First Take SA

Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula and the the department's Director General, Alec Moemi hosted a media briefing earlier on to address the issue of 10 million US alleged bribery to bring the 2010 world cup to South Africa. Mbalula says the 10 million US dollars paid to the Caribbean countries was a donation for the Diaspora Legacy Programme Fund and not a bribe

The SA Revenue Service has withdrawn its sequestration case against EFF leader, Julius Malema. Without supplying reasons, lawyers representing SARS told the high court in Pretoria they had been instructed to withdraw the matter. Malema is said to owe SARS 18 million rand. After a compromise was reached he had to pay just over seven million rand. SARS initially went with the sequestration applicati...

The Western Cape Department of Economic Opportunities says South Africa's new visa regulations for children have already begun to affect tourism in the province. A new law kicked in today which requires that minors travelling to and from the country apply for new birth certificates. We speak to the Western Cape Department of Economic Opportunities Minister, Alan Winde.

The long awaited Labour Force survey has been released and its not looking good. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, official unemployment figures in the first quarter of this year were at 26.4 percent. Statistician General Pali Lehohla says this is a highest unemployment rate since the early 2000s when unemployment figures were around 30 percent. Lehohla however says year-on-year empl...

The editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper in the Eastern Cape, Bongani Siqoko has dismissed allegations by the ANC that the paper is plotting to tarnish the provincial government and the premier of the province Phumullo Masualle. This follows a meeting between the ANC and the South African National Editor's Forum today in Johannesburg after the ANC accused the Dispatch of plotting to bring down E...

The editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper in the Eastern Cape, Bongani Siqoko has dismissed allegations by the ANC that the paper is plotting to tarnish the provincial government and the premier of the province Phumullo Masualle. This follows a meeting between the ANC and the South African National Editor's Forum today in Johannesburg after the ANC accused the Dispatch of plotting to bring down E...

Heavily indebted consumers can heave a sigh of relief, as the monetary policy committee decides to keep the repurchase rate unchanged at five point seven five percent. Central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago, announced the decision today, amid concerns of sluggish growth and upside risks to the domestic inflation profile. This is what Kganyago said in his announcement

Speak out helps 20 Post office drivers get their money for services rendered

he battle between NUMSA and COSATU continues as lawyers representing both parties are expected to argue for a date for arguments on NUMSA's case against their expulsion. Meanwhile, ANC has re-committed itself to assisting in forging unity within the labour federation. The federation has been marred by serious divisions caused by the expulsion of former secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi as well as...

A South African travel blogger, Katchie Nzama has been out and about touring the continent. The 26 year old backpacked from Cape to Cairo solo using only public transport. She was able to get Accommodation sponsored in some countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi and Kenya. The other countries, she got-by, by finding people on social media that were able to welcome her into their...

On Person I am this week we feature adventurer, Lerato Molele. She recently returned from a life changing experience in Nepal while following her passion for adventure

A Burundi army general says President Pierre Nkurunziza has been "overthrown", amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected for a third term. Major General Godefroid Niyombareh said a salvation committee had been set up but his level of support is unclear. Thousands of people who are protesting against the president in the capital, Bujumbura, are now reported to be celebrating. President Nkurunziza i...

A South African travel blogger, Katchie Nzama has been out and about touring the continent. The 26 year old backpacked from Cape to Cairo solo using only public transport. She was able to get Accommodation sponsored in some countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi and Kenya. The other countries, she got-by, by finding people on social media that were able to welcome her into their...

The Association of Mine and Constructionworkers Union, AMCU, has agreed to the decision by largest platinum producer Lonmin, to cut about three and a half thousand jobs at its mines in South Africa. Company spokesperson Sue Vey, says that the decision was taken in consultation with the majority union, and the decision is in an attempt to withstand low platinum prices.

High Court Judge Hans Fabricius says absence of legislation and the urgency of an application were some of the reasons for his judgement in permitting assisted suicide. Last Thursday, Fabricius granted terminally ill cancer patient, Robin Stransham-Ford permission for a physician-assisted suicide. Stransham-Ford died on the same day. Our Producer Aphiwe Honono asked commuters what their thoughts w...

The lawyer representing the former wife of former president Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela believes that they have a strong case against the executors of the Mandela estate and Land Affairs minister. This is over Madikizela-Mandela's claim to have the Qunu home outside Mthatha under her ownership. Yesterday, Mvuzo Notyesi filed an urgent affidavit opposing an affidavit by the executors...

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

Parliament has had a tough time explaining its 11th hour application for a deadline extension. The Constitutional court had declared certain sections of the sexual offences act invalid to the extent that they criminalised consensual sexual conduct between children under the age of 16. Parliament was given 16 months to remedy the defect. Senior Constitutional Court Reporter, Candice Nolan has the d...

The victims of recent xenophobic attacks in KwaZulu Natal have been left out in the cold without food and shelter. The tents and other infrastructure at Isipingo camp were removed over the weekend. This after the eThekwini municipality decided to shut down the camp. The camp housed around 200 foreign nationals, originally from Burundi, Congo and Rwanda. The Spokesperson for foreign nationals, Dani...

Speculation is rife that the troubled Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in the Eastern Cape might have a new mayor today. High ranking ANC officials including President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa are in a meeting in Port Elizabeth with the Cooperative Governance Minister, Pravin Gordhan and his counterpart in the province Fikile Xasa. The meeting, which will later be followed by anoth...

Speculation is rife that the troubled Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in the Eastern Cape might have a new mayor today. High ranking ANC officials including President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa are in a meeting in Port Elizabeth with the Cooperative Governance Minister, Pravin Gordhan and his counterpart in the province Fikile Xasa. The meeting, which will later be followed by anoth...

Two Kimberley pastors who narrowly escaped the Nepal earthquake have safely returned to South Africa. The two, who planned to summit Mount Everest in an effort to raise funds for a local charity have abandoned this mission and will not be returning to Nepal. Bongi Gwala spoke to one of the pastors, Andre Venter and started by asking how it feels to be back home

The Pretoria High Court has ruled that the doctor who assists 65 year old Robin Stransham-Ford to commit suicide may not be prosecuted. Stransham-Ford suffers from terminal prostate cancer that has spread to his lower spine and kidneys. He says he only has at most a few weeks to live and wants to die with dignity surrounded by his family. His wish has now been granted

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

Preliminary findings indicate that one of the trains involved in the accident that claimed one life and left more than 200 injured drove past the danger signal. The accident occurred when one of the trains crashed into a stationery train at the Denver station in Johannesburg yesterday (Tuesday). PRASA says it will conduct its own investigations and cooperate with an independent safety regulator in...