First Take SA

Today marks International Alcohol and Foetal Spectrum Disorders Day. The day highlights the risks of alcohol use for pregnant women and their unborn children. To address this, a consultant with the South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD), has spearheaded a new initiative. Julie Mac Donnell developed "Pregnancy and Substance Use", a toolkit designed for South African healthcare profe...

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

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will open the 12th SA AIDS Conference today at Emperor's Palace in Gauteng. The event gathers leaders, researchers, academics and advocates from South Africa and beyond to tackle the ongoing fight against HIV and its management. Elvis Presslin spoke to Public Health Specialist at Anova Health Institute and SA AIDS Conference 2025 Co-Chairperson, Dr. Kate Rees

MK Member of Parliament Visvin Reddy has slammed the exorbitant payments made to water board executives. According to a parliamentary response from Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, senior board members earn nearly R50-million a year in fees, with some pocketing up to R100,000 for a single meeting. Reddy calls this a blatant misuse of funds, accusing water boards of becoming cash cows...

Shell and the South African government have applied for leave to appeal a High Court ruling that halted offshore drilling along the West Coast. Last month, the Western Cape High Court overturned environmental approval for exploration in Block 5,6 and 7 pointing to inadequate assessments of oil spill risks, climate impacts and effects on coastal communities. The case was brought by The Green Connec...

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has condemned the killing of insolvency lawyer Bouwer van Niekerk, who was shot at his Johannesburg office on Friday. The Minister expressed her condolences to van Niekerk's family, friends and colleagues. Authorities are investigating but no motive has been established. Elvis Presslin spoke to Terrence Manase, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Justice and Constitut...

The South African Human Rights Commission has slammed unlawful evictions carried out by municipalities, law enforcement and private security firms. The Commission says these actions breach the Constitution and the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act. The Commission also criticized Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's recent comments about conducting evictions in the early hours, calling them "inhumane,...

The Gauteng Health Department is urging parents and guardians to urgently sign consent forms to allow children to receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine amid an ongoing outbreak. The department says the six-week vaccination drive, running until September 12th, aims to protect over 3 million children, yet fewer than a million have been reached so far. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mari van der Westhuizen, C...

Former EFF and MK Party member Floyd Shivambu will today announce the results of the Mayibuye's Consultation Process at a press conference. The nationwide initiative, led by Shivambu, has engaged communities, traditional leaders and civic groups to explore forming a new political movement for the 2026 local government elections. The process aims to address issues like inequality and social upliftm...

The taxi strike that brought eThekwini to a standstill is over. Taxis are back on the roads today after Durban taxi operators and KZN transport officials reached an agreement late last night. Yesterday, thousands of commuters were stranded as operators joined the South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO's call for a stay-away over delays in issuing operating licenses and the impounding of taxi...

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

The Democratic Alliance has welcomed Stellenbosch Mayor Jeremy Fasser's call for a special Council meeting today to address allegations of racism against Acting Corporate Services Director Alexander Kannemeyer. The DA is pushing for Kannemeyer's dismissal after a video surfaced showing him making racially charged remarks about white employees. In the footage, Kannemeyer suggests making life diffic...

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is facing increasing pressure to abandon its proposed amendments to the National Credit Act, particularly a controversial provision allowing student loans and education-related debt to be listed with credit bureaus. Elvis Presslin spoke to Thato Masekoa, Spokesperson of the South African Union of Students (SAUS)... 

The South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO in KwaZulu-Natal is threatening a two-day strike over taxi impoundments in the province. SANTACO is demanding the provincial government to address the issue and threatening to halt all taxi operations across the province if their demands are not met. Elvis Presslin spoke to Sifiso Shangase, Spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council, S...

Members of the Khoi and San community will today march in the Cape Town CBD to demand recognition of their rights to land, territories and resources. The protest is part of a broader national movement calling for acknowledgment of First Nations' heritage and claims. Elvis Presslin spoke to Reverend Larry Varrie, Paramount Chief and National Leader of Greater Aboriginal Community Council of Souther...

The Democratic Alliance, DA in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, North West are calling on the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and law enforcement to step in and restore order at the municipal offices in Zeerust. The DA reports that a group of armed men, posing as security guards, seized control of the offices to protect a mayor allegedly elected during an invalid...

SANParks is hosting the Vision 2040 Indaba in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane are among key stakeholders discussing the future of South Africa's conservation efforts. The three-day event, running until 05 September, features engaging talks on inclusive conservation and an exhibition showcasing comm...

ANC in Limpopo has confirmed receiving a letter from its Provincial Chairperson, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, announcing his decision to step aside. Mathabatha cites concerns over misconduct and unethical behaviour within party structures, particularly linked to disputes at recent regional conferences. His move has sparked mixed reactions, with the ANC Youth League in Limpopo dismissing the letter as...

The South African Reserve Bank has gazetted the 4th Variation Notice, giving Postbank the green light to generate a new secure key and replace the remaining SASSA Gold Cards with upgraded Black Cards. The announcement came during a briefing to Parliament's Social Development Committee, where the Reserve Bank also highlighted the looming expiry of the SASSA–Postbank Master Service Agreement a...

The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences system or AARTO, will come into effect on the 1st of December this year. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the proclamation in August, officially gazetting the AARTO Act. The first phase will roll out across 69 municipalities. For more on what the AARTO Act entails for motorists, Elvis Presslin spoke to Monde Mkalipi, Spokesperson for the Roa...

Suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, is facing off against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola in the Pretoria High Court today. Sibiya is challenging his July suspension, which he claims was unlawful and is seeking reinstatement to his post. The suspension stemmed from allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkh...

The farmer, Dr Koos Troskie, who is the grandfather of a suspect accused of killing and burying a person in a shallow grave at a farm in Kroonstad, told the media he, himself, killed before and he will kill again, if he is attacked on his farm. Police discovered the decomposed body of an unknown man on 20 August 2025 on a farm next to the RZ Mahabane road near Kroonstad. Allegedly, the deceased wa...

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

A heated legal battle is underway as sex workers and activists push for the decriminalization of sex work in the Western Cape High Court. The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce, alongside the Sex Worker Movement of South Africa, are challenging laws that criminalize their trade. They argue these laws violate constitutional rights. Opponents, however, are resisting the move, citing moral...

The National Union of Mineworkers is calling on Glencore and Samancor to stop looming job cuts and negotiate constructively. This follows Glencore's confirmation that it has triggered a Section 189 retrenchment process under the Labour Relations Act, effective from September 1st. The move impacts Boshoek and Wonderkop Smelters in Rustenburg, Rhovan Vanadium near Bethanie and the Carbon Division in...