First Take SA

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...

There has been a seven percent increase of foreigners entering South Africa over the festive season despite the new strict visa regulations introduced by the Home Affairs Department. High volumes were recorded of people coming from countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, UK, Germany, United States and Namibia. Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, elaborates.

UNISA, Tshwane University of Technology and University of Pretoria workers who are protesting over the abolishment of outsourcing, permanent employment and 10-thousand rand salaries, were injured after police shot at them with rubber bullets as they arrived at University of Pretoria's main campus. Protesters had also planned to march to the Union Buildings but the march was disrupted when the poli...

Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies has confirmed that all outstanding issues threatening the renewal of agricultural trade benefits between South Africa and the United States have been resolved. Davies has told a news conference in Pretoria the salmonella issue has been concluded and the South African market is now open for 65-thousand tons of US poultry imports. He says the US has signed all...

There is a fresh social media storm over ENCA newsreader Andrew Barnes and freelance journalist Carien du Plessis. Barnes criticised Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga's pronunciation on air while du Plessis posted on twitter that a popular restaurant in Rustenburg will be a choice hang out for for tenderpreneurs and pantypreneurs at this weekend's ANC 104th birthday bash. The two have been...

A number of organisations and individuals continue to raise their concerns with regard to the Tweets that have been characterised as racial. The ANC has laid charges of crimen injuria against a number of South Africans who have made racist or controversial remarks on social media platforms. They include economist Chris Hart and former estate agent Penny Sparrow, as well as fitness enthusiast Justi...

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department says it has not received any notification about a strike action by it police officers. But municipal workers union SAMWU says metro police management were briefed about the strike action a meeting held at JMPD headquarters in Martindale west of Johannesburg this morning.

Umalusi, the matric examinations quality assurance body says this year's matric class has performed worse that last year's group. This came out during a media briefing earlier today in Pretoria. Umalusi also says 26 cases of alleged group copying during the 2015 matric examinations were reported in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Llimpopo and Mpumalanga. Results in the affected centres will be withheld fo...

110 Journalists have been killed around the world in 2015, with 67 being killed specifically for their work or while in the line of duty. This is according to a report released by Watch group Reporters Without Borders who are calling for the United Nations to take action. According to the report, War-torn Iraq and Syria were the most dangerous places in the world, with France listed third after ei...

Our producers Sithakazelo Dlamini, Izak Du Plessis and Molebogeng Sebidi bring us the untold stories of the Northern Cape's so called forgotten people. SAFM teamed up with the Gift of the Givers and RSG on a journey that spanned over a thousand kilometers across the mountainous province bringing Christmas cheer to some of its most impoverished communities...

The justice department has made it clear that it expects AbaThembu King Buyelakhaya Dalindyebo to present himself at Mthatha prison by the end of today to start serving his 12-year jail sentence. The king's family earlier hinted that he would not hand himself over. The ministry says it is considering a petition from his lawyer Yasmin Omar to reopen the case. However, it cannot reverse his bail con...

AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo is now left with under 8hours to hand himself over at the Mhatha Prison. If he does not arrive at the prison by midnight, he will be arrested. Justice ministry spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga says current bail conditions stand, despite the king's legal team having filed a petition to reopen his trial. Dalindyebo's younger brother Siganeko earlier said the king woul...

The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service has appealed to consumers to be aware of fraudsters trying to scam them of their money this festive season. The organisation says consumers must protect their personal information. We earlier spoke to the organisation's spokesperson Carol McLoughlin and I started by asking her how consumers can protect themselves against fraudsters.

The ANC says the recalling of President Jacob Zuma was never discussed in the Extended National Working Committee meeting held on Monday. Party leaders held a press briefing amidst calls that Zuma should resign following his move to sack former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. Zuma has since replaced David Van Rooyen with Pravin Gordhan, a move that was welcomed by the market. The party has also mo...

The tide is slowly turning for some South Africans as they start to become aware of their financial situation and how to deal with it. According to the MD of Dinehelo, Thoko Nchabeleng there has been a decline in the number of over-indebted South Africans. Dinehelo is a company that gives advice on financial wellness. However, many South Africans remain overly indebted. We spoke to Nchabeleng and...

South Africa's new Finance Minister David van Rooyen says he is facing a colossal assignment at a time when the economy is struggling. Van Rooyen who replaces the axed Nhalanhla Nene has issued a televised statement saying that he will focus on developing the country's economy for all people - not just the few. The Minister says his department will become more accessible to all the country's peopl...

Convicted murderer, Sindisiwe Manqele has broken down in the dock after she was found guilty of unlawfully and intentionally killing her rap star boyfriend, Flabba Hadebe. The High Court sitting in Randburg handed down judgment a short while ago. Acting Judge Solly Sithole also found that there was some premeditation to her actions. Manqele fatally stabbed Habedi at his Alexandra home in March thi...

The South African State Theatre in Pretoria recently announced the appointment of its new CEO, Dr. Sibongiseni Mkhize. Mkhize is a heavyweight in the arts, culture and heritage sector. Not only is he the former CEO of the Market Theatre Foundation in Johannesburg and Chief Director of Cultural Affairs at the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, he also spent five years as the...

KwaZulu Natal officials are continuing to monitor the situation in Tugela Ferry after the area was hit by a storm last night. Two people have reportedly died while scores have been injured. Homes, schools and other buildings have also been damaged. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu Natal has since deployed a disaster management team to assist those affect...

Chairperson of the Disciplinary Inquiry against SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Advocate Willem Edeling, says he will make a decision later on whether the media may have access to audio recordings of the witnesses' testimonies. The media have been barred from attending the proceedings in line with an application by the SABC's lawyers. They argued that media coverage of employees testimony could be pre...