First Take SA

In its fresh bid to unseal the much talked about CR17 documents, the EFF has vowed to approach the Constitutional Court directly to hear the matter. The EFF lost the case with cost at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria earlier this month.  But addressing his party's virtual 8th anniversary on Monday, Malema said his deputy Floyd Shivambu advised them to approach the apex court after all...

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has weighed in on the response by the police to the recent unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, saying it was sluggish and resulted in the loss of faith in the structures meant to protect and serve the public at large. The foundation has also rejected what it calls the insidious efforts of the Indian ultra-nationalist party, the BJP, which wants to present...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that businesses impacted by looting and violence will get relief support including insurance payments and tax breaks. He also announced the reinstatement of the R350 Social Relief of Disaster Grant which will run until March 2022. He said government insurance SASRIA will expedite assessments and honour payments. He also said in order to assist economic recov...

The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption is once again allowed starting from 10 am to 6 pm from Monday to Thursday. On-site sales and consumption are allowed "as per license conditions", but must end by 8pm. Tax breaks for the alcohol industry were also put in place. This must be welcome news for the alcohol sector as the industry had warned that the four-week ban on alcohol sales could result...

The Public Protector has approached the Constitutional Court seeking for the rescission of its ruling regarding the investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential election campaign. Last month the ConCourt dismissed Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's appeal against a High Court ruling that set aside her report into the CR17 funding campaign. Mkhwebane's dismissed report found that Presiden...

South Africa is this morning on Alert Level 3 of the Covid 19 lockdown restrictions, down from the previous Level 4. President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced that despite growing infections in Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape provinces the country has passed the peak of new infections. The move to Alert Level 3 means a relaxation on gatherings and alcohol sales as well as the re...

The African Transformation Movement has written to the South African Human Rights Commission in KwaZulu-Natal requesting it to institute an inquest into what it calls a 'massacre' of black people in Phoenix by the Indian Community. This follows the massive lootings and destruction of property last week in both KwaZulu Natal and the Gauteng provinces. The party says vigilante movements cannot be a...

Former President Jacob Zuma has been granted compassionate leave to attend his brothers funeral in Nkandla today. Michael Zuma passed away a week ago after battling an undisclosed illness for almost seven years. Zuma is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court at the Estcourt Correctional Centre. For the latest on his application, correctional services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo...

Some experts have maintained that reports of people who were presumably healthy who suddenly died after taking the jab are not backed by facts. Some South Africans have taken to social media to express their fears of taking the vaccine, citing such incidents, and stirring vaccine hesitancy. This as the Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA, reported that 28 people have died after the admini...

ActionSA  has expressed disappointment at the outcome of the report by  Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke which has recommended that free and fair elections will not be possible on October 27. The party says the consequence of such a delay is the prolonged misgovernance by political parties and councils based on the votes of South Africans more than 5 five years ago. ActionSA...

With the postponement of the Local Government elections, many communities now fear they will be saddled for much longer with unaccountable, inept, and corrupt municipal and council leadership. For more on this is the Director of the Public Service Accountability Monitor, Jay Kruuse...

The South African Social Security Fund - SASSA - will today resume the previously suspended Cash in Transit services at its cash pay-points except in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. SASSA suspended its operations last week amid the violent lootings and destruction of properties. The move comes after cash-in-transit companies announced that they would not be providing services to SASSA's cash paypoi...

Health alliance, Business for South Africa, has raised concerns over the re-selling of stolen drugs in communities following the recent looting at pharmacies, distributors and wholesalers. The organisation says more than one hundred and twenty pharmacies were targeted in the violence in KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces and has warned of the dangers these medicines pose to the genera...

The community of Hammarsdale near Durban continues to help themselves to whatever they can find in a meat factory that continues to burn since the violent riots broke out in parts of KwaZulu Natal. This as most areas affected by the looting and destruction of property continue with the process of rebuilding and cleaning of debris from last week. Thousands of people were seen at the weekend forming...

A political analyst from the North West University, Dr. Thandolwethu Nomarwayi believes the unrest in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal is a manifestation of racial tensions between Black Africans and the Indian community. Dr. Nomarwayi adds that this is particularly true amongst those who are in business in the province. This comes at the back of the announcement by Police Minister, Bheki Cele, confirm...

The King of Eswatini, Mswati the 3rd,  is today (Friday) scheduled to hold talks following last month's deadly pro-democracy protests. All citizens of the kingdom have been invited to the forum known as 'iSibaya' at the Ludzidzini Royal Palace. This is the first time the king will address the unrest in which at least 50 people died.  Activists and opposition groups have however vowed not...

Some residents from Soweto in Johannesburg have taken it upon themselves to start a clean-up campaign in all their areas which saw looting and destruction in recent days. Various malls and small businesses have been looted with many properties set alight. Pimville and Klipspruit residents have since called on all men and young people to come out and shield Maponya Mall from being looted and destro...

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says a total of 5000 members of the SANDF and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed in different provinces across the country. David Ansara, Chief Operating Officer at the Centre for Risk Analysis shares the risks of the current violent and politically charged environment and the trends likely to come...

Claims by the police and state security ministers that the current wave of looting and violence gripping parts of the country could have been worse have been met with skepticism. During government's security cluster briefing, Police minister Bheki Cele and State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo commended law enforcement, saying a lot more damage was averted. This despite lawlessness and mayhem cont...

Firefighters in Durban tried to extinguish a fire at a building that had been set alight by a group of people in the CBD. Protesters took to the streets at the weekend, demanding the release of former president, Jacob Zuma. The demonstrations have morphed into mass looting and vandalism, mostly in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has called for calm as racial tensions amongst...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the violence that has engulfed Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal over the past few days, could lead to serious food and medicine shortages in the country in the coming weeks. In an address to the nation, the president also confirmed that he had authorised the deployment of members of the Defence Force to the two provinces. He reiterated that those involved in the violence wi...

President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced that the country will remain on adjusted alert level four for another fourteen days in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Gatherings also remain prohibited and the curfew is still from 9 pm to 4 am. He said schools will remain closed until the 26th of this month. Rampahosa also said the sale of alcohol is still not permitted, although...

In Johannesburg violent attacks including the looting of shops took place. To look at the situation overnight, JMPD spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar...

The Democratic Transport Logistics and Allied Worker's Union has also echoed concerns over the potential for the attacks on the industry to spread beyond the province of KwaZulu-Natal. DETAWU General Secretary, Vusi Ntshangase...

The Road Freight Association has warned of the dire consequences of the torching of at least 33 trucks transporting goods and cargo across various parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend. Most of these attacks were concentrated on the N3 in Mooi River following demonstrations in support for the calls of the release of jailed former president, Jacob Zuma. RFA CEO Gavin Kelly says small businesses i...