First Take SA

Today marks World Teacher's Day. It is a day on which the vital role played by educators in developing and shaping young minds is acknowledged. However this role is being undermined across the world by tecaher shortages. Teachers also face numerous challenges with many working without the necessary resources or proper training.

ON THIS WEEK'S OPEN MIC, Our producer Asanda Ntame caught up with flutist and composer, Wouter Kellerman. The Grammy award winner has released his forth album, titled Love language. The album encapsulates the myriad ways that people connect on the topics of life and love - and the countless languages with which people speak of the universal connection that binds them one to another. The globe trot...

Making a decision to study while working is often difficult but it can be rewarding for many people once made. It was this aim to fulfill a dream that saw Judith Marumo from Rustenburg register to write matric with distance education provider INTEC College at the end of 2014. She paid the required deposit of R2000 but the College failed to honour its part of the agreement. She says she did not rec...

AbaThembu King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has lost his appeal against his 15 year sentence and has instead been sentenced to 12 years imprisonement. King Dalindyebo was found guilty of arson, kidnapping, assault and defeating the ends of justice. The king was convicted for disciplining a group of people by torching their homes. He appealed his 15 year sentence after he was convicted in 2009

Road Agency, SANRAL, says a court decision halting plans to toll sections of the N1 and N2 in the Cape Winelands means that the highways may not be upgraded for at least the next 20 years, if at all. The agency was reacting to a decision by the Cape Town High Court, which found that the decision to toll was improper and unlawful. The court says if SANRAL and the transport minister want to go ahead...

Quality assurance body, Umalusi, says it has identified risks ahead of the final matric exams. These includes inadequate staffing, lack of transport, lack of secure storage for exam papers as well as inadequate resources. Umalusi officials briefed the media at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park today on their preparedness for this year's National Senior Certificate exams. They say the...

Despite NEDLAC not granting the workers a day off to the Anti-corruption much as per request by the organisers, hundreds of people gathered in different parts of the country to march against corruption. Former Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been leading one of the anti-corruption marches at the Union Buildings in Pretoria

News and Current Affairs show between 5 & 6 am on SAfm 104 to 107 anchored by Tsepiso Makwetla

Audiences should prepare for a night of romance, comedy and pure enchantment when they book for AGP World's spectacular theatrical production 'Blame it on Bollywood'. It's hot off the stages of India where critics have been praising the performances of the star-studded and multi-talented Indian cast.

One of South Africa's most loved comics Trevor Noah, is going to assume his role as the new Daily Show host on Monday. The American political satire show runs on US television. On Monday, Noah will make his debut as the show's new host taking over from comedian John Stewart. We spoke to our colleague Dhashen Moodley who met with Trevor Noah in New York...

One of South Africa's most loved comics Trevor Noah, is going to assume his role as the new Daily Show host on Monday. The American political satire show runs on US television. On Monday, Noah will make his debut as the show's new host taking over from comedian John Stewart. We spoke to our colleague Dhashen Moodley who met with Trevor Noah in New York...

As the nation prepares to celebrate its colourful diversities tommorow on heritage day, Owami Woman and Brand SA are presenting a one of a kind Woman tailored heritage day celebration. The Owami Women and Brand South Africa event will amongst other things, highlight various Women in different fields. Trough their leadership and contribution,these women have positively affected their communities an...

Reserve Bank Governor, Letsetja Kganyago, has announced that the bank's repo rate will remain unchanged at 6-per cent and the prime lending rate at 9-point-5 per cent. This is in line with the prediction by most economists. Speaking in Pretoria, Kganyago cited a few concerned which led to the decision. These include a weaker rand and the exchange rate, electricity increases and low domestic growth...

The application by two Mpumalanga rhino breeders to overturn government's moratorium on the sale of rhino horn continued in the High Court in Pretoria today. John Hume and Johan Kruger are challenging the government's legislation and moratorium barring trading in rhino horn. Hume own over a 1000 rhinos at his farm. Meanwhile, advocate David Unterhalter was replaced by Isabel Goodman as lawyer stan...

Reserve Bank Governor, Letsetja Kganyago, has announced that the bank's repo rate will remain unchanged at 6-per cent and the prime lending rate at 9-point-5 per cent. This is in line with the prediction by most economists. Speaking in Pretoria, Kganyago cited a few concerned which led to the decision. These include a weaker rand and the exchange rate, electricity increases and low domestic growth...

Power failure on the 18th of June at Letaba Hospital was the reason behind the death of one of the three patients, who died at the Letaba Hospital outside Tzaneen in Limpopo. This was revealed by health minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi in Polokwane today when he released the findings into the incidents of that day. Motsoaledi says the hospital had not experienced load shedding, but that a back up gen...

European Union ministers are meeting in Brussels to try to resolve a dispute over how to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Europe. Some central European states have resisted calls for EU members to accept mandatory quotas. Whatever is decided, the United Nations says the EU's plans will not be enough. The migrants are part of 500,000 that have arrived by sea this year so...

Reports coming out of the capital city of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou are that a deadline for the coutry's elite guards to surrender has passed. Troops loyal to Burkina Faso's deposed government said they were preparing to attack Camp Naaba military base near the capital's presidential palace, which is held by troops who staged a coup last week. The coup leader, General Gilbert Diendere, has defied...

Free State University Vice chancellor, Professor Jonathan Jansen, says South Africa spends the biggest share of its GDP on education than any other country, yet its results are among the worst in the world. Jansen was addressing a dialogue on raising the standard of education in SA in Sandton, north of Johannesburg. He says says this crisis is due to government's inefficiency to turn their resourc...

COSATU has continued to campaign that companies must discontinue doing business with Apartheid Israeli regime as an instrument to isolate the intransigent regime against ill-treatment meted against the people of Palestine. COSATU says they agree with BDS-South Africa that 'International mobilisation, mass protests, global boycotts and specifically the cultural and sports boycott against the oppres...

It's not entirely a 'Happy day for Pharell as he prepares for his first concert in South Africa. The City of Cape Town says its finalising security arrangements for this evening's Pharrell Williams concert at Grand West Casino as thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters are expected to protest outside the venue ahead of the start of the event.

The basic education department says it is not backing down on its decision to continue with the Annual National Assessment (ANA) examinations in December. This, despite the unions' outrage and threats that they will boycott the assessment examinations. It was earlier announced that the assessment will take place in February next year. But on Friday basic education Minister, Angie Motshekga announc...

As the Macufe annual festival draws nearer, on this week's OPEN MIC our producer Asanda Ntame caught up with legendary musicians Caiphus Semenya and his wife Letta Mbulu. The pair are amongst various artists that will entertain thousands of music junkies in Bloemfontein during the main festival on the 10th of October. Kicking off from the 3rd of the same month and ending off with a soccer clash be...

Kenya's Education ministry has ordered the closure of all public primary and secondary schools following a three week nationwide teachers' strike. Kenyan teachers went on strike at the beginning of the term following a pay dispute with the government. The country's Supreme Court ruled that a 50 - 60 per cent pay increament awarded by the Industrial court in a ruling last month, was justified. Howe...

The Annual National Assesment exams, or ANA's, will be written from the 1st to the 4th December this year. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has annouced this in Pretoria today. She says Education MEC's in all provinces indicated that they will able to go ahead with ANA's