First Take SA

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...

Economists say rumours of a possible cabinet reshuffle could heighten investor concerns around policy uncertainty. Credit rating agencies have indicated that they will only review the country's sovereign rating after the October Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and the ANC's elective conference in December. Earlier we spoke to Professor of research at the University of Johannesburg, Steven Frie...

The Labour Court in Johannesburg has made a precedent-setting ruling which will affect officials in public institutions. The court has ruled that the SABC, its former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and former News Executive Simon Tebele must each pay a portion of the SABC 8's legal costs for their wrongful dismissal. The costs are estimated at 3 million Rand. Unions Solidarity and Bemawu say the judgement...

The Limpopo provincial government's spokesperson, Phuti Seloba, says the decision to have some areas of Vuwani serviced by the Vhembe District Municipality and other provincial departments is not aimed at disempowering the new LIM345 Local Municipality, but at improving service delivery in the area. Residents of Vuwani have been protesting against the Municipal Demarcation Board's decision to inco...

Police in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro say they suspect that the killing of an ANC local official is related to tenders. Thando Xakaxa, the party's deputy branch chairperson for Ward 25 in Zwide in Port Elizabeth, was shot dead last night. Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu says it's alleged the 41 year old was gunned down inside the yard of his home while returning from a prayer meeting. Tsepiso...

The ANC in the Ethekwini Region in a statement says they have noted with grave concern reports that there is a circulating video of body guards allegedly assigned to oversee security detail involving its Regional Secretary Bheki Ntuli. The party in the province, says it will study the video, if proven to be true and authentic, strong action must be taken. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to ANC KZN provinci...

A number of babies are born with deformities as a result of radiation exposure, caused by excessive levels of quartz-rich inhalable dust . This according to the Benchmarks Foundation report titled Policy Gap 12 - Soweto Report: "Waiting to Inhale .The study has also makes critical findings with regard to the health of households who live in the communities of Riverlea, Diepkloof, Meadowlands and S...