First Take SA

The Economic Freedom Front (EFF) has reiterated their call for academically deserving students to walk in at any university or college of their choice to apply for places. The call follows President Jacob Zuma's announcement of free university education. The EFF has also condemn statements by the Universities of South Africa, which announces that there will be no walk-ins allowed at universities....

National Poet Laureate and liberation struggle giant Professor Keorapetse Kgosietsile has passed away. The 80 year old Kgosietsile passed away earlier today in Johannesburg after a long illness. He is the former husband of Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete with whom he had three children. As an influential ANC cadre in the 1960's, he went into exile in the United States where he made an extensive...

The City of Johannesburg says they have sent out a team to speak to protesting residents of Protea Glen extension six, south of Johannesburg. Residents are protesting over poorly built RDP houses which fell to the ground when a tornado hit the area this past weekend. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Spokesperson to the Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, Lillian Kolisang, who sa...

Residents of the tornado struck Protea Glen extension six, south of Johannesburg are protesting. They've barricaded roads including the R559 towards Randfontein west of Johannesburg. Its not clear what their protesting about. The area was hit by a tornado over the weekend causing extensive damage to many homes. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele, who says police a...

Time now for our weekly edition of TRENDSWATCH where we take a look at news that dominated social media this week. Our producer Molebogeng Sebidi

The Constitutional Court has dismissed the appeal of civil rights organisation Afriforum and trade union Solidarity against the University of Free State's language policy. The two organisations are against the university's policy to make English the primary medium of instruction from 2017, while providing sufficient scope for multi-lingualism across the university. AfriForum had initially argued t...

Political parties in Parliament have welcomed the Constitutional Court judgment paving the way to initiate proceedings to impeach a sitting President. It ruled that Parliament has failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable following it's ruling over upgrades to his Nkandla home. Elvis Preslin spoke to EFF National spokesperson, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

Gauteng Health MEC, Gwen Ramokgopa, says the mother of a toddler who died at the Incredible Happenings Church in Katlehong east of Johannesburg, on Christmas Eve, does not blame the local clinic for her death. Earlier, media reports said that Nontombi Gwam was told that there were no drips for her daughter at the local clinic. Three-year-old Latoya passed away from what is suspected to be severe d...

Three suspects aged 30, 27 and 22 from Tembisa believed to be behind a spate of armed robberies in Gauteng have been arrested. An undercover sting operation closed in on the suspects who are allegedly involved in a chain of robberies where they would follow victims from banks and rob them at gunpoint. Elvis Preslin spoke to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi

Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development MEC Lebogang Maile has today visited the Constitution Hill in Johannesburg for a site-inspection in preparation for the first ever AFROPUNK Festival to be staged on the African Continent. The event is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday. This despite one of the main international performers Solange Knowles pulling out...

The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) says they are shocked with disappointment by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA's) Intentions to increases councillors perks. According to a circular by SALGA, which informs municipal management of the new perks which Councilors, Speakers and Mayors would be getting, will be Gazetted by the minister of Cooperative Governance and...

The Constitutional Court will tomorrow hand down judgment on President Jacob Zuma impeachment. This after, the judgment was reserved in September after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) approached the court in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution seeking an order to direct Parliament to consider whether the president is impeachable following a ruling that he had broken his oath of office. Elv...

The leader of Incredible Happenings Ministries, Prophet Paseka Motsoeneng says he has assisted the mother of a deceased child to open a case against the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services. This comes after paramedics allegedly failed to attend to Nontombi Gwame's sickly three-year-old daughter. Emergency Services say the child was dead by the time they arrived at the church in Katlehong, an allegation...

The late pop-legend and veteran music producer, Robbie Malinga, will be laid to rest next week Tuesday at Rhema Bible Church in Randburg north of Johannesburg. His family released funeral arrangement details in a press briefing earlier today. Malinga passed away on Christmas day, due to pancreatic cancer. . For many of us Cancer is the last thing on our minds but coping with this problems is often...

Vote counting is underway in Liberia in a run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Weah. The winner of this vote, will replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president after 12-years in office. Elvis Presslin spoke to our Correspondent in Liberia, Cholo Brooks

People in Liberia are voting today in the run-off election for a new president. The current Vice President Joseph Boakai and former international football star George Weah are running to succeed Africa's first female President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Legal challenges delayed the vote. More than two million people are eligible to cast their ballot. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in Libe...

Tributes continue to pour in for the late Robbie Malinga. The veteran musician, who passed away on Christmas Day, had been ill for a number of months and was admitted to hospital in June after being diagnosed with anaemia. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Advocate Nhlanhla Sibisi, the CEO of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) and Robbie Malinga's label manager, Kenny Tlale, from Universal Musi...

Traffic volumes are increasing on KwaZulu-Natal roads as holiday makers make their way to various destinations ahead of the Christmas weekend. Earlier the province's Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesperson, Zinhle Mngomezulu-Mali reported that over a thousand vehicles an hour are passing through the toll plazas on national roads. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Zinhle Mngomezulu-Mali

President Jacob Zuma has embarked on another legal bid challenging the State Capture Report's recommendations and remedial action. This time - Zuma is seeking leave to appeal last week's High Court ruling which uphold's the report's recommendations. The scathing judgment delivered by Judge Dunstan Mlambo found that the President was reckless and ill-advised by continuing with litigation on this ma...

Albert Falls Dam has reached its lowest level in 20-years at 19-point-two per cent. Albert Falls feeds the Mayville Dam, which supplies water to at least 60 per cent of residents in the Ethekwini region. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder

The ANC's conference resolution to amend the Constitution in order to expropriate land without compensation has been criticized in some quarters. Agri SA says that will be disastrous for the economy while the DA has vowed to defend the property clause in the Constitution. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Agri SA President Dan Kriek

Today we profile, a multi-talented house music producer, from Pietermaritzberg, in Kwa Zulu Natal, Ayanda Mabaso, fondly known by his fans as 'Aionic'. Ronald Phiri spoke to 'Aionic'...

Google today announced the results of its 2017 Year in Search, offering a unique perspective on the year's major moments and top trends based on searches conducted in South Africa. This year's trending searches show growing interest in local celebrities and events, with seven of the top 10 trending search terms being local, in contrast to fewer than half last year. Bongi Gwala spoke to Russel Luck...

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has reportedly incurred refreshment expenditure of R36,000, for the procurement of 240 bottles of water (500ml each) at a unit price of R150 each. This is the same Metro that owes millions for water provision which is in arrears. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama...

The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that President Jacob Zuma must set up a judicial inquiry into the so-called state capture within 30 days. A judge that the Chief Justice will solely select, is to head the judicial inquiry, which has to complete its task and present a report in 180-days. The full bench of the court led by Judge President Dunstan Mlambo unanimously dismissed Zuma's application t...