First Take SA

A teacher who was found guilty on three charges, including making racist and derogatory statements at St Johns College's in Johannesburg, has been dismissed. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the teacher being let go. Lesufi had given the school until one o'clock this afternoon to review a decision that allowed Keith Arlow to continue working at the school. The MEC visited St Johns...

A study conducted by the University of Cape Town has found that there is a prevalence of hepatitis C in high risk population namely sex workers, men who have sex with men and people who use drugs. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are infectious diseases that affect the liver . Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Associate Professor and Hepatologist at Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Mark Sond...

Black First Land First movement leader Andile Mgxitama says he has opened a case of intimidation and racism after he was allegedly assaulted by a white man at AmaBhungane's "Inside the hashtag Gupta Leaks" town hall event in Braamfontein, Johannesburg last night. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Andile Mgxitama

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised concerns that committees set up to investigate allegations of state capture are not properly resourced. The DA said this after it has emerged that the Public Enterprises committee will not be getting the services of Advocate Mthuthuzeli Vanara as evidence leader because of his work load. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA's Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen and Chairpers...

Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe has asked her husband, President Robert Mugabe, to name his preferred successor. Grace Mugabe was speaking at a meeting of the ZANU- PF Wome's League, which she heads, in Harare. Elvis Presslin spoke to our reporter in Zimbabwe Effort Musekiwa. He also spoke to Professor Siphamandla Zondi, from the political sciences department at the University of Pretoria

Grant Thornton's International Business Report (IBR) for the second quarter of 2017 reveals that SA's business executives views are pessimistic in terms of their perceptions of their outlook for the country's economy in the year ahead. The survey also shows that 67 percent of SA business executives' operations and business decisions are impacted by a turbulent SA economy and uncertainty about the...

The South African Revenue Services, SARS, has issued a notice that it has accidentally omitted information submitted by certain taxpayers and companies. In a statement this week SARS announced that due to technical glitches, crucial documents filed by employers and taxpayers need to be refiled. Elvis Presslin spoke to Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT)

Management at the National Health Laboratory Services say a strike by its workers could lead to delays for those waiting for test results. Thousands of workers began an indefinite nationwide strike yesterday. Workers and management have agreed on to a 7.3 % salary increase but are still to finalize other issues relating to benefits. The NHLS is the only service provider of laboratory services at p...

Kwazulu Natal police say there have been two shootings at the Glebelands hostel at Umlazi, south of Durban. A man has been shot dead near a small shop that he operates near the hostel. This as the recent Moerane commission investigating political kilings in the province heard that there'd been a number of murders at Glebelands and that hitmen were hired from the hostel. In another incident police...

Mental health spend has increased by more than 80% in the past five years, reaching R2bn in 2016. Discovery Health data shows that depression contributed over 40% of the overall mental health disease burden. Other conditions include anxiety disorder, non-specific neuroses and bipolar mood disorder. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr Noluthando Nematswerani Head of the Centre For Clinical Excellence at D...

Proposed changes to South Africa's immigration laws may prevent refugees and asylum seekers from living in the country permanently. That is according to the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town. The policies are outlined in a new Green Paper on International Migration, the Refugees Amendment Bill, and the Border Management Authority Bill. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Miranda Madikane, Director of the Scala...

The national carrier, South African Airways, has asked for a ten-billion rand bailout. Finance minister Malusi Gigaba revealed this in a reply to parliamentary questions. He declined to say if the request had been granted. SAA was provided with state funds this month to help it repay loans of more than two billion rand to British bank, Standard Chartered. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the University o...

The National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union, Nehawu, is preparing for a nationwide strike at the National Health Laboratory Service. The looming strike stems from failed wage negotiations between the employer and organised labour. The indefinite strike is set to start on Wednesday (tomorrow). For more on this we are now joined on the line by Nehawu's deputy general secretary, December...

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says management at the Windsor House Academy in Kempton Park on the East Rand have agreed to suspend their controversial hair policy for three months. This is to allow for a consultative process. Lesufi visited the school today. The MEC says he received numerous complaints. Black pupils were allegedly kicked out of school because their hairstyles were deemed un...

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says any patient-related information within the doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct and must be respected, even after death. SAMA was responding to the book, 'Mandela's Last Years', which details the last days of former president Nelson Mandela. The book was written by former South African National Defence Force Surgeon-General Dr Vejay Ramlakan,...

The Democratic Alliance says the Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has agreed to investigate former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, for a 30 million rand payout he received from the power utility. The DA requested the investigation after it emerged that the Eskom board approved the payout to Molefe after 18 months as CEO of Eskom. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to spokesperson for the Public Protecto...

A Clinical trial has found that a nine-year-old child, who contracted HIV at birth, is showing no symptoms of the disease. The child was given anti-retroviral drugs for the first few months as part of a clinical trial, but has received no treatment since. Researchers believe aggressive treatment soon after infection could enable long-term remission of the disease. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr Jame...

Talk radio station 702 has apologised unreservedly for an offensive tweet published on Sunday. The post which has caused uproar on Twitter compares two black children with dogs. The radio station posted pictures of people who took part in its hashtag MTN702Walk on its social media platforms. In one of its tweets they ask who is cuter between dogs and kids. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Pulen...

The commission investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal continues. The commission had a visit at the Glebelands hostel in Umlazi south of Durban - where 89 people have reportedly been killed since 2014. The commission has also heard that there are too many illegal firearms in communities, hence most victims of political related violence are shot. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Moerane Commissi...

Residents evicted from dilapidated flats in Joburg CBD are complaining about overcrowding in the tents provided as temporary shelter. Hundreds of residents from Fattis Mansion and Cape York buildings have been temporarily housed at the Wembley stadium in Turffontein south of the city. At the Cape York building, seven people died after the building caught alight earlier this month. Tsepiso Makwetla...

The principal of Manyano Primary School in Middelburg, Mpumalanga is now without a job after he was dismissed by the provincial department of Education. He was fired after being found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, for beating up 14 year old learner Siphamandla Choma late last year. They were being disciplined for allegedly stealing one hundred and fifty rand from a t...

South Africa has made a recovery in the latest Country RepTrak reputation study, rising four places to 45 out of 71 countries measured. This is despite the current political and policy uncertainty, Conducted by Reputation House in association with the Reputation Institute, the global reputation study reveals that Canada and Switzerland topped the ranking, while the United States recorded the bigge...

Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago has announced that the repo rate will drop by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.75%. This means the prime lending rate drops to 10.5%. Some economists had speculated that the Reserve Bank would drop rates. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to by Gina Schoeman Economist at Citi Bank.

Minister of Mineral Resources Musebenzi Zwane may bring an ailing mining industry to its knees! This is according to Jonathan Veeran who is a partner at Webber Wentzel. Zwane has gazetted a proposal to restrict new mining prospecting and mining rights as well as their renewal. Veeran says there is an attempt to force the industry to ultimately bow to the Minister's whim in respect of Mining Charte...

Local government association - SALGA - has called for a review of the safety needs of councillors amidst the escalation in the killing of local councillors. Speaker of the Raymond Mhlaba municipal council in the Eastern Cape - Thozama Njobe - was shot several times. She later died in hospital. Salga says the killing of councillors is an indictment on the local government and its constitutional man...