First Take SA

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has defended the government's decision to accept an R11-billion loan from the World Bank saying it is necessary. Briefing Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance yesterday, Minister Godongwana says there are no "specific conditions" attached to the mammoth loan. For more on this, here is Committee Chairperson, Mr. Joe Maswanganyi

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. Since the start of the coup in February last year, nearly 1,500 people were killed, 11,000 activists and citizens were illegally detained and over 400,000 residents were forcibly displaced. The coup also saw mass protests against the military but despite this, the military continues to commit crimes against humanity with im...

The Pietermaritzburg High Court is expected to deliver judgment in former President Jacob Zuma's application for leave to appeal the dismissal of his special plea, on the 16th of February. Judge Koen dismissed Zuma's special plea in October last year, in which the former president argued that state prosecutor - Advocate Billy Downer - should not prosecute the corruption case because of his alleged...

The Judicial Service Commission is expected to begin its long-awaited interviews for the position of the country's new Chief Justice. The interviews will take place in Sandton in Johannesburg, where four candidates will be interviewed publicly, until Friday. The candidates are Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Supreme Court of Appeal President Man...

South Africans are in for yet another price hike, this time at the fuel pumps, as the price of fuel is expected to rise by 53c a litre for both grades of petrol and between 79c and 80c for a litre of diesel. The new prices come into effect as of MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. This comes just days after the Reserve Bank hiked the repo rate by 25-basis points and research showed an increase in the price of food...

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back".

Soweto residents working under the banner 'Operation Dudula' took to the streets of Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, over the weekend marching against illegal foreign nationals who are trading without permits in South African townships. The group gained prominence after confronting suspected drug dealers and illegal occupants of government subsidy houses. The group marched through Rosettenvil...

Media watchdogs groups are calling for reports of possible political interference at the SABC to be properly investigated. This follows the sacking of the public broadcaster's head of news, Phathiswa Magopeni. Magopeni's dismissal follows a disciplinary hearing which found her guilty of failing to prevent the broadcast of an interdicted Special Assignment episode. Magopeni has been given until mid...

The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to increase rates by twenty-five basis points. This takes the Repo rate to four percent and the banks' prime lending rate to seven-point-five percent.  The Bank says the current repurchase rate reflects an accommodative policy stance that will keep financial conditions supportive of credit demand as the economy continues to recove...

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"

Economists say it is highly likely that the Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee will increase interest rates on the back of rising inflation in both local and international markets.  Eighteen of the twenty-three economists - polled by Reuters - said the central bank would add 25 basis points (bps) to the repo rate TODAY, pushing it up to four percent.  Five of the remaining economis...

Tributes continue to pour in for the oldest District Six claimant, Sharifa Khan who died yesterday at the age of 100. Forced to move from District Six back in 1966 as the apartheid government declared the area a whites-only area, Khan was forcibly moved from her home together with 74-thousand other residents. Aunty Khan as she was affectionately known, once expressed the pain and dehumanization of...

The NWU Business School has officially become the first school on the African continent to receive international accreditation from the Business Graduates Association (BGA) and the prestigious Association of MBAs (AMBA) renewed the school's international MBA accreditation for five years. Only 2% of recognized business schools around the world have AMBA accreditation. Prof Anet Smit - Deputy Direct...

The United Nations Secretary-General has publicly denounced the coup d'état in Burkina Faso. This after a statement from the global organization yesterday condemning the action of the country's armed forces and expressing concern at the whereabouts of President Roch Kabore. This was UN Chief Antonio Guterres says the role of the military should be to protect its people and country and not t...

Corruption Watch is calling for stricter oversight of government procurement services. This comes after a report by the Special Investigating Unit or SIU revealed that 62% of the finalized investigations into COVID-19 related procurement by the government have been found to be irregular. President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the public release of the final report of investigations by the SIU in...

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa, has given President Cyril Ramaphosa seven days to explain what he knows about the abuse of state funds for party-political campaigns. This follows a letter by ANC MP Mervyn Dirks that the committee summons the President to appear before it to explain leaked remarks where he apparently admits to knowing about such abuse of state funds. The committee...

In an address on state television, mutinous soldiers in Burkina Faso say they have dissolved the government and suspended the constitution. SABC International News Desk journalist, Khayelihle Khumalo tells us more about what is going on in that country

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".

The ANC and its alliance partners have once again strongly stated their support for the country's Constitution and the judiciary. This follows tit-for-tat statements between the Minister of Toursim, Lindiwe Sisulu and the Presidency over an opinion piece she penned earlier this month entitled 'Hi Mzansi have we seen justice?'. COSATU has warned that ANC NEC resolutions may become another talk show...

Working on Fire personnel have been battling raging fires in the three provinces of the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape. The veld fires have been caused by heatwave conditions which gripped the western parts of the country over the weekend. More than 50 firefighters including three aerial resources had to be dispatched in attempts to contain the fires. One of the notable fire...

Veteran actor Jet Novuka has described the passing of fellow actor Patrick Shai as a great loss for the South African Film industry. Shai passed on at the weekend and his family has asked for privacy at this time as details surrounding his passing remain sketchy. Reports have alleged that the colorful actor may have allegedly committed suicide. Novuka, best known for his character of Zakes in SABC...

The Basic Education Department says challenges faced during the 2021 academic year were exacerbated by the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, including stop- start schooling, switching to virtual learning and attending classes on rotational basis. Presenting a technical report of the class of 2021 at the SABC's Auckland Park studios, Department DG Mathanzima Mweli said despite these challenges, many...

ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina has suspended party MP Mervyn Dirks who wanted President Cyril Ramaphosa to account to parliament's watchdog body on public accounts - SCOPA. Majodina also stripped Dirks of all powers as an MP and gagged him from speaking to the media on the matter. This, after Dirks refused Majodina's order to withdraw his letter to SCOPA asking for the committee to summon Ramaphosa...

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"..

Gauteng police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward after five men were gunned down and their bodies found in Freedom Park next to the Golden Highway near Eldorado Park in Johannesburg. Mystery shrouds the killings and police say reports that the men may have been killed due to gang-related retaliation, which cannot be confirmed at this point. The exact motive at this stage is...