First Take SA

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he wants an immediate end to the North West health department's contract with Mediosa. The minister said this following walkabout at the Mediosa mobile clinic. The Gupta-linked company allegedly received a 30-million-rand payment in May last year prior to providing services. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi...

The SABC's newly appointed Group Executive of News: Phathiswa Magopeni says editorial independence at the public broadcaster is paramount and non-negotiable. Magopeni started her tenure on the 1st of March and also had the opportunity to briefly address the news division. The passionate and tough-talking journalist makes history as the first African women to take the helm of SABC News. Executive P...

17:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The Black Academics Caucus have today staged a protest at the University of Cape Town, making allegations of racism at the institution. The BAC says the recent appointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching, Lis Lange, was made along racial lines. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr Shose Kessi, who is a member of the Black Academics Caucus and to the Vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town,...

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The South African National Editors' (SANEF) says says it plans to meet with new Police Minister Bheki Cele to discuss the raiding of Investigative journalist and author, Jacques Pauw's home by the hawks. Pauw is the author of the book 'The President's Keepers', a book that uncovered explosive information about ex-President Jacob Zuma and allegation of state capture. The speculation at the moment i...

17:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises looking into the mismanagement of state funds in state-owned enterprises says the failure by Former SAA board chair Dudu Myeni to appear before it borders on undermining the process they've undertaken. This morning Myeni sent an sms to the secretary of the committee stating that her lawyer was overseas and she still needs to check the legality of her a...

Various Civil Rights groups have told the Constitutional Court that prosecutions boss Shaun Abrahams should vacate his current position as National Director of Public Prosecutions because his appointment was unlawful. His predecessor Mxolisi Nxasana's golden handshake is also said to be unlawful because it was not voluntary but ochestrated. Advocate Wim Trengove of Freedom Under Law told the court...

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

On our arts and culture slot this week, we're joined by Moferefere Lekorotsoane, an author and poet, whose talents and poetic prowess have drawn the praise of literary greats including the late National Poet Laureate, Keorapetse Kgositsile who penned the introduction to his collection of poetry called Shapes. Lekorotsoane prefaces his book, which has been launched with these words "From the onset,...

Eskom has signed a 20 billion rand short-term loan with 7 lenders. The power utility says the government guaranteed facility will form part of the financing of Eskom's current capital expenditure programme. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Eskom's National Spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe...

17:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The newly appointed Police Minister, Bheki Cele, says criminals should be afraid of the community, not the other way round. Cele was speaking at the memorial service of the five police officers who were gunned down last week in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter, Nkululeko Nyembezi

The National Assembly has voted, yes, on the ANC's amendment to the EFF's motion for land expropriation without compensation. The ANC's amendment, which was accepted by the house, inserts a clause about improving food security. The DA earlier rejected both the motion and the amendment, saying any change to the Constitution in this regard would be a recipe for disaster in South Africa. Tsepiso Makw...

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela will have a meeting with Durban University of Technology management and staff tomorrow as workers continue their protest action over wage increases. Workers at the university have been on strike for six weeks, demanding an 8-point-five percent increase and a three hundred and fifty rand housing allowance. The university is offering an...

17:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

Thirteen suspects, arrested in connection with the brutal killing of five policemen and a retired soldier, at Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, are appearing in the local Magistrate Court today. Five officers were killed when gunmen stormed the Ngcobo police station and opened fire and stole 10 firearms. Seven suspects linked to the police mass murder were killed following a manhunt by police. Tsepiso M...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) says it would not be in the interests of justice for National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, to make the decision on former president Jacob Zuma's prosecution, before the judges make a decision on the position of the NDPP. Zuma is challenging last year's court ruling which set aside a 2009 decision by the N...

16:30 Econ Update with Jonathan Van Rooyen of FNB securities

The National Union of Mine Workers at the Optimum Coal Mine in Mpumalanga says they will meet with a business rescue expert to try to find a possible solution on the challenges the mine is faced with. Workers of the Optimum Mine were not paid their salaries this month due to financial challenges. Meanwhile, today the striking workers were dispersed by the police after their protest action started...

Independent researcher and violence monitor, Mary de Haas says an adequate and functional Crime and Intelligence unit, would have been able to prevent the attack on a police station in Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape. Speaking to us earlier on, de Haas says authorities should have paid more attention to the suspicious activities at the Seven Angels Ministry church.....

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams has received the recommendations from a team of prosecutors considering former president Jacob Zuma's representations on why he shouldn't be prosecuted. The National Prosecution Authority earlier gave the team dealing with the matter until today to provide its recommendations. Shaun Abrahams is expected to advise on a way forward. Tsepiso Mak...

It's time now for our regular Friday feature Open Mic. Today we profile a Soweto born talented and versatile artist known as "Cheese Boy". Ronald Phiri spoke to Cheese Boy, who is releasing his single today, titled "Jacob Zuma"...