First Take SA

There has been a major shake-up in leadership at the State Information Technology Agency, SITA, in KwaZulu-Natal. The acting Managing Director has transferred the Provincial Manager and appointed an acting replacement, following a damning investigation report. The report revealed widespread abuse of power, victimization of employees, and gross mismanagement. The Public Servants Association has wel...

A young child, born to a South African woman imprisoned in Mauritius for drug trafficking, is being repatriated to South Africa. The child's mother has been awaiting trial for six years, and is among 38 South Africans detained in Mauritius for similar offenses. Elvis Presslin spoke to the South African High Commissioner to Mauritius, Dr. Hlamalani Manzini

National Treasury is considering a significant increase in excise tax on alcohol, in a bid to curb the country's drinking problem. The move aims to reduce the affordability and appeal of alcoholic beverages, but what will be the impact on the liquor industry? Elvis Presslin spoke to Lucky Ntimane, National Convener of the National Liquor Traders Council

South Africa will today join the global community in commemorating International Human Rights Day. This day marks the historic adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. This landmark document stands as a powerful proclamation of the inherent and inalienable rights to which every individual is entitled simply by being human. F...

The Gauteng Education Department says it is confident about its position regarding today's High Court challenge by the school governing body (SGB) of Pretoria High School for Girls. The SGB is taking legal action against the department, demanding the release of the full report on the racism probe and a halt to any actions based on the report's findings. The probe was launched in response to allega...

The Democratic Alliance has urged Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to swiftly probe the aviation fuel supply crisis at OR Tambo International Airport. The party warns that this failure poses a severe threat to tourism, investor confidence, and South Africa's international standing. This follows confirmation from the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) that refueling challenges yesterday at the a...

The Road Freight Association is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the Mozambique crisis, which has resulted in the closure of the Lebombo Border Post. The Association says the election-related unrest in Mozambique cost the South African economy approximately R10 million daily. Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, spoke to Elvis Presslin about the situation

The Black Business Council (BBC) is calling for a comprehensive ban and blacklisting of McKinsey & Company and other companies implicated in state capture. The BBC says the firms, which have been accused of bribing government officials, pose a significant threat to the country's stability. McKinsey & Company has agreed to pay a 122 million US dollar settlement in a South African bribery ca...

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 come out strongly against reports of an ANC faction pushing President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. This development comes amid allegations of intense internal pressure on the president, sparked by weeks of tensions over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, BELA Bill. Minister Gwarube recently revealed reaching an agreement between...

AfriForum has issued a stern warning to the ANC, threatening legal action to safeguard private property rights in South Africa. This comes hot on the heels of the ANC's announcement to propose Constitutional amendments, paving the way for expropriation without compensation. AfriForum's Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl says any attempts to dismantle private property rights will be met with f...

City Power has strongly objected to Eskom's proposed 66% tariff hike over the next three years. Instead, the utility company recommends an 11% increase for each of the application years. Frank Hinda, General Manager for Pricing & Tariffs at City Power, told our Senior Producer Ronald Phiri that the proposed 11% tariff hike is based on a thorough analysis of Eskom's costs and revenue requiremen...

South Africa will join the global community today in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day amidst ongoing concerns about corruption in the country. The day recognizes the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which was signed in Mexico in 2003. As the country grapples with corruption, this day serves as a call to action for governments, political leaders, and civil society to uni...

ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba has lambasted President Cyril Ramaphosa for relaxing visa requirements for Nigerian citizens. The decision by Ramaphosa has sparked widespread outrage and calls for his resignation on social media. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba

Most land claimants in South Africa prefer cash payouts over receiving land. The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development reports that, of the 79,696 claims lodged by 1998, only 11.8% opted for land, while 56,040 chose monetary compensation. Urbanization, lost agrarian skills, and the allure of middle-class lifestyles were cited as reasons for this trend. For more on this Elvis Presslin spo...

The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) is calling on the government to reopen thousands of abandoned and under-maintained mines to tackle the country's unemployment and poverty crisis. The call comes as rescue operations are underway to save illegal miners 'trapped' in abandoned mine shafts in Sabie, Mpumalanga, and Stilfontein, North West. GIWUSA President, Mametlwe Sebei,...

The Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) has expressed disappointment over the low representation of people with disabilities in the Limpopo Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure Department's latest recruitment drive. Out of 174 new recruits, only 3 are persons with disabilities, sparking concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the hiring process. To discuss this issue Elvis Presslin spoke...

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

Pro-democracy activists from Eswatini are set to take to the streets of Pretoria today, calling for greater political freedom and reform in their homeland. The march, organized by several pro-democracy organizations, including Swazi Lives Matter, aims to bring attention to the ongoing struggle for democracy in Eswatini, which has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. To discuss the significanc...

South Africa's education system has been dealt a devastating blow, with Grade 5 pupils ranking last out of 59 countries in mathematics and science, according to the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. While there's a glimmer of hope, with Grade 9 students showing improvement in math scores, the overall picture remains concerning. To dissect these findings and explore possib...

Pilots at South African Airways, SAA are threatening to down tools today, potentially grounding flights and disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. The strike, which could have far-reaching consequences for the already beleaguered airline, is over a dispute regarding wages and working conditions. Senior Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Aviation Expert Guy Leitch about where the strike s...

Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has sparked intense debate with his proposal to switch South Africa to a prepaid electricity system. The aim is to tackle Eskom's escalating debt, primarily caused by non-payment from municipalities and households. Molefe presented this suggestion during a recent Parliamentary session, advocating for a comprehensive prepaid system that includes municipalities. To delv...

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola is set to lead a high-level delegation to Sabie and Stilfontein to oversee the ongoing Vala Umgodi operations. In Sabie, the situation remains dire, with three bodies retrieved and eight illegal miners rescued from a hole. Ongoing rescue operations were suspended due to safety concerns and will resume today. More than 100 illegal miners remain t...

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has urged the South African Council for Educators (SACE) to cancel all teaching certificates and launch a nationwide re-registration of educators. This follows shocking revelations that 16,000 teachers allegedly have criminal records, raising serious concerns about learner safety. Makaneta believes a re-registration process, including rigorous background checks...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has raised alarm over the rising tide of violence against women and children. As the nation observes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a campaign aimed at eradicating violence against these vulnerable groups, shocking statistics from the South African Police Service paint a grim picture revealing that 14 women and chil...