First Take SA

The Hawks today weighed in on the leaked Gupta emails saying that they're not certain if they would prosecute in the latest chapter of the state of capture scandal. The saga unfolded this week as independent Investigative journalism unit, Amabhungane, and the online journal, the Daily Maverick, released a section of an estimated 200 000 explosive documents. The documents allege impropriety on the...

A seven-year-old girl from Ndevana outside King William's Town in the Eastern Cape has been not been attending classes since February. This is after her teacher allegedly launched a barrage of insults against her - calling her a witch. It's alleged that the teacher is venting her anger on the child after her mother, Nomfundiso Ndlazi, who was the SGB chairperson at Masijongane Primary School, did...

As we mark World No Tobacco Day, South Africa's tobacco control organisations have called on the Department of Health to finalise amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act. This as the country works towards reducing tobacco consumption to less than 10% of the population. The organisations include The National Council Against Smoking, the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Polic...

Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown says the Eskom Board will be instructed to rescind the re-instatement of Brian Molefe as Eskom's Group CEO. This is on the advice of an Inter-ministerial Committee consisting of the ministers of Finance, Justice and Correctional Services, Energy and Public Enterprises. Molefe left Eskom in November last year, with a 30-million rand payout. He was sworn in as...

Police are pleading with members of the public to stop reporting fake incidents on social media platforms. Police officials say the false incidents create panic and fear to the public. People posting false information to social media are warned that they may face serious consequences including civil suits and criminal cases for any information defaming the character of other people. Yesterday poli...

Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla says the goal of eliminating crime in the country by 2030 as envisaged by the National Development Plan may only be achieved in 2059. Lehohla says SAPS crime statistics show that total crime as a percentage of the population (per capita crime) has been steadily decreasing since 2005 however the rate is too slow. Lehohla today released a report...

The South African Communist Party (SACP) says a group of people in the name of the Hands off Zuma Campaign have protested at the house of its Second Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila to threaten him. In a statement released this afternoon the party has condemned this incident, saying the 'so-called defence for President Jacob Zuma has become dangerous and life threatening. A case has been ope...

The Western Cape government has called on the provincial police commissioner, Khombinkosi Jula to deploy more police resources to Lavender Hill due to a spike in gang violence. This follows the closure of four schools in the area due to ongoing gang wars. The situation is concerning especially in the light of the mid year exams. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Manenberg Safety Forum Chairperson Roegshan...

The death toll of those who have died from malaria in Mpumalanga province has risen to 20 while hundreds have been infected. Residents are complaining about the delay in delivery of malaria testing kits across the province and staff shortages at Tintswalo hospital. Residents say they fear for their lives because health officials are not treating this with the urgency it deserves. The health depart...

TransUnion's Consumer Credit Index says the South African Consumer Credit behaviour has improved- for the first quarter of 2017, which showed an improvement on debt repayments by consumers. TransUnion has attributed this to caution exercised by credit markets and easing interest costs. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Tim Frost, Vice President Africa at Innovative Solutions Group, TransUnion...

The police have appealed to anyone who has information regarding the death of an ESKOM employee, Thembisile Yende to come forward. This following the discovery of Yende's body in her office yesterday at in Springs power station situated on the East of Johanesburg, after she was reporterd missing nearly two weeks ago. Her family has since demanded answers from the power utility. Tsepiso akwetla spo...

Tsepiso Makwetla speaks to Author and commentator Victor Kgomoeswana on how leading markets in the African continent are performing

ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe says the party's NEC meeting at the weekend considered calls for President Jacob Zuma to step aside - but concluded the matter by refocusing on other issues affecting the country as the NEC does not focus on matters pertaining to individuals. Mantashe was speaking at a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC Senior Polit...

Department of Social Development says one in three children experience sexual violence and physical abuse before they reach the age of 18. This, as the country observes Child Protection Week. Under the theme "Let us all Protect Children to Move South Africa Forward", the department's campaign seeks to raise awareness and educate society about children's' rights. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to social wo...

Health officials from more than 180 countries have for the first time elected an African as the leader of the World Health Organization. The delegates at the World Health Assembly in Geneva chose Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to be the next director-general. The world looks to the former Ethiopian Health Minister and Ambassador to take the health organisation to greater heights. Today as we celebrate...

The South Africa Chamber of Mines says ex-miners and their families have not collected around two-point-eight-billion-rand in pension funds. The mining industry is under pressure from government to deal with what it calls "legacy issues" from the apartheid era. During the time, the industry relied heavily on cheap, migrant labour from rural areas and neighbouring countries. The chamber's chief exe...

The IFP has won yesterday's by-elections in the Nquthu Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal with an outright majority. The party took fourteen of seventeen wards, leaving the ANC with just three. Nquthu had been a hung municipality after last year's municipal elections and was dissolved early this year following in-fighting between councillors along party lines. Meanwhile, both the ANC and the I...

The Stellenbosch City Orchestra is this weekend presenting its new 'Best of Broadway' show in two performances only, at the Lourensford Wine Cellar. The orchestra, conducted by Paul van Zuilenburg, is joined by baritone Niel Rademan and Fleur de Cap winner soprano, Janelle Visagie. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Stellenbosch City Orchestra, conductor Paul van Zuilenburg

Residents in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats have returned to occupy a piece of land they were earlier evicted from in Town Two following a court order obtained by the City of Cape Town. Three vacant pieces of Land in Makhaza, Kuyasa and Town Two have been illegally occupied by the residents. The Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) has criticised the residents for re-occupying the land. Tsepiso Makw...

The family of Reshall Jimmy, who burnt to death his Ford Kuga in 2016 says their planning to approach the courts against Ford should it fail to table a reasonable settlement offer. This after the CEO of Ford South Africa, Jeff Nemeth allegedly offered the family compensation car up to one-million rand. Family legal team led by forensic scientist and expert Doctor David Klatzow says they also inten...

The Department of Health is on alert following the reported outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organisation says three people have died after the outbreak on the border with the Central African Republic. The health department has advised doctors and nurses to be on the outlook for Ebola-like symptoms. Port Health authorities have also been asked to sc...

Cosatu says from now on, President Jacob Zuma will no longer speak on any of the labour federations' activities. Cosatu says its May Day celebrations in Bloemfontein where President Zuma was heckled, showed the level of frustration felt by the workers about his leadership. Cosatu has also re-affirmed its position calling on Zuma to step down. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Cosatu's General Secretary Bh...

Parliament is to conduct an investigation into the Eskom board, including the re-appointment of Brian Molefe as Chief Executive officer. This follows their rejection of the explanation by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and the board on the matter. Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises says the answers they received have left them with more questions than answers. Tsepiso...

The Black Business Council (BBC) has finally put to an end its 23-year relationship with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). It has been reported that the termination comes as a result of an incident where BBC representatives were kicked out of the meeting, allegedly by the BUSA representatives. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the CEO of BUSA, Tanya Cohen andBlack Business Council secretary general, Geo...

A teenage girl has been linked to a human trafficking syndicate in Springs on the East Rand. The 17-year-old girl was nabbed by police following the arrest of a 42-year-old man, after police received information that he had trafficked women. The suspect was found with four teenage girls and a 19-year-old woman. Police believe the 17-year-old girl was the "mastermind" in recruiting the young girls...