First Take SA

The High court in Pretoria has dismissed Hawks Boss Bernard Ntlemeza's leave to appeal last month's high court decision that his appointment be set aside. This follows an application by Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law arguing that Ntlemeza should never have been appointed to head the elite crime-fighting unit. Meanwhile Police Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday announced a decision to...

EFF leader Julius Malema says it does NOT matter how many people attend marches to the Union Buildings from Church square. Malema says the 12th of April March is part of rolling marches that will be organised to pressure the president to step down. he was speaking to Tsepiso Makwetla on PM Live

Cartoonist, Zapiro, has defended the use of rape as a theme in his latest cartoon about state capture. The cartoon depicts a rape scene where President Jacob Zuma is buckling up his trousers, as one of the Gupta brothers gets ready to "rape" a woman depicted wearing a South African flag, with State Security Minister David Mahlobo, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and The New Age edito...

The spokesperson of Parliament, Moloto Mothapo, says the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete will attend to requests by some opposition parties to postpone a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. It is scheduled to be held in the House next Tuesday. The DA, UDM and EFF who had requested the motion, are now asking for a postponement - in the light of a pending court case. The...

South Arican Renewable Energy Council says it is concerned that the deadline for financial closure of outstanding Power Purchase Agreements has not been met. The signing was postponed today after Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi moved the deadline that was set by the former energy minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson. The renewable energy industry has accused Eskom of dragging its feet on the conclusi...

EE Publishers Managing director, Chris Yelland says new minister has NO background in everything. Yelland says there is policy shambles with regards to energy in South Africa. He speaks to PM Live Anchor Tsepiso Makwetla

Parliament insists that neither the rules of the National Assembly or the Constitution make provision for a motion of no-confidence in the President of the country. Spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, says it is on this basis that Parliament will oppose an application for direct access to the Constitutional court earlier by the UDM, to enable a secret ballot in the National Assembly. The Assembly is set...

The Constitutional Court is considering whether to force parliament to hold a secret ballot during a no- confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma next week. The UDM approached the court after Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete refused to sanction a secret ballot. Tsepiso Makweta spoke to UDM leader Bantu Holomisa.

President Jacob Zuma says he has met with Finance Minsiter, Malusi Gigaba, SARS Commissioner, Tom Moyane and Reserse Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago to discuss the recent downgrades by Standard and Poor's and Fitch rating agencies. Last week, the two rating agencies downgraded South Africa to non-investment grade, this as result of the cabinet reshuffle. Earlier I Spoke of Senior Director & Head o...

Thousands of South Africans have today taken to the streets across the country to express their dissatisfaction with President Jacob Zuma's leadership, calling for him to step down. In Pretoria, thousands of people marched through the Pretoria CBD to the Union Buildings to hear Save SA leaders speak. Save SA's Sipho Pityana also addressed the large crowd - again calling for ANC MPs to vote Zuma ou...

Several civil society organisations and political parties such as Save SA, OUTA and main opposition party, the DA, marched in major cities including Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, eThekwini and Mbombela calling for President Jacob Zuma's resignation. They are demanding President Zuma that step down following his Cabinet reshuffle last week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to State Security Minister, Da...

Ratings agency, Fitch has downgraded South Africa to non-investment grade, this comes dead on the heels of a downgrade by Standards and Poor's. In a statement Fitch says the recent political events and the cabinet reshuffle are some of the reasons for the downgrade. Moody's is still to issue a sovereign credit rating decision on South Africa. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Chief Economist at Standard B...

Daughter of slain hero Chris Hani, Lindiwe Hani. Lindiwe Hani will on Thursday launch her memoir 'Being Chris Hani's Daughter'. In this memoir, she recalls the 12 years she shared with her father and the toll that his untimely death took on the Hani family. She spoke to Tsepiso Makwetla

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has reiterated that no MP of the party will vote with the opposition in its motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. Mantashe was speaking at Luthuli House during a press briefing on the outcomes of the National Working Committee. This follows the EFF and DA's request to Speaker Baleka Mbete to hold an urgent sitting of Parliament to consider the motion...

South African Revenue Service Commissioner Tom Moyane has announced that the revenue service has collected R1.14 trillion in tax for the 2016 and 2017 financial year. According to the report, the projected revenue had been revised down due to the poor performance of the economy. SARS commissioner, Tom Moyane, says the global economic performance in 2016 impacted South Africa negatively. Tsepiso Ma...

The ANC has refuted reports suggesting that the Integrity Commission of the ANC wants President Jacob Zuma to resign. According to the reports, a letter signed by the Commission's Chair Andrew Mlangeni was expected to be delivered to ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe today, calling for an urgent meeting with the party's top officials. ANC Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa has however confirmed that Presi...

The ANC Youth League has welcomed the announcement by President Jacob Zuma on the cabinet reshuffle. They say they are pleased with the changes as it "brings some younger MPs and women into the National Executive in order to benefit from their energy, experience and expertise". Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to ANCYL President Collen Maine

Chief economist at Investment Solutions Lesiba Mothata says business confidence has been depressed domestically and foreign investors have begun to sell their South African assets following the cabinet reshuffle. Mothata says investor confidence has been substantially dented by the rapid changes at the National treasury. Chief economist at Investment Solutions Lesiba Mothata spoke to Tsepiso Makwe...

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema earlier filed an application at the Constitutional Court, to have the Speaker of Parliament to institute impeachment or disciplinary proceedings against President Jacob Zuma. The party says it's been a year since the court made adverse finding against Zuma on this matter. However there has been no consequences against him. Tomorrow will be...

Statistician General Dr Pali Lehohla has released a report on the state of service delivery in the country. The report finds that households in metropolitan municipalities are generally more pleased with service delivery than houses in smaller municipalities, particularly in Limpopo. Although their priorities vary, the report shows that South Africans generally believe that municipalities are not...

The South African Communist Party says it is President Jacob Zuma's intention to fire Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas. Briefing the media in Johannesburg today (Thursday, 30 March), the party says it told the ANC in a bilateral meeting on Monday that it rejects the move to replace the two. It has also decried the role of the country's state security agencies in public...

The newly appointed SABC interim board says it will do its best to restore the image of the public broadcaster. The SABC has been embattled with a number of issues - most of which were revealed during a parliamentary ad hoc committee inquiry into the previous board's fitness to hold office. The interim board was officially appointed by President Jacob Zuma on Sunday and will serve for a period of...

The Cabinet meeting which was postponed to this afternoon is finally underway. President Jacob Zuma postponed the start of today's Cabinet meeting to enable members to attend the funeral of struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada. Zuma Ddid not attend the funeral. He was requested not to speak at Kathrada's funeral as per the struggle stalwart's wishes. Meanwhile EFF Leader Julius Malema says he expects...

South African comedy lovers are in for a real treat as comedians from around the globe head to Mzansi for the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival. Over 50 local and international comedians will grace the stages of the city of Joburg when the festival returns for the second time from the 30 March- 1 April. Russia's Igor Meerson, Eddy King of Canada and our very own Celeste Ntuli and Kagiso L...

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation says the Mpumalanga department of health is in crisis. The Committee is in the province on a two day oversight visit. Chairperson of the Committee, Dr Makhosi Khoza has raised concerns over the department's failure to pay close to 1.5 billion rand to service providers on time. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to...