First Take SA

ActionSA is seeking clarity on a lucrative tender awarded to Korone Engineering, a company with Nigerian links, to repair Lilian Ngoyi Street in Johannesburg. The party has written to Mayor Dada Morero and Transport MMC Kenny Kunene, demanding answers on the R194 million tender. This move comes after ActionSA's recent oversight visit to the construction site, where they discovered Korone Engineeri...

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has reiterated its call for the ANC and EFF to abandon plans to rename Sandton Drive in Johannesburg to Leila Khaled Drive. This appeal comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the National Address and a parliamentary debate, where ACDP leader Reverend Dr. Kenneth Meshoe expressed concerns that the name change would not benefit South Africa and...

The bodies of 14 South African National Defence Force soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo will arrive in the country today. A solemn ceremony will be held at the Air Force Base Swartkop in Centurion to hand over the mortal remains, followed by a memorial service to honour the fallen troops. To provide more insight into this event, Elvis Presslin spoke to Rear Admiral (JG) Prince Ts...

EFF Tshwane Activists will today stage a picket at St Alban's College in Pretoria, following allegations of racism at the institution. The activists claim that black students are being bullied by their white counterparts. To elaborate further on the allegations, Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Tshwane activist, Bongani Ramontja

ActionSA's MP Dr. Kgosi Letlape has expressed confidence that funding for the National Health Insurance (NHI) will not be a challenge. This despite concerns raised by critics about the scheme's feasibility and potential for corruption. Dr. Kgosi Letlape has likened the NHI to a medical aid scheme with funds controlled by the Minister of Health. During yesterday's SONA debate, Dr. Letlape expressed...

A rift has reportedly emerged within the MK Party Caucus, pitting Chief Whip Mzwanele Manyi against Caucus Leader Dr. John Hlophe. The alleged fallout stems from Hlophe's recent SONA debate speech, with some party insiders claiming that Hlophe was sabotaged with a subpar speech drafted at the last minute, to undermine his carefully prepared remarks. For a deeper dive into this developing story, El...

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) is staging a march to the Limpopo provincial government offices today, where traditional leaders will submit a memorandum outlining their grievances to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. This demonstration is part of the traditional leaders' escalating push for government action on pressing concerns, no...

A new report on strike trends in 2024 has uncovered a significant rise in wildcat strikes in South Africa. The Casual Workers' Advice Office has released its latest Strike Barometer, showing 45 wildcat strikes took place in 2024, surpassing the number of protected strikes. To analyze the findings, Elvis Presslin spoke to Sydney Moshoaliba, Researcher at the Casual Workers' Advice Office

The Department of Basic Education has unveiled a teen suicide awareness campaign, designed to empower young people with essential skills to navigate mental health challenges. Timed to coincide with Teen Suicide Prevention Week, this initiative follows alarming National Department of Health statistics, which indicate that 7,426 minors attempted to take their own lives between April and December las...

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa will this week convene a national convention to address the concerns of the Khoi-San community. The two-day convention aims to find permanent solutions to challenges faced by the Khoi-San people, including recognition. For insight into the significance of this convention and the expectations of the Khoi-San communit...

Umkonto weSizwe party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has apologized to her father, Jacob Zuma, and the party leadership for her social media outburst. But the apology didn't mention party Secretary General Floyd Shivambu by name - the target of her profanity-laced tweets. Elvis Presslin got analysis from KZN-based Political Analyst, Zakhele Ndlovu

The cost of living crisis in South Africa has reached alarming levels, with new data revealing that workers spend over half their monthly earnings on transport and electricity. The latest Household Affordability Index report reveals that citizens spend more than 57% of their salary on transport and electricity, leaving insufficient funds for basic necessities like food. The General Industries Work...

Calls for Defense and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga's resignation are intensifying, as several political parties demand she steps down following the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The soldiers, part of a UN peacekeeping mission, were killed in an attack by M23 rebels in a region ravaged by violence and displacement. President Cyril Ramaphosa h...

A DA Councilor has raised concerns about the surge in illegal mining activities in Roodepoort, Gauteng. The councilor's warning comes as two or three miners are believed to be trapped inside a disused mine in the area since the weekend. DA Ward 70 Councilor in Johannesburg, Caleb Finn says the temporary suspension of rescue operations of the miners has sparked worries about the potential risks pos...

The Democratic Alliance, DA is challenging the contentious Expropriation Act in court. The party filed papers with the Western Cape High Court, in a bid to have the recently signed Act declared unconstitutional. The DA says it rejects what it calls "ANC attempts to smuggle in further powers of expropriation without compensation". For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Public Works and Infrastru...

The FW de Klerk Foundation has issued an urgent call to Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiations to resolve the deteriorating relationship between South Africa and the US. The foundation warns that the current impasse poses a significant risk to South Africa's Government of National Unity and could have dire political and economic consequences...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the 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 South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has expressed outrage over what it calls the latest imperialist and racist assault on South Africa's sovereignty by U.S. President, Donald Trump. SAFTU was reacting to an executive order in which Trump announced that his administration will halt financial aid to South Africa and allow for opportunities of settlement for white Afrikaners in the U...

Namibia is mourning the loss of its founding father and former President, Sam Nujoma. He passed away at the age of 95 at the weekend. Nujoma led Namibia's fight for independence from South Africa, achieving victory in 1990. He co-founded the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960, and became its first president. As the country reflects on his legacy, Elvis Presslin spoke to Namibi...

Former EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament, Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has broken his silence, revealing the reasons behind his recent absence from the public eye. In an exclusive interview with SABC Political Editor Mzwandile Mbeje, Ndlozi cites disputes over his abrupt suspension from the party, which led to his failure to attend the EFF's 3rd National People's Assembly

KwaZulu-Natal's Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital is facing a water supply crisis, affecting patient care and staff welfare. The provincial Department of Health says it has implemented contingency measures, including water tankers and bottled water, while working with eThekwini Municipality to resolve the issue. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mlungisi Ndlovu, Provincial Manager of the Public Servants Ass...

Diplomatic tensions are escalating between South Africa and the US after President Trump signed an executive order halting financial assistance to South Africa. The move is in response to concerns over the newly enacted Expropriation Bill, which allows the state to acquire property for public purposes. Trump's decision has sparked controversy, particularly his plan to resettle Afrikaners as refuge...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address has ignited a fierce debate, with African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader Kenneth Meshoe sharply criticizing the president's stance on corruption. Reverend Dr. Meshoe accused Ramaphosa of being a hypocrite, citing the Phala Phala farm scandal as evidence. For more insight into the ACDP's concerns, Elvis Presslin spoke to ACDP Deputy...

President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address has received mixed reaction with opposition parties like the EFF, ActionSA, and MK expressing disappointment over the lack of concrete solutions to South Africa's pressing issues. In contrast, the Democratic Alliance, a key partner in the Government of National Unity, welcomed the President's address, but emphasized the need for swift impleme...

The ANC, Cosatu, SACP, and SANCO will today march against the potential closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa, which threatens to leave thousands of workers jobless. Despite the company's decision to delay the closure of its long steel business by a month, the unions are demanding urgent government intervention to save the operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging. For more on today's planned march...