First Take SA

One of the victims of last Friday's accident in Verena in Mpumalanga, where 20 people died, is recovering at a Pretoria hospital. 15 year-old Omphile Molepo suffered a broken left arml. He says the accident occured when the taxi attempted to make a right turn towards Wolvenkop - colliding with a truck that was too close. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga ab...

The Labour Court in Johannesburg has granted South African Airways an interim interdict ordering striking Cabin Crew Association members to return to work immediately. The union failed to meet a deadline to challenge the interdict and the matter has been postponed to June 23. At least 32 flights have been cancelled after cabin crew started striking this morning over meal allowances. Tsepiso Makwet...

The South African Cheese Festival takes place this weekend in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Festival goers will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrity chefs and treat themselves to gourmet dishes and a selection of some of the best cheeses in the country. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Agri-Expo Chief Executive Officer Johan Ehlers

The African Independent Congress and African National Congress have agreed to ensure that Matatiele is incorporated back into KwaZulu-Natal, from the Eastern Cape. Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a process to reverse the move, which took place in 2005. The AIC expected Matatiele to be back in KwaZulu-Natal by end of November. The two organisations agreed on "politi...

The United Nation's World Health Organisation has called for accelerating scaled-up efforts to prevent Malaria. Malaria remains a major public health threat, killing one child every two minutes worldwide in 2015. As today Marks World Malaria Day, health activists say a much bigger push for prevention, especially in Africa, which bears the greatest burden of the disease, is needed. Tsepiso Makwetla...

There's been no confirmation yet of reports that former HAWKS Head, Berning Ntlemeza has returned a state vehicle and cellphone that he took without authority from Hawks headquarters in Pretoria. Police Minister Fikile Mbalula said that Ntlemeza had acted illegally in going to work in defiance of a court order. Mbalula ordered police to recover the state property and arrest Ntlemeza if necessary....

Eskom board says it has noted the objections raised by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown over the proposal to pay its former Group Chief Executive, Brian Molefe, a 30-million rand pension pay-out. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Eskom Board Spokesperson, Khulani Qoma...

20 children have been killed and several other injured when a taxi and truck collided head-on, on the R25 between Verena and Bronkhorstpruit. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has conveyed her condolences to families of learners who have lost their lives in the accident. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC reporter who was at the scene of the accident, Maluti Obuseng ...

The ANC says it is concerning laying criminal charges against artist Ayanda Mabulu following his latest controversial painting. The ruling party says while it respects Mabulu's freedom of expression, it finds his work inflammatory and in bad taste. The painting which has caused uproar on social media portrays President Jacob Zuma in a supposedly sexual act with the late former president Nelson Man...

ANC's The National Disciplinary Committee says it stands by its previous decision that Suspended Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman is guilty on two counts of misconduct and his membership of the ANC should be suspended for 5 years. Fransman failed to show up for his second disciplinary hearing yesterday. Acting NDC Chairperson Susan Shabangu in a statement said that by not attending the disc...

Civil society, political parties and religious groups have joined forces in a bid to safeguard South Africa's democracy by forming the Freedom Movement. Opposition parties including the DA and the UDM, labour movement Fedusa and Solidarity met in Soweto earlier today to map out their way forward. They have organised a gathering at Freedom Park to call for the President's removal. Tsepiso Makwetla...

Pastor Tim Omotoso who has been accused of raping young women at this church, Jesus Dominion International Ministry has been arrested in Port Elizabeth. At the church, the members are singing songs in defense of their leader, Pastor Omotoso. According to our colleagues in Port Elizabeth, the angry congregants are swearing and threatening the media contingent outside the building. Tsepiso Makwetla...

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Vuwani says the Municipal Demarcation Board's decision to include parts of the area into the new Lim345 Municipality in Limpopo's Vhembe District, is final. The committee briefed the media on the matter in Polokwane on Thursday. Spokesperson for Pro-Makhado Demarcation Task Team Nsovo Sambo says the visit will yield no positive results. Pro-Makhado Demarcation Ta...

Tributes continue to pour in for former Pan Africanist Congress leader Philip Kgosana who died last night at the age of 80. President Jacob Zuma has extended his condolences to his family. In the 1960's, Kgosana led more than 30-thousand anti-Pass Laws protestors from Langa, Cape Town in a march to the apartheid parliament. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Bani Kgosana who is Philip Kgosana's son

The South African Medical Association's (SAMA) KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Branch is planning to embark on a protest action, this in an effort to raise awareness in what they call the the poor state of public health-care in the Kwa Zulu-Natal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the SAMA's KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Branch Chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba says there's no guarantee that the country will not be downgraded. However, Gigaba says a downgrade by ratings agency Moody's would have a devastating impact on the economy, especially the poor. The minister will travel to the United States to meet with Moody's and investors as part of his first international trip at the helm of Treasury. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Ch...

The ANC Youth League Regional Task Team in the Greater Johannesburg Region says The DA's Herman Mashaba is responsible for last night's bloodshed at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) summit held in Midrand. However Mashaba says he is laying criminal charges against ANC members following the violence. Two people were injured after they were allegedly hit by a brick during last night's meeting. T...

Four universities are at risk of losing their accreditation of Bachelors of Laws - LLB - if the quality of their programmes does not improve. This after the Council on Higher Education issued the universities with a notice of withdrawal of the accreditation status. This means that students may not continue to be afforded to study law at the universities. The four universities, are the North West U...

The United Democratic Movement, UDM, has called for a national convention to seek solutions to the crisis confronting South Africa and to look beyond marching for the removal of President Jacob Zuma. The UDM says the National Summit, should ultimately culminate in a National Convention, where leaders of political parties and civil society can exchange ideas on how to take South Africa forward. Tse...

The Hawks are searching for a Prophet Timothy Omotoso who is the founder of the Jesus Dominion International Church. Omotoso allegedly sexually abused young women in the church. The crimes allegedly took place in various provinces in the country such as Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape. Sakina speaks to Special Assignment producer Lee McCabe

Former Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza should not report for duty tomorrow. The Democratic Alliance has called on the acting Hawks boss, Yolisa Matakata, to prevent Ntlemeza from reporting for work. This after Ntlemeza insisted that he was still the Hawks boss. He has vowed to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to get his job back, saying only Parliament can dismiss him. Can Ntlemeza...

Molebogeng Sebidi looks at news stories that dominated on social media this week

The MK Veterans' National Steering Committee says it is concerned about the current situation in the country, particularly within the ANC. The committee has called for an urgent National Consultative Conference to try and correct what they call the crisis within the governing party. The council steering committee held a a media briefing at Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia earlier today. Tsepiso Makwetl...

The SACP says it will be opening a charge with the police of attempted murder of its Second Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila. The party says it is in possession of a video taken at the Chris Hani memorial on Monday which shows an apparent attempt to kill Mapaila. The memorial was organised by government with President Jacob Zuma delivering the keynote address.

The South African Association for Jazz Education - SAJE- will host its 5th Jazz Festival from the 28 to 30 April 2017 where International Jazz Day will be observed on the 30th. The jazz festival is also culmination of Jazz Appreciation Month which draws public attention to jazz and its heritage throughout April.