionable. Holomisa has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to consider forming a multi-party committee that will look into bringing back peace in black townships and protecting the country's sovereign...

The Consortium for refugees and Migrants in South Africa has condemned the killing of Zimbabwean national, Elvis Nyathi in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg. Nyathi was stoned to death and set alight on Wednesday night after scores of disgruntled residents went on the rampage in protest following multiple murders and robberies in the area. The residents accused him of being in the country illegally...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit Mangaung, a metro that is currently under administration, this coming weekend. He will hold a Presidential Imbizo at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday. For more on this, Jon Gericke spoke to SABC senior reporter in the Free State, Ishmael Modiba

National Treasury director-general, Dondo Mogajane is leaving the department after 23 years of service. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says Mogajane has decided not to extend his contract which expires in June this year. Instead, he will pursue new opportunities outside of the public sector. Jon Gericke caught up with Mr. Mogajane...

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....Jon Gericke spoke to 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...

Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane has suspended the Provincial Superintendent General of the Department of Education, Dr. Naledi Mbude. The Department came under fire for failing to obey a court order to supply learner support material on time, the non-payment of education assistants last year -- and the loss of a 205-million rand conditional infrastructure grant from the national department, d...

Disgruntled Diepsloot residents, north of Johannesburg have attributed the high level of crime and murders to the influx of undocumented foreign nationals in the area. Yesterday scores of residents took to the streets to protest, blockading several roads with rocks and burning tyres to voice their concerns about police visibility. Addressing Diepsloot residents yesterday, Police Minister Bheki Cel...