First Take SA

The City of Cape Town says a total shutdown planned for today in various communities on the Cape Flats is an illegal protest. The communities are protesting against rising poverty, crime and unemployment levels. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the city supports legal public protests, but it does not condone illegal marches. Elvis Pressling spoke to Mayoral Committe...

TALKING POINTS: *** This past weekend, the first dozen bodies were buried from the devastating ferry capsize on Lake Victoria that left people 224 dead *** Liberian President, George Weah has requested the assistance of the United States Treasury Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the International Monetary Fund to help probe the inflow of money into the country since 2016 *** Th...

The trade dispute between the United States and China saw the two biggest economies impose fresh tariffs on each other's goods yesterday. Washington's latest volley against Beijing sees tariffs on more than 250-billion-dollars worth of Chinese goods. This amounts to roughly half of Chinese exports to the United States. China has accused the Trump administration of using intimidation and extreme pr...

Tourism is the platform to showcase our heritage and heritage sites must be adapted to cater for a divergent clientele. But heritage sites in many towns are not well managed and in a state of despair. Elvis Pressling spoke to Tourism Lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology Unathi Sonwabile Henama

Nedbank Chief Executive, Mike Brown, says he felt pressured by former Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, to reopen the bank accounts of Gupta linked entities and take over as their primary bank. Nedbank is one of the four major banks that closed the bank accounts of companies linked to the Gupta family back in 2016. Brown is testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture in P...

The Dagga Party is ready to bring the next instalment on the fight to legalise banned substances. Party spokesperson Jeremy Acton says they will now approach the Constitutional Court to legalise the private use of magic mushrooms. This is after the party won the case to legalise the private use of dagga. The Constitutional Court ruled that it was a constitutional right to use dagga in private. It...

Western Cape Community Safety Minister, Dan Plato, has been nominated by the DA to be Cape Town's next mayor. Plato is set to take over from the current Mayor Patricia de Lille, who resigned in August following long standing differences with the party. Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Sanusha Naidu

The country is still reeling from shock after nine-year old Miguel Louw, whose decomposed body was found two weeks ago, was laid to rest in Sydenham, Durban, at the weekend. The focus has now shifted to the safety of the most vulnerable in society. While reaction from social media users about his disapperance has been one of concern and panic -- what are you doing as parents to equip your children...

Communications minister, Nomvula Mokonyane has expressed strong opposition to possible retrenchments at the SABC. The public broadcaster's board has confirmed that it's looking into laying off hundreds of staff. Elvis Presslin spoke to Communications minister, Nomvula Mokonyane and Media Monitoring Africa director, William Bird

*** In Kenya the Members of the National Assembly will this week debate President Uhuru Kenyatta's proposal for 8% VAT on Fuel, instead of issuing a moratorium to suspend a 16 per cent levy. *** Staying in Kenya, Nairobi has been ranked Sixth Wealthiest Africa City after Durban, Cape Town, Cairo, Lagos and Johannesburg. *** De Beers has shifted its consumer strategy as latest Diamond Insight Repor...

The impasse between Malamulele Residents Association and the Collins Chabane municipality in Limpopo, seems to be far from over, with both parties opening cases against each other. Now, the concerned residents' association have embarked on a shutdown of services in the area, accusing municipal authorities of nepotism and corruption in the appointment of workers. Elivs Presslin spoke to reporter, J...

Colleagues of the three firefighters who died in last week's fire at the Bank of Lisbon building in the Johannesburg CBD have described how their efforts were compromised because there was no water to fight the blaze at the building. Simphiwe Moropana, Khathutshelo Muedi and Mduduzi Ndlovu were remembered at a memorial service at the Ellis Park Arena in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. They died while...

ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has rubbished reports that there are plans by some party officials to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office. The Sunday Times newspaper reported at the weekend that Magashule attended a secret meeting at a hotel in Durban, with former President Jacob Zuma, former North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, ANC Women's League Secretary General Meokgo Matuba and K...

The Department of Military Veterans has run out of money for the provision of education support for military veterans and their dependents. The department has attributed the shortage of funds to a crippling budget and the high demand for the education benefit. This situation is now putting the education of thousands of beneficiaries at risk. Elvis Preslin spoke Derrick Mgwebi, Acting Director Gene...

Six professional bodies have embarked on what they call a ground breaking initiative to foster a culture of accountability within South Africa's private and public sectors. The organisations say this follows complaints they have received relating to state capture and corruption fallout. Preslin Preslin spoke Dr. Claudelle von Eck, who is the CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa a...

September is Deaf awareness month . The month long campaign seeks to educate the public on this important issue. Meanwhile, the Wits Centre for Deaf Studies will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. The centre has been raising awareness around deafness, hearing loss and educating families of deaf and hard of hearing babies on how to communicate with their children. Elvis Preslin to Profesor Claudi...

The DA has unveiled its seven point plan to help resuscitate the local economy. This follows last week's news that the country had slipped into a technical recession. The official opposition says its plan entails -- among others, privatising SAA and Eskom, reducing the number of cabinet ministers and exempting small businesses employing less than 250 people from complying with restrictive labour l...

Health sector unions will seek legal recourse following the fire that has left the Bank of Lisbon building in downtown Johannesburg gutted. The fire broke out on the 23rd floor on Wednesday and left three firefighters dead. The building, which housed three Gauteng departments, is one of seven government buildings in the city centre that don't comply with health and safety standards. Unions say the...

Health sector unions will seek legal recourse following the fire that has left the Bank of Lisbon building in downtown Johannesburg gutted. The fire broke out on the 23rd floor on Wednesday and left three firefighters dead. The building, which housed three Gauteng departments, is one of seven government buildings in the city centre that don't comply with health and safety standards. Unions say the...

ANC MP Vincent Smith will only know by Wednesday whether his request to step aside as chairperson of various committee has been granted or not. This is according to the ANC Chief Whip's Office in Parliament. Smith has requested to step aside until the Ethics Committee has concluded its investigation into his conduct. The Council for the Advance of the South African Constitution believes that Smith...

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. It's a day meant to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. In South Africa, according to the available data, approximately 11 out of every 100 000 people across all age groups commit suicide. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), estimates that suicide accounts for up to 9% of all deaths among the youth..Elvis...

The secretary of the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal, Thanduxolo Sabelo, has lodged a complaint with the Press Ombudsman following a weekend report that he was involved in plans to oust President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Sunday Times newspaper reported YESTERDAY that former president Jacob Zuma allegedly held a secret meeting in Durban last week with key ANC officials including the party's Secretary...

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the public should not panic after the country slipped into recession. Ramaphosa has given the assurance that government will soon respond to South Africa's plunge into a technical recession. Ramaphosa was in KwaZulu-Natal to engage business and party leaders where he also addressed the community of Chatsworth as part of the Thuma Mina Campaign. Elvis Preslin spok...

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has heard submissions from various implicated persons to cross- examine some of the witnesses. He has since granted businessman Fana Hlongwane permission to cross-examine former deputy Finance minister Mcebisi Jonas. Former president Jacob Zuma's chief-of-staff Lakela Kaunda and Hawks official Mandla Mtholo willl cross-examine former ANC member of Parliament Vytj...

The new Nelson Mandela Bay coalition administration is on Friday expected to continue with the council meeting that ousted the former Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, Speaker Jonathan Lawack and Chief Whip Werner Senekal after DA's councilllor Mbulelo Manyathi abstained during voting. The meeting was adjourned after the election of the mayor and chief whip and some agenda points were not discussed....