First Take SA

Agriculture body, AgriSA, says there are political reasons behind government's reasoning for land expropriation without compensation. This as the public is being invited to comment on the report that contains a number of recommendations - including the amendment of the constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation in some circumstances. It also recommends the reconfiguration of...

Embattled asset management company, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), has appointed businessman Reuel Khoza as its first non-political chairman. Introducing the interim board, finance Minister Tito Mboweni said the tradition of employing the deputy finance minister to the chairman's position was "bad practice". Sindi Mabaso-Koyano, a chartered accountant with experience on several boards in...

Members belonging to the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) and the United National Transport Union (Untu) are expected to embark on a nationwide strike this morning. Both unions say their members will march in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban as part of what they call a 'total shut down' of commuter train services across the country. They are demanding improved rail services includin...

The South African National Parks believes it is turning the tide in its fight against poaching in the Kruger National Park. This follows the arrest of nine alleged poachers in different parts of the park over the last three days. The sections where the arrests were made have been the hardest hit areas of rhino poaching over the years. SANPARKS rangers say the poachers were in possession of heavy c...

Hundreds of social housing tenants in various parts of Johannesburg may find themselves homeless from next month. The Johannesburg Social Housing Company - JOSHCO - has issued those owing rent with eviction notices. The notices also inform residents that their electricity will be switched off and that access to water will be limited. The affected areas include Kliptown, City Deep and Fleurhof. Las...

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has tabled a Special Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly, which paves the way for power utility Eskom receive a 60-billion-rand bailout from the current financial year to 2020/21 financial year. Mboweni has also announced cash injections for South African Airways, the SABC and Denel. He says the money will be handed over in chunks, as these entities will be re...

The high court in Pretoria is today set hear an urgent application by public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan to interdict the implementation of the remedial action from public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's report into the so called SARS rogue unit. Mkhwebane found the unit, which was allegedly aproved by Gordhan, was in violation of the constitution, and has directed President Cyril Ramaphosa...

The associate professor at the Wits school of governance, Ivor Sarakinsky, has warned of a constitutional crisis in South Africa if the court rules against President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to take the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's report on an urgent judicial review. Ramaphosa confirmed his decision to approach the courts in a media briefing in Pretoria last night. Mkhwebane's report f...

South Africans must brace themselves for a busy day as hundreds of activities are expected to take place around the country in celebration of the annual Nelson Mandela International Day today. A businessman from the O R Tambo region has contributed positively to change the lives of the children at Mzomtsha Children's Home in Ngqeleni in the Eastern Cape. Ludumo Mjanyelwa who owns a road constructi...

A survey commissioned by Tyme Bank has revealed that most South Africans run out of money before the end of the month. According to the report, while many do have a budget 76% of those surveyed still go broke before their next pay. Women are said to be the hardest hit and this is because they take care of their children and families

Today is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the spaceflight Apollo 11 that landed humans on the moon 4 days later. Apollo 11 was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on July 16, 1969 and was the fifth crewed mission of NASA's Apollo programme. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin, landed the Apollo Lunar Module, Eagle, on July 20, 1969. To look at the signi...

Former Communications Minister General Simphiwe Nyanda says Former President Jacob Zuma is clutching at straws in a bit to deflect attention from the damaging corruption allegations he is facing. Nyanda says if he was a spy why did Zuma deploy him to important positions in his cabinet.

Former President Jacob Zuma is expected to appear at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture today. Several witnesses have accused him of overseeing mass looting of state funds during his nine-year reign before Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him last year. Zuma has denied all wrongdoing. His lawyers have described the inquiry as an attempt to humiliate him.

Violence continued in some areas of the Cape Flats this past week-end despite a strong police presence in Phillipi East. One of the latest victims is EFF branch chairperson in the Western Cape, Xolani Jack, who was shot 14 times and killed in Khayelitsha. Three alleged gang members have also been injured in a shootout with the police in Grassy Park.

Commercial farmers in the North West province are concerned over the increase in the number of invasions into their farms. Agri North West is alleging that some local small-scale farmers living adjacent to large commercial farms have been forcefully accessing their properties seeking grazing land for their own livestock.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has filed an urgent application to suspend and interdict the remedial actions in a report released by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. In a statement, Gordhan's lawyers say he wants to review and set aside the report and have it declared unlawful, unconstitutional, irrational and invalid. In her report Mkhwebane found Gordhan guilty of maladministrati...

Nigeria is through to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a tense 2-1 victory over South Africa in Cairo last night. Bafana Bafana couch Stuart Baxter stuck with the same side that shocked hosts Egypt in the last round, as match-winner Thembinkosi Lorch retained his place, but this did not assist the team following a late winner by the Super Eagles

The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture has heard how the former chief of State Protocol Bruce Koloane has continued to assist the Gupta family in its businesses in his capacity as South Africa's ambassador to the Netherlands. During his testimony yesterday Koloane admitted to name dropping to influence officials to approve the controversial Waterkloof Gupta Plane landing, describing his acti...

Some councillors in the Joburg Metro say they are living in fear, as residents in their respective areas are frustrated about challenges of erratic electricity supply. Yesterday councillors from the ANC Caucus staged a march outside the Eskom headquarters in Sunninghilll, north of Johannesburg. They are demanding that the power utility improve its supply of electricity to their areas. Residents ha...

The United Democratic Movement leader, Bantu Holomisa who was instrumental in revealing the corruption at the Public Investment Corportion (PIC) says the Corporation's former CEO, Dan Matjila should also be investigated over allegations that he unduly benefited from a 2-point-45 million rand loan extended by the troubled VBS mutual bank. Matjila who is already facing numerous allegations of corrup...

Cape Town police have initiated a 72 hour lockdown action plan in Philippi East, following eleven murders in the township over the weekend. Two men were shot and killed at a tavern on Saturday night, while three bodies were discovered in a nearby house. Another three men were also shot in a separate incident i the same area. On Friday night, six young women were shot and killed in the Marcus Garve...

African heads of state and governments have met in Niamey, Niger to officially launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The agreement will pave the way for free movement of goods, services, investments and people around the continent. The AfCFTA comes after 17 years of tough negotiations. African countries currently trade only about 16 percent of their goods and ser...

In a historic win that has changed their profile, Bafana Bafana knocked hosts Egypt out of the Africa Cup of Nations and booked their place in the quarter-finals with a late winner in Cairo. Thembinkosi Lorch scored on 85 minutes to give South Africa a stunning 1-0 victory. Stuart Baxter's men will now take on Nigeria in the quarter-finals on Wednesday

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the department will present its report about the status of E-tolls in the Gauteng province in August this year following the directive from the President that the issue must be thoroughly discussed. Mbalula was speaking in Durban at the N3 Marrianhill Toll Plaza where law enforcement agencies and the department held a post-Durban July road block

The first 4th Industrial Revolution SA - Digital Economy Summit opens in Midrand, north of JHB later today. The summit will be hosted by the 4th Industrial Revolution South Africa partnership, an alliance between partners from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society. Today's summit will assist government to explore opportunities presented by the digital revolution and to identif...