First Take SA

The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has urged residents to be extra vigilant following flooding in most parts of the city this afternoon. Heavy rains accompanied by large hail has fallen in the past hour causing flooding and chaos on the roads. Earlier the South African Weather Services issued a warning for heavy rainfall with damaging winds and hail. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC Mete...

The arbitration hearings looking into the events that led to the deaths of more than 100 mentally-ill patients in Gauteng, is underway in Parktown, Johannesburg. During his opening statements at the Life Esidimeni Arbitration on behalf of the state, Tebogo Hutama says government has accepted liability for the deaths and has committed to ensure redress for the families of the victims. Tsepiso Makwe...

Talking about this week's trending topics with Molebogeng Sebidi

Tomorrow sees the 20th Anniversary of the Macufe Festival in the Free State. The event's tagline of "Rea Tshola" will have them serving up a serious feast! Headliners will include Mafikizolo Production, Ringo, Jah Prayzah from Zimbabwe, Nigerian artist Davido, South African legendary Musicians Sipho Mabuse and Tshepo Tshola. Fans will also be wowed by Beninua Angelique Kidjo and American R&B Sensa...

Mars global pet companies will tomorrow host the "First ever Soweto Dog Show" in celebration of World Animal Day. Pet owners and lovers can attend this community outreach program which will be hosted at Mofolo Park, Soweto. Vets will be on site at the event to perform free health screenings, vaccinations and dog dipping for all dogs that come to the event. All proceeds of the event will be donated...

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a manhunt for suspects involved in the shooting of five family members at Nteke near Marianhill, west of Durban last night. The deceased were in a house when unknown gunmen opened fire at them. Police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala says four people died on the scene while one died in hospital. A 41-year old male escaped. The killings follow the death of eight memb...

The Zimbabwean Embassy has withdrawn its participation in the matter brought by model Gabriela Engels and civil rights group Afri-Forum to review the diplomatic immunity the South African government granted to first lady, Grace Mugabe. The applicants approached the high court in Pretoria to seek permission to serve Mugabe with papers through the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria. Mugabe allegedly ass...

Stormy weather expected over parts of South Africa, according to the South African Weather Service. Thunderstorms are expected to become severe during the course of today until the weekend, as they progressively spread east during the remainder of the week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC weather presenter and Meteorologist, Azwi Tuwani...

The National Freedom Party (NFP), deputy president, Alex Kekana says he is not part of any group that seeks to oppose the party's president, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi. Addressing the media on the challenges facing the party, Kekana says they are focused on reviving the party with Magwaza-Msibi at the helm. Msibi, who was present at the briefing, is still recovering from a stroke which saw her taking...

Transformation in Sports was top of the agenda at the two day Sport and Recreation's conference in Potchesfroom in the North West province . Day two of the conference extensively addressed this challenge. The need for recognition of other sporting codes besided soccer and rugby was also highlighted .Other discussions focused on infrastructure's role in sport and the interchange between sport, the...

INTRO: Auditing firm, KPMG, may still survive the controversy surrounding the so-called SARS "rogue" intelligence unit report. The report led to the dismantling of the intelligence unit at SARS and the departure of numerous senior staff members and experienced forensic investigators. No less than six companies have stopped using the firm as its auditors in the wake of the scandal. Tsepiso Makwetla...

Violence erupted in Groot Marico near Zeerust in North West as members of opposition parties, police and the ANC military wing MKMVA, clashed during the unveiling of President Jacob Zuma's capture site. The Democratic alliance was restricted entry while members of EFF were unceremonisly kicked out after forcefully gaining entry into the venue that President Zuma was expected to give his address fr...

Oscar Pistorius's family has distanced itself from an upcoming American film titled Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer. In a statement earlier today, the family says the film was made with blatant disregard of both the Steenkamp and Pistorius families‚ as well as complete disregard for Reeva and Oscar. Krivani Pillay spoke to Carl Pistorius

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has held a meeting with the community of Marikana, Phillipi East in the Western Cape where 18 people were shot and killed last week. Last Friday night eleven people were shot and killed - four in a tavern, three in a shack and the bodies of the others were found in the streets. These murders are believed to have been in retaliation of seven others killed earlier in t...

October is Media Freedom Month. In celebrating this month we also look at some of the challenges that many journalists still face today. Our very own correspondent in Lesotho Nthakoane Ngatane has received threats to her life and accused of being of biased by many after covering several political stories in Lesotho. Krivani Pillay spoke to Nthakoane Ngatane

The ANC in Kwazulu Natal say they have not been disbanded. The ANC leadership in the province says it is waiting on the outcome of the legal battle that the 2015 conference invalid. ANC KZN secretary Super Zuma says the party’s National Executive Committee NEC is in support of their appeal of this court case. The provincial leadership held a press briefing earlier today. Krivani Pillay spoke to th...

Cape Town police have arrested four people for various offences in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East. Police embarked on anti-crime operations in the settlement following the fatal shooting of 11 people on Friday evening. Seven others were killed last Tuesday. Police say they will continue to maintain a strong presence in the area. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Western Cape community s...

The South African Social Security Agency - Sassa- has missed another deadline to announce the new service provider for the payment of social grants. This is the third time it has postponed signing a contract that will see it phase out its current grants disburser, Cash Paymaster Services. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts - SCOPA - Themba Godi

South African Airways has been provided with emergency state funds to help it repay a debt of 3 billion rand to Citibank. The Treasury says Government has approved the transfer of funds from the National Revenue Fund to SAA. Citibank had been demanding that at least one-point-eight billion rand of SAA's debt be paid by tomorrow. The bailout from the NRF, government's contingency fund, brings trans...

Crime levels are gradually on the decline according to findings of the 2016-17, Victims of Crime Survey. The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla says the survey reveals that declining crime trends were accompanied by deteriorating feelings of safety among households, where 63% of crimes occurred. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Lizette Lancaster, Manager of the Crime and Justice Hub, a...

The South African Civil Aviation Authority says it is investigating the possible cause of a helicopter crash which claimed the life of the pilot outside Cape Town. The chopper crashed into nearby power lines and landed on the grounds of Nomzamo High School in Lwandle. The N2 is closed between Onverwacht and Gordon's Bay due to the incident. Motorists have been asked to use alternative routes. Tsep...

The South African Police Service has instructed striking emergency centre workers to report to work by close of business tomorrow or risk facing disciplinary action. 10111 workers aligned to union SAPU have been on strike since August. An agreement between the Police Service and majority union POPCRU has been signed, rendering the strike illegal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Oscar Skommere, Secretary...

The Mangaung African Cultural Festival - MACUFE - is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this year. This year's event is expected to provide spirited performances from 29 September to 7 October in the Free State capital of Bloemfontein. The theme is "Macufe's Proud Pan-African Cultural Affair". Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Marketing Manager and Organiser of the Macufe Events S'thembele Khala

A lack of skilled professionals and maintenance has emerged as among the major issues facing most of South Africa's infrastructure sectors. This is according to the South African Institution of Civil Engineering third Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa. SAICE says the overall grade of the state of country's infrastructure in 2017 is D-plus, meaning South Africa is at risk of failure. Sect...

The Umgeni Water Board has met with Futuregrowth to address allegations that the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, interfered adversely in the operation of Umgeni Water. The meeting follows allegations by City Press newspaper that Mokonyane had seized power at Umgeni and dissolved the board in what was suspected to be an effort to influence tender processes. Futuregrowth, a divi...