First Take SA

The uMkhonto weSizwe, MK Party plans to open a case against forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan after he walked out of a parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee meeting without permission. O'Sullivan reportedly left to catch a flight. National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza says she will decide on any action against him once she receives the committee report from chairperson Soviet Lekganyane. Elvis Press...

The Democratic Alliance, DA in Johannesburg, has sharply criticised the appointment of Loyiso Masuku as the City's first female Deputy Mayor, labelling the position an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. DA representatives argue the role duplicates existing duties and will drain millions in public funds better spent on service delivery. Masuku, also ANC regional chairperson and Finance MMC, was elect...

Social grants will increase in April, with adjustments slightly above inflation. However, the SRD grant remains unchanged at R370, with payments continuing until next year. Meanwhile, SASSA has terminated nearly 35,000 grants deemed incorrect or fraudulent after upgrading its verification processes. Elvis Presslin spoke to Elizabeth Raiters, Social Grant Activist

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU has criticized the 2026/27 Budget saying it fails to address unemployment, poverty and inequality. While welcoming some allocations for health, education and social security, COSATU says the focus on balancing books has missed the opportunity for a bold stimulus package. The union is concerned about no funds for 10,000 labour inspectors and inadeq...

Msindisi Lizani, a standout undergraduate, has been crowned the winner of the prestigious 2025 Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. This esteemed contest has become a launching pad for young economists to share their insights on shaping South Africa's future. Lizani's winning essay delves into the impact of tariffs on developing economies, drawing inspiration from former US President...

Deputy Defence Minister, General Bantu Holomisa has visited 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town, highlighting its crucial role in supporting troops deployed to gang-infested areas. The hospital faces infrastructure and resource challenges, with facilities built decades ago. Minister Holomisa emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to modernize the hospital. The visit focused on pharmacy s...

The National Lotteries Commission has announced that funding allocated in the 2025/26 financial year has created or retained 1,303 jobs and supported nearly 10,000 beneficiaries across South Africa. Most of the jobs were held by women and youth in community-based organisations. The NLC also reports improved compliance among funded organisations. Funded projects focused on skills training, arts, sp...

The ANC is calling for the 2026 National Budget to drive growth, jobs and social protection. With economic momentum building and inflation under control, the party wants reforms in electricity, logistics, and water to boost employment. The ANC also wants to protect social services and extend the Social Relief of Distress grant. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Joe Maswanganyi, ANC MP and Chairperson of...

Voter turnout in local government elections has hit an all-time low of 46% in South Africa. Analysts say residents are rejecting a system failing to deliver basic services like water and electricity. Researcher Lesego Mahlangu says weak community structures and reliance on social media stunts by politicians are to be blamed for the decline. She warns trust in local democracy will erode without str...

COSATU and affiliates will stage protests ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget Speech in Cape Town today. The unions are opposing austerity measures and a 9.8% GEMS contribution hike. Elvis Presslin spoke to COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew Parks

South African Local Government Association is hosting its 9th National Communicators Forum in Cape Town today. Under the theme "Elevate, Reclaiming Trust, Credibility and Citizen Connection", the event aims to equip municipal spokespeople with practical tools ahead of next year's local government elections. SALGA says the gathering comes at a critical moment, marking 30 years of organised local go...

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni has criticised Premier Panyaza Lesufi's State of the Province Address, saying the ANC is failing the province. Ngobeni called on Lesufi to account for promises made in previous SOPAs and to provide evidence of delivery. To elaborate on his concerns Ngobeni spoke to Elvis Presslin

The brother of one of the 17 South Africans recruited to fight in Ukraine says he's coming home this week. Sandile Ndhlovu confirms his brother is among 13 enroute to South Africa from Russia, with four already back in South Africa. The men were allegedly lured under false pretences to fight in the war. Ndhlovu spoke to our senior producer Ronald Phiri

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo

Twenty Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 16 suspended following a probe into document fraud and visa manipulation. The Special Investigating Unit, SIU launched the investigation in April 2024, uncovering recurring schemes and facilitation networks. For reaction, Elvis Presslin spoke to Lemias Mashile, former Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour and Home Affairs

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has lodged an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court to halt former NDPP Shamila Batohi's pension and post‑term gratuities pending a review. The party also wants to reverse funding for her legal costs in the Nkabinde Inquiry, arguing payments must be lawful and rational amid alleged misconduct. The MK says concerns raised during Batohi's testimony at the inquiry re...

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and a co‑accused are due in the Alexandra Magistrates Court this morning. They were arrested after a 23‑year‑old gardener was shot twice at Mugabe's Hyde Park residence last week and remains in critical condition. The pair face attempted‑murder charges and have been held at Bramley police station. Activists and Citizens F...

Major COSATU-affiliated public service unions, including NEHAWU, SADTU, DENOSA and POPCRU, will hold a media briefing today to express their anger over GEMS' 9.8% member contribution increase. The Unions will also raise concerns about governance lapses, threats to collective bargaining and announce details of their intended action against the medical scheme. The briefing will take place at COSATU...

Gauteng's Community Safety Committee says it is deeply shocked and angry after official figures showed at least 97 South African Police Service members have been accused of sexual violence or rape across the country. The number was revealed in the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's latest annual report and came up during a stakeholder meeting last Friday. Elvis Presslin spoke to Commit...

More than 20 people are set to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court today, facing charges of fraud, theft and money‑laundering linked to a R113 million "emergency school repairs" scheme in Mpumalanga. The Hawks, with support from Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape, arrested the suspects in a coordinated operation targeting 40 individuals and companies accused of siphoning funds meant for...

The South African National Roads Agency, SANRAL says toll tariffs on national roads will increase by 3-point-12 percent from the first of march. SANRAL ties the annual adjustment to the consumer price index from Stats SA. The figure, confirmed in the government gazette earlier this month, comes in below last year's 4.85 percent rise. For reaction we're joined by Gavin Kelly, Road Freight Associati...

Two men will appear before the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on charges of attempted murder. One of the suspects is the son of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. They face attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting a gardener in Hyde Park, north of Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU‑PF, says they "abhors violence in any form" and that late party President M...

 The Public Servants Association will embark on a major protest this Saturday against steep contribution increases to the Government Employees Medical Scheme, GEMS. More than 5,000 PSA members are set to gather at the GEMS head office in Pretoria, with simultaneous demonstrations planned across all nine provinces. For the latest we're joined by Claude Naiker, Acting Deputy General Manager for...

The Casual Workers Advice Office has published its 2025 Strike Barometer and the numbers show a clear uptick in labour unrest last year. 117 strikes took place across South Africa in 2025. That's a sharp rise from the 87 recorded in 2024 and edges above the pre-pandemic figures of 116 in 2018 and 102 in 2019. For more on this we are joined on the line by Sydney Moshoaliba, Casual Workers' Advice O...

The African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association is calling for the immediate resignation of the head of law enforcement at the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency. AUBBTA chairperson Phumudzo Mukhwathi says the group is devastated after yet another crash yesterday at the same treacherous Tshambudzi mountain curve near Makhado on the N1 - the very spot where 43 people died in a bus plunge back in O...