First Take SA

Oscar Pistorius was released on ten thousand rand bail, with strict conditions, pending his leave to appeal his murder conviction in the Constitutional Court. Pistorius re-applied for bail after his culpable murder conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal, and changed to murder. Pistorius murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentyn's Day 2013, by firing four shots through...

In our "Tech Talk" feature this week........We all know of Wi-Fi - a system that uses antennaes to transmit radio signals which are received by mobile devices, enabling digital world interaction from anywhere in the physical world. But instead of using radio waves, what if we could use something else to allow us to access the internet. Something like light?

Police have defused tensions during a DA protest at the ANC's Western Cape office in the Cape Town CBD. DA leaders organised the protests against what they said was the ANC's cosy relations with gangsters. Meanwhile, the ANC in the Western Cape says it will proceed with plans to try and remove Helen Zille as the premier of the province. ANC spokesperson Cobus Grobler, alleges that Zille has abused...

Nigerian Televangelist T.B Joshua is expected to appear at the Lagos High Court today to answer to charges over the collapse of his six story guest house in September 2014. 85 South Africans were killed during the incident which led to many calling for action against Joshua. The Synagogue Church of all Nations has denied responsibility for the tragedy, blaming the incident on sabotage.

The Tlokwe Municipality independent candidates and COPE in the North West say the role, responsibility and credibility of the IEC during elections should be in question. The Constitutional court has found that eight by-elections which took place within the Tlokwe municipality in 2013 were not free and fair. The Independent candidates have expressed happiness after the Constitutional Court ruled in...

Pope Francis has arrived in Uganda on the second leg of his African tour. Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and other dignitaries were at Kampala's international airport to welcoem the pontiff. Earlier, the head of the Catholic church wound up his tour of Kenya by addressing a packed Nairobi stadium. The Pope urged young Kenyan not to yield to the sweet lure of corruption, and urged them to help t...

The SABC says it will appeal the Western Cape High Court ruling that the permanent appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the company's COO be set aside. The DA challenged Motsoeneng's appointment as permanent COO after the public protector found that he had lied about his qualifications and purged senior staff among others.

Most will remember Ricardo Groenewald for his smash-hit, 'I love you Daddy' but many, will remember him for not only influencing his immediate community but a whole generation. The 43-year old succumbed to stage four lymphatic cancer midweek at Cape Town's Tygerberg hospital. The childhood star of the 1980's became a house hold name with his unique voice and moves on the stage. He also shared the...

Some of Pikitup's striking workers have returned to work with at least one depot fully operational again. However, striking workers are still blockading the company's landfill sites. Pikitup managing director Amanda Nair says armed security personnel is on its way to the landfill sites to make them accessible again.

While the National carrier SAA finds itself in yet another financial debacle, its leadership remains confident that all will be well. Treasury has warned SAA that the decision to restructure a previous deal with Airbus could result in financial instability. The SAA board argues that the restructured lease will save SAA money and reduce the currency risk. Despite the impasse, the board chairperson...

Striking members of trade union NEHAWU have left the Parliamentary precinct after riot police entered it. This as chief whips of political parties were earlier locked in a meeting to seek the way forward on how the National Assembly proceedings should continue. Striking members of trade union NEHAWU occupied the public gallery of the chamber. This is the second time that the union members are stri...

The Food and Allied Workers Union, FAWU, has joined teachers union SADTU in endorsing Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for the position of ANC president in 2017. The latest move points to a strong indication that the trade union federation COSATU will throw its weight behind Ramaphosa to succeed Jacob Zuma as the country's Head of State in 2018. The ANC Women's and Youth leagues have declared thei...

When people say a name is bigger than the face, Dj Ganyani believes this could not be more true than when referring to himself. Having been in the music industry for over 20 years, the house DJ says he still comes across people who don't believe him when he introduces himself at DJ Ganyani. Our producer Asanda Ntame caught with him and started by asking him whether he is aware of his footprint in...

South African Airways has suspended its chief commercial officer Sylvain Bosc. It is reported that a forensic investigation by ENSafrica into various allegations were received through the Deloittes Tip Offs hotline. The airline says the tip-off allegation had enough substance to suggest that Bosc "doctored the numbers for Abu Dhabi to favour the opening of this route and sold SAA out". The goal wa...

The investigation into the Paris terror attacks is said to be focusing on a Belgian man of Moroccan decent as the possible master mind. He has been named as Abdelhamid Abaaoud. French authorities have identified two more of the attackers. Sami Amimour is said to have been one of the suicide bombers at the Bataclan concert hall.

Leadership from the trade union, Nehawu, are again locked in a closed meeting with Parliament's management. Last week, staff, affiliated to the trade union started striking over performance bonuses and better working conditions. On Friday, they announced that they are not interested in talking to management anymore, while the institution said it was time for an independent mediator to step in. Ear...

Police are maintaining a strong presence at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) where three students have been arrested after a building was set alight this morning. Extensive damage at the Res Life building which was gutted as protests over fees continue. Today, a group of students gathered a few meters away while police kept a close watch. Another fire was started with furniture pulled into...

Relief organisation 'Gift of the Givers', together with SAfm, will next week embark on a drought relief effort in Northern Cape. Several areas in the province have been identified to recieve food parcels. The food parcel programme will kick off in Okiep, a tiny town that was once the centre of the South African copper mining industry.

At least 100 shacks are on fire in the Msawawa informal settlement near Kya Sands, north of Johannesburg. Emergency officials say no injuries or fatalies have been reported yet.

The University of the Western Cape says a decision will be made later today on whether exams should continue tomorrow. This after the exams were cancelled today following student protests inside university premises. Five students have since been arrested on charges of grievous bodily harm. One person was injured during the protest. Students have apparently also caused extensive damage to universit...

After its world premiere in May 2014, Madiba the African Opera returns on stage for its second run on the 27 November 2015 at the State Theatre, Pretoria. In partnership with the South African State Theatre through their MzansiFela Festival, powered by the Department of Arts and Culture's Mzansi Golden Economy; the producers, Opera South Africa, promises a bigger and better production this time ar...

Eight former police officers convicted of murdering Mozambican taxi driver, Mido Macia have been sentenced to 15 years behind bars in the High Court in Pretoria. Handing down sentence Judge Bert Bam described the police officers' actions as both barbaric and inexcusable.

Parliament's Police committee has recommended an inquiry be instituted against suspended National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega. This is for her role in the press statement by senior police management in support of her. The committee is releasing its draft report after an inquiry on whether SAPS management were truthful in their dealings with them. It is the first time since 1994 that Parliame...

In 2003 Mary Shaw from Potterville outside Cape town bought 75 Telkom shares at a cost of R28 each through a company called Computershare. But when she recently enquired about them she was told that they had vanished from her portfolio.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says he's satisfied that the demographics of the national rugby team are inclusive. He was briefing the media in Sandton, north of Johannesburg about issues surrounding the recent Rugby World Cup. Several interest groups have expressed concern about a lack of transformation in the sport. However, Mbalula says that all the Springbok players are selected on merit.