First Take SA

The rate of forest loss has been halved in the last twenty-five years. But efforts to sustain their survival must continue unabated. That was the message from the release of the 2015 Global Forest resources Assessment Report at World Forestry Congress in Durban. In spite of this somewhat positive news, civil society voices at the 14th World Forestry Congress in Durban are calling for a new definit...

Some workers reported late for work while others did not go to work at all after 21 busses were torched last night at Marapong in Lephalale in Limpopo. The incident affected a few construction workers at Medupi and miners at EXXARO's Grootgeluk Coal Mine who rely on the torched busses for transport. Some of the unemployed youth and those who were dismissed from the construction project at the Medu...

Experts say literacy is important because it also results in a more vibrant democracy. This comes as the World marks International Literacy Day. A UN report released last year shows that there are 250 million children in primary schools around the world who cannot read, write or do basic sums. In South Africa, almost 5 million people are illiterate. The Education Department says about 54 percent o...

In July 2014 Jim Mthethwa from Gauteng submitted a claim for his provident fund pay out after leaving his job at Kelly Industrial. A year later he was yet to receive it. When he initially applied to the Road Freight and Logistics Provident Fund, he was told that he would be paid in 3 to 6 months. But this did not happen. When he followed up on the matter he was told that he had not submitted his d...

The situation remains tense in Vuwani, Limpopo. This after the Municipal Demarcation Board's handover to the new municipal outer boundary determinations and re-determinations to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), in preparation for the 2016 Local Government Elections. This morning a school property was damaged as the result of the on-going protests in the area. Spokesperson for the six tr...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater , one of the world's most popular global modern dance companies, returns to South Africa in September after 17 years with 13 performances in Johannesburg at the Teatro at Montecasino from Thursday, 3 September to Sunday, 13 September 2015 and seven shows in Cape Town at Artscape, from 16 to 20 September 2015. Founded in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ar...

The Manzini Magistrate court in Manzini Swaziland, has denied the bail application for Sigwili Ndzimandze. Ndzimandze is one of the drivers of the trucks involved in a crash that caused multiple deaths last Friday. The trucks crashed while transporting maidens to the annual reed dance in Eludzidzini. The government says 11 maidens and two traditional leaders were killed, but opposition groups have...

One of the truck drivers that is suspected to have caused the crash that killed eleven Swazi maidens and two tribal authorities in Swaziland on Friday has been arrested and briefly appeared in court. The driver who is a government driver employed by the Ministry of Natural Resources has been charged with culpable homicide. According to Swaziland Police the driver will again appear in court tomorro...

Government says it has accepted that not all jobs will be saved in the mining sector. His statement comes after the sector confirmed that it had signed a broad plan with unions and the government to stem a wave of job losses that falling commodity prices and soaring costs have triggered. The plan includes boosting platinum by promoting the metal as a central bank reserve asset. It also seeks to ma...

It has been found that speeding caused the derailment of PRASA's Shosholoza Meyl train near Kimberly earlier this month. This follows the release of preliminary investigation report by the Railway Safety Regulator, RSR, today. The train derailed between Modderrivier and Heuningneskloof stations in the Northern Cape. 60 passengers‚ including the train driver‚ his assistant and technician were injur...

The Springbok assistant coaches say the spirit among players in the training squad for the Rugby World Cup is high. This is despite criticism about the lack of transformation in the national squad after the Boks lost against Argentina for the first time in Springbok rugby history. Amid criticism from former Bok coach Peter de Villiers, a Spingbok jersey was burnt at the launch of a group against r...

The Black Students Movement at Rhodes University has vowed to continue occupying the Council Chambers at the university until management addresses their demands. They have been staging a sit-in since Wednesday night. They say their action has been triggered by the failure of management to address grievances detailed in a memorandum that was handed over to management on Tuesday. The movement says t...

MXO was born in Kwa-dwesi, Port Elizabeth in 1978. Singing began quite naturally for him as a young child growing up in the township and participating in both school choir and the scout choir. It was the musical legends such as Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masikela, Miriam Makeba as well as the social and political climate of the early 1980's that influenced the youngster and he was part of two groups - Blac...

Although tow truck companies provide motorists with an essential service, sometimes they do not adhere to the rules and regulations that govern their industry

Ten police officers appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court, East of Johannesburg today. They were arrested this morning for the alleged torture and murder of a 37-year old man in Ivory Park. It's alleged the officers arrested the man late last year and tortured him on the way to the police station. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, is probing the matter. For more on this...

The University of Stellenbosch has strongly condemned all forms of discrimination and racism at the University. This follows the release of a documentary called 'Luister' by the Open Stellenbosch Movement which features students accounts of alleged racism at the university.

The Broadcast Electronic Media and Allied Workers' Union (Bemawu) at the SABC is alleging that staff members at the Durban office were thrown out of their work stations and threatened with dismissal during a visit by the National Intelligence Agency. It is not clear as to what the purpose of the NIA operators was as staff members were asked to vacate their offices for as long as two hours. Bemawu'...

The SEAexpo is a one-of-a-kind meeting ground for people in the Showbiz, Entertainment and Arts industries. Leading businesses in these industries will have set up stalls around the expo venue where attendees will be able to find them and discuss opportunities for future business. Simultaneously a conference is held each day where industry leaders impart wisdom to attendees with themed conversatio...

An sms sent by a pupil who died after the North West Secondary School for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad caught fire yesterday, will assist police in establishing the cause of the tragedy. Three learners died on the blaze, while over 50 others were injured. Chairperson for the portfolio committee on education in the provincial legislature, Kelebogile Moiloa believes the sms can prove the cause of the...

One in five learners surveyed in Gauteng and Limpopo say they feel pressured by teachers to have sex with them. These are some of the findings of a survey done by NGO Action Aid South Africa. They also found that 55-percent of respondents are sexually active with their partners, 15 percent with older men and 3 percent with their teachers.

SARS Customs officials have confiscated one of the biggest consignments of drugs worth R37.6 million at O.R. International Airport. This happened during an operation last night after a baggage handler's trolley with unclaimed bags was scanned and a detector dog's reaction indicated that there couls be narcotics in the bag. A serach of the bags revealed that there was the drug known as meth in liqu...

All the eight former policemen accused of the murder of Mozambican taxi driver, Mido Macia in 2013 have been found GUILTY in the High court in Pretoria. Macia died after he was dragged behind a police van two years ago. A footage showing the incident went viral, sparking international outrage. The eight former policemen have maintained their innocence throughout trial. They have been sent to custo...

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has found evidence of widespread maladministration and impropriety in the awarding of tenders worth almost three billion rand at the Passenger Rail Agency. Releasing her report in Pretoria, Madonsela found that 19 of 32 complaints against Prasa were substantiated. She says transactions revealed a culture of systematic failure to comply with Prasa's supply chain man...

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has found evidence of widespread maladministration and impropriety in the awarding of tenders worth almost three billion rand at the Passenger Rail Agency. Releasing her report in Pretoria, Madonsela found that 19 of 32 complaints against Prasa were substantiated. She says transactions revealed a culture of systematic failure to comply with Prasa's supply chain man...

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has found evidence of widespread maladministration and impropriety in the awarding of tenders worth almost three billion rand at the Passenger Rail Agency. Releasing her report in Pretoria, Madonsela found that 19 of 32 complaints against Prasa were substantiated. She says transactions revealed a culture of systematic failure to comply with Prasa's supply chain man...