First Take SA

Today marks two years since Sudan's brutal conflict erupted. As violence drags on, over 1.1 million refugees and returnees have poured into South Sudan, stretching already fragile host communities to the brink. A new United Nations Human Rights Council report exposes crumbling infrastructure: overcrowded schools, scarce healthcare, and land disputes over makeshift shelters. The UN Human Rights Cou...

The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) has taken legal action in the High Court seeking clarity on the legality of new in-room television licensing fees imposed by SAMRO. These fees, introduced in 2022/2023, add a per-TV, per-room charge for accommodation providers, on top of existing SAMRO fees for music in public spaces like restaurants and bars. FEDHASA says this mov...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to appoint Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to the United States has sparked criticism from the Forum for South Africa (FOSA). The civil rights group have labelled the appointment as premature, misguided and a sign of the President's indifference to repairing the deteriorating SA-US relations. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Leader of Forum for South Africa, Tebogo M...

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

ActionSA has raised concern over South Africa's R3.45 billion expenditure on 115 foreign missions in 2023/24, calling it excessive and unfocused. According to a parliamentary reply, the Department of International Relations spent R950m in Africa, R900m in Asia and the Middle East, R813m in Europe, R465m in the Americas, and R325m on multilateral missions. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba spoke to El...

U.S. President Donald Trump says he may not attend November's G20 Summit in Johannesburg, citing the country's land expropriation policy and what he called "genocide." Posting on his Truth Social, Trump slammed land seizures and alleged violence, accusing the media of silence. Meanwhile, South Africa has hit back, with DIRCO's Chrispin Phiri reaffirming the nation belongs to all who live in it. Te...

Magalies Water and ERWAT are set to forge a landmark partnership to protect the Crocodile West Catchment, including the renowned Hartbeespoort Dam. This groundbreaking collaboration between the water utility and the wastewater management company aims to tackle the severe raw water contamination affecting communities in Gauteng and North West provinces. For more Elvis Presslin spoke to David Magae,...

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committees on Community Safety and Transport & Logistics have strongly supported the recent agreement between the Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, and the South African National Taxi Council to halt taxi-related violence across the province. To discuss this development, Elvis Presslin spoke to Bandile Masuku, Chai...

The Black Business Council is calling for stricter law enforcement to prevent undocumented migrants' spaza shops from accessing the new R500-million Spaza Shop Support Fund. The fund launched by Minister Parks Tau aims to bolster small businesses driving local economies. Elvis Presslin spoke to Bheki Thwala, President of South African Spaza Township Economy Concepts Global

The Luthuli family is seeking closure as the National Prosecuting Authority presents evidence today in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to challenge the original findings on the deaths of anti-apartheid icons, former ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli and human rights lawyer Griffiths Mxenge. Following the reopening of the inquests by KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions Elaine Harrison, S...

The ANC has met with the DA and Freedom Front Plus to bolster multiparty consensus within the Government of National Unity (GNU). The parties agreed on the importance of the new Fiscal Framework to stabilise public finances, sustain services, and drive economic growth. They also stressed the need for robust parliamentary oversight, efficient spending, and action against financial mismanagement. Fo...

North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, has highlighted legislative non-compliance by non-profit organisations (NPOs) as a significant barrier preventing her department from achieving a clean audit. Speaking to over 200 delegates at a packed roadshow in Madibeng's White Hall, themed 'Re thuse re go thuse', Dantjie emphasized that a substantial portion of the department's budget is...

Three of South Africa's Chapter Nine Institutions, the CRL Rights Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, and the Human Rights Commission have announced a joint Commission of Inquiry into the recent acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Pastor Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused. Last week, the Gqeberha High Court cleared them of all 32 charges, including rape, sexual assault, human traff...

The Media Review Network is calling for a thorough investigation into the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Patriotic Alliance (PA)'s contentious visit to Israel. This call follows the South African government's pursuit of legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing the nation of committing genocide against the people of Gaza. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spok...

Umnontho Wabantu Abansundu, a civic organization aligned with the uMkhonto weSizwe party has expressed support for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID's decision to retract a letter demanding a response from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The letter stemmed from anonymous allegations that Mkhwanazi protected a prison official linked to drug activities. Whi...

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has unveiled plans to establish 1,650 new public sector positions to tackle staffing shortages in hospitals, a response prompted by widespread protests from unemployed doctors. For reaction Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, General Secretary of the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU)

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 recent national study conducted by Stellenbosch University has unveiled a deeply concerning trend among South African teachers, who are grappling with overwhelming administrative burdens and emotional stress. The findings indicate that half of the educators surveyed are contemplating exiting the profession within the next ten years, attributing their decision to burnout and inadequate mental hea...

The City of Tshwane has recently approved special leave for employees undergoing Ukuthwasa, a deeply sacred and spiritual initiation into traditional African healing practices. To shed light on this significant decision, Elvis Presslin spoke to the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services at the City of Tshwane, Kholofelo Morodi

Prominent Advocate Dali Mpofu is set to face a disciplinary hearing end of April following the Legal Practice Council's decision to bring seven charges against him. Among the allegations, Mpofu is accused of tarnishing the reputation of the legal profession. To explore whether these charges are a just assessment of Mpofu's conduct or part of a wider trend of scrutiny facing Black lawyers in South...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has welcomed the Constitutional Court's decision that now permits municipal workers to hold public office. This ruling comes after the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) contested provisions in the Municipal Systems Act that previously prohibited municipal employees from taking up such positions. To discuss this development in greater...

Today marks 32 years since the assassination of revered former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Chris Hani. Hani, an anti-Apartheid activist was brutally gunned down on the 10th of April in 1993. A commemorative event is set to take place in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape in Hani's honour. Amidst the reflections, the Hani family and the SACP continue to demand an inquest to...

President Trump has announced a 90-day suspension of tariffs on all countries except China, while simultaneously increasing the tariff rate on Chinese goods to 125%. Following this period, the tariff rate is set to decrease to a uniform 10% for all nations except China, which will remain subject to the elevated levy. The White House states that this decision comes as dozens of countries have expre...

The Western Cape High Court has ruled in favour of 53 independent schools against the City of Cape Town in a significant judgment involving unpaid municipal rates. The schools, all non-profit institutions, challenged the City's decision to backdate and demand rates retrospectively, despite their long-standing status as public benefit organizations. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to C...

Former police commissioner Riah Phiyega has sparked fresh debate over the role of smartphones in South African schools, urging leaders to take a bold stand on the issue. In a recent City Press article, Phiyega warns that the growing dependence on smartphones in classrooms may be harming learners' focus, discipline, and emotional wellbeing. Her remarks come as countries around the world begin to re...