First Take SA

Police were called in to keep groups of students apart on the main campus of the University of Pretoria, today. Several people were injured. Tension mounted when a group opposing the use of Afrikaans arrived at the campus to hold a meeting to discuss a way forward. This followed the postponement of a court case against 27 of them. Security personnel had to form human shields between the two sides...

At the beginning of January 2015, Naledi Molope-Serudu received a letter of demand from a company known as Mtimandze Consulting and Projects which said it was collecting debt on behalf of the City of Tshwane. Molope-Serudu, who had moved to Cape town and was renting out her home, immediately made arrangements to pay but the money did not go to the coffers of the City of Tshwane and now it appears...

University of Fort Hare Alumni and IFP leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi has urged current political leaders to exercise 'cerebral rather than emotional leadership in dealing with the challenges faced by institutions of higher learning. He was delivering the ZK Memorial at the centenary celebration of the University of Fort Hare in Alice in the Eastern Cape. Mathews was the first black graduate from th...

Ousted PRASA CEO Lucky Montana has dismissed allegations that he obtained a house worth millions of rand through a corrupt deal during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Montana says PRASA made the claim because it had failed to pay a company he's accused of illegally awarding tenders to. PRASA chairperson Popo Molefe has filed court papers claiming that Montana illegally awarded two contracts to Siyangena...

The EFF has warned that it is going after President Jacob Zuma with the ultimate goal to see him out of office. The party has rejected the settlement offer the president filed in the Constitutional Court on non-security features at his home in Nkandla. EFF leader Julius Malema says they have their own conditions for a settlement. The constitutional court has given Parties until Friday(05/02) to re...

When Seipati Nale’s husband died in 2008, she was devastated, but her pain was somewhat bearable because he had left money for their children in a trust fund which would enable them to further their studies. The fund was administered by Bophelo Benefit Services. The first payment for the eldest child was made without any delays in 2011. However, for the youngest, there are problems which provide a...

Labour Federation COSATU says, government does not have the right to dictate to workers how they should manage thier pension funds. In December last year president Jacob Zuma signed a new tax administration law that allows retirees access to just a third of their money,and the rest to be paid out in instalments. COSATU is calling for the scrapping of the new tax laws, and plans marches around the...

Suspended Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, says that she finds yesterday's announcement by IPID concerning and incomplete. Phiyega was responding to the IPIDs recommendation that she be charged for her role in the Marikana shootings. The NPA must decide whether to charge Phiyega after it received a file from the police watchdog.

President Jacob Zuma says if the constitutional court accepts his proposal- it will not be necessary to hear arguments on the powers of the public protector. Zuma submitted a letter to the constitutional court proposing that the auditor general and finance minister start a new process to determine his liability for the non security features on his Nkandla home. This would be the second investigati...

At the tender age of 23 - you tube blogger Moshe Ndiki has literally made full use of the social media space to share, promote and distribute his comedy with the rest of the world. Laughter may be what most enjoy about his craft but many are last with a lasting impression by his unique and rather simplistic way in which he deals with social issues such as relations, the concept of asking for 'love...

Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, says a new workers' movement will be launched on the 1st of May this year. He, together with nine other unions unhappy with the expulsion of Numsa from Cosatu, briefed the media in Johannesburg today. Vavi reiterated that they will continue to mobilise workers to support some of their demands which include a campaign against the changes to the pensi...

Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, says a new workers' movement will be launched on the 1st of May this year. He, together with nine other unions unhappy with the expulsion of Numsa, briefed the media in Johannesburg today. Vavi reiterated that they will continue to mobilise workers to support some of their demands which include a campaign against the changes to the pension funds' le...

Trade union Solidarity has won a landmark case against the South African Police Service in the Johannesburg Labour Court. In the case that lasted two years - the court declared the affirmative action policy of the SAPS invalid and unconstitutional. It's not clear if the police management intends appealing the judgment We earlier spoke to the Deputy General Secretary of trade union Solidarity Johan...

MNET says axed Idols SA judge Gareth Cliff did not have a contract with the channel for this year's season of the show. Cliff has brought an urgent application in the High Court in Johannesburg seeking to be reinstated as a judge. He was fired after supposedly supporting a racist tweet.

The Mineral Resources Department says there's a health and safety inspection team on the Rustenburg platinum mining belt to ensure that workers operate in a safe enviroment. This follows the death of four mine workers at Impala Platinum Mine's Number 14 shaft after a fire on Friday. The National Union of Mineworkers alleges that the mining company had known about the likelihood of a fire in the sh...

In 2014 we brought you the case of Alex Mohlakoane from Limpopo who attended an NQF LEVEL 7 Labour Intensive Construction course in 2010. The course was facilitated by the Construction Industry Education and Training Services (CIETS) now known as Izwe Training and Development. He paid almost R8 000 for the 3-day course, but it turned out that the organisation was not registered to offer courses at...

Five children have suffocated to death, after being trapped inside a disused freezer outside their home at Kakamas in the Northern Cape. Police, say the bodies of the children were discovered last night by their grandmother. The five, all said to be cousins are aged between 3 and 7.

Higher Education and Training minister Blade Nzimande has called on university students to stop participating in violent protests and return to class as soon as possible. Nzimande was speaking following a meeting with Vice-Chancellors in Kempton Park this afternoon. He says the issue of the students who are classified as the missing middle, every case will be reviewed on its own merit for now whil...

President Jacob Zuma says he is optimistic that his attendance of the World Economic Forum will help restore investor confidence. The President has arrived at the Swiss Alps resort of Davos for the annual event. The South African government has launched a major charm offensive to convince global investors, bankers and CEO's of multinational companies that the country will overcome current socio-ec...

Vice-chancellors of seven Gauteng-based universities have expressed concern over the recent spate of disruptions and violent protests. The vice-chancellors have been briefing the media at the University of Johannesburg's Auckland Park campus. They have appealed to all stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of universities as the new academic year commences.

The City of Cape Town has asked energy regulator NERSA to keep electricity tariff increases as low as possible. This as public hearings into Eskom's request for a 16.6% tariff hike continues in Cape Town. City Director of Electricity, Leslie Rencontre, says a huge increase will have a negative impact on the local economy and consumers.

Tšepiso Makwetla talks to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimanda following a meeting with student representatives on the #FeesMustFall campaign.

Jacob Zuma has now Jacob Zuma has now officially signed all the tax legislation from 2015 into law. The president has given a go ahead to the implementation of the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act meaning that all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on the 1st of March 2016. Meanwhil...

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says government will be paying specific attention to maths and science this year. The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the state-of-the-art Chief Albert Luthulu Primary in Daveyton in Ekurhuleni on the East Rand. The multi-million rand school was officially opened by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi. As millions...

The number of road users that lost their lives on the country's roads from the first of December to 11 January 2016 is standing at 1,755. An increase of 11 percent from last year's statistics, where there were 1,253 crashes on our roads. This amounts to 220 more deaths this year. Minister of Transport, Dipuo Piters says the fatalities could have been more if traffic officials didn't intensify thei...