First Take SA

Gauteng Premiere David Makhura told thousands of Cosatu protesters that the province will end labour brokers before end of the year. Makhura accepted a memorundum from Cosatu as part of the labour federation nationwide march against state capture and corruption. Scores of people participated in the union federation's anti-state capture march today. The federation says it wants corruption in busine...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has won an urgent interim interdict in the Pretoria High Court against the Bank of Baroda. The instution has frozen R1.75 billion in the Gupta-owned Optimum and Koornfontein coal mines' rehabilitation trust fund accounts. This, follows the dismissal of the Guptas' application to stop the bank from closing their accounts last week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to...

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the closure of Oakbay bank accounts may lead to a jobs bloodbath. Gupta-linked companies recently lost a court bid to stop the Bank of Baroda from closing their remaining accounts in South Africa. Speaking during a post national executive committee meeting at its Headquarters in Johannesburg today, the NUM leadership says the closure of the accounts mea...

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The Federation of Unions of South Africa - FEDUSA is considering pulling out its members from the state-owned Public Investment Corporation. The PIC oversees nearly 2 trillion rand in assets on behalf of government employees. Fedusa, the country's second-biggest labour federation, says it remains concerned about lack of good governance at the PIC. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Fedusa general-secretary...

The minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba has asked state departments to review all work done by KPMG to ensure audit processes have not been compromised. This follows a KPMG statement a week ago in which it retracted findings about a so-called rogue unit at SARS and admitting to doing unethical work for the Gupta family. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Sygnia Group's Chief Executive Office, Magda Wierzyck...

The South African Revenue Service, SARS, says it will proceed with investigations and disciplinary action into legal expert Vlok Symington. This follows a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed a bid by Symington, who was allegedly held hostage by the Hawks, to interdict his disciplinary hearing. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Sars spokesman Sandile Memela

Ugandan police have fired teargas at students who defied a police order banning protests as they demonstrated against the proposed removal of presidential age limits. This would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand again in 2021. Police issued an order yesterday banning the protests. Today, the country's ruling party lawmaker, Raphael Magyezi was due to table a motion in parliament, a first st...

ANC MP Makhosi Khoza has announced that she is leaving the ruling party. Khosa says she could not be led by what she calls leaders who have lost legitimacy and credibility. She was in the process of being disciplined by the KwaZulu-Natal ANC for bringing the party into disrepute, following her criticism of President Jacob Zuma. Freedom Front Plus, and the African Christian Democratic Party have de...

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) says it will withdraw all of its member from Eldorado Park Schools as of tomorrow. Close to 30 schools in the area will be affected by this move by the teachers' union. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SADTU's chairperson of the Eldorado Park Branch, Desmond Luvhengo.

The Monetary Policy Committee has left the Repo Rate unchanged at 6.75%. South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, today announced the central bank's latest decision on its benchmark repo rate. Kganyago says the Repo Rate and prime lending rate will remain the same. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Maudi Lentsoane, who is the Managing Director of Lehumo Investment.

Time now for our Arts and Culture literature feature. Today we focus on a book written by RSG producer and presenter, Izak Du Plessis. Titled Boereverneukers, the book tells the stories of fourteen notorious Afrikaans con men which include Adriaan Nieuwoudt, the man behind Kubus, the rotten milk pyramid scheme that took South Africa by storm in the early 1980s. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Izak Du Pl...

Factions, gate-keeping and manipulation of ANC processes - including the selection of councillors and leaders - contribute to tensions and spill into infighting. This has been the testimony from former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu - who was ANC provincial chairperson - before the Moerane Commission investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal. Mchunu was giving evidence and his reccomen...

The newly established information regulator says although it's not yet fully functional, the number of complaints received so far from the public are related to the unlawful processing of personal information and access to information. The regulator is chaired by the former chair of the Independent Electoral Commission (IECI) Pansy Tlakula. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to advocate Pansy Tlakula...

Buildings have been torched at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The university says offices were set alight in Mowbray and Bellville this morning and they have received reports that one of its lecture theatres was alight this afternoon. Police are investigating cases of arson. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to CPUT spokesperson, Lauren Kansley

Clashes have been reported outside the gates of Klipspruit West Secondary School in Eldorado Park, between members of the community and ANC members in the area. This, comes as ANC members protested outside the school after discovering that some members of the community were invigilating exams at the school. Meanwhile, the Gauteng Education Department says it will be engaging community leaders of K...

The Kruger National Park has introduced a new access control system at all its entrance gates, to strengthen its fight against poaching. More than 500 rhinos have already been killed in 2017. The new system requires all visitors over the age of 18 to produce valid identity documents in order to gain access to the game reserve. PM Live producer Ronald Phiri, filed this report...

Judgement in the case against Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe has been reserved until all parties submit their respective additional arguments. They have until tomorrow to do so in order for the court to expedite the matter. Model, Gabrielle Engels and Afriforum, lodged proceedings to review and set aside Grace Mugabe's diplomatic immunity after she allegedly assaulted the model at a Sandton ho...

As per usual on a Friday we end off with music, on our regular slot Open Mic. Today we profile Melo Moore, a South African singer and songwriter, known for her magical tone and interpretation of covered songs. Ronald Phiri spoke to Melo, who is working with her band and team of creatives, putting the final touches to a debut studio project...

President Jacob Zuma's legal team has conceded that the NPA's decision to drop corruption charges against him was irrational. This follows an appearance in the Supreme Court of Appeal by Zuma's counsel Advocate Kemp J Kemp, and an agreement that the NPA's decision to withdraw charges against Zuma was indefensible. In April 2009, then NPA acting head Mokotedi Mpshe said that the tapes - recordings...

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has called on the South African government to sever ties with Myanmar in South East Asia. Thousands of people and other interfaith leaders joined the MJC in a solidarity march to Parliament in protest against the ongoing violence against the minority Rohingya Muslim group. About 200-thousand Rohingya have been displaced and another 300-thousand have fled to Bangla...

The ANC leagues in KwaZulu-Natal have rejected a statement by the party's Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, that the provincial leadership cannot decide on its own to appeal a Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling. The leagues and regional leadership addressed a media briefing in Durban to convey their support for the provincial executive committee's intention to appeal yesterday''s judgment, that d...

The high court in Johannesburg has reserved judgement in an application to stop Kenny Kunene from using a website he owns from publishing explicit videos and pictures of a young woman alleged to have had an affair with deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter, Noma Bolani.

Former Deputy Minister of Higher Education Mduduzi Manana has been convicted on three charges of assault after he confessed to assaulting three women at a Johannesburg night club. He will be sentenced on November 7. Manana appeared in the Randburg Magistrates court today where he pleaded guilty. He handed himself over to police following the assault incident at a Cubana nightclub last month. His 5...

KwaZulu Natal Department of Health has been instructed to provide a detailed report with clear timelines on when they will resolve various challenges within the healthcare system in the province. The Select Committee on Social Services visited the Addington Hospital and the Cato Manor in the prvince. The Committee also held a special meeting with the MEC of health to ascertain progress in implemen...