First Take SA

Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams outlined to parliament some of the collaborative measures between various stakeholders to enforce regulations in the Spaza shop industry. Meanwhile IFP MP Nhlanhla Hadebe  dismissed any attempts to frame the debate on the consumption of expired and poisonous foods sold at some foreign owned spaza shops as xenophobic or afrophobic. For...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged the international community not to turn a blind eye on the situation in Palestine. Addressing the BRICS Summit Outreach and BRICS Plus in the Russian city of Kazan, Ramaphosa said Pretoria is concerned about military aggression by Israel against the people of Gaza. Chinese President Xi Jinping also agreed that the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to de...

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

Strokes claim thousands of lives annually in South Africa, leaving many more with lasting disabilities. As one of the leading global causes of death, non-communicable diseases like strokes remain a significant threat. However, doctors stress that raising awareness about stroke risk factors, early symptoms, and the importance of swift medical intervention is key to reducing stroke cases and saving...

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has expressed deep concern over Gauteng municipalities' failure to maintain water infrastructure and pay for bulk services, which they identify as major contributors to the province's ongoing water crisis. In a recent meeting with Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation, the committee addressed the critical water shortages...

The Minister of Social Development has committed that there will be an investigation into the allegations that the SASSA grant system is vulnerable to fraud and corruption. The commitment comes after two Stellenbosch University students did a study about the prevalence of fraud in the SRD grant after they discovered that they are already signed up for the grants, even though they did not apply. To...

The National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU), in collaboration with the Hawks have arrested four suspects involved in a syndicate in the production and distribution of fake license discs and operator cards in Mtubatuba, Kwazulu-Natal. It is suspected that the group was responsible for supplying a large number of fake discs and operator cards to tipper truck operators in the region. For more o...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has distanced itself from President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent remarks on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia, where he referred to Russia as a valuable ally and friend. The DA has opposed this alignment, stating that South Africa cannot associate with an authoritarian regime that blatantly violates international law. Speaking to my colleague Asharaf Gharda, the...

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) says the current approach of simply deporting illegal immigrants is a waste of resources and a Band-Aid solution that does not address the root causes of this issue. The statement comes after Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber mentioned in parliament that South Africa has spent over R52 million in just five months to deport more than 19,000 illegal immig...

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is intensifying its crackdown on illegal diesel blending operations. In recent raids on depots in Limpopo and Gauteng, SARS suspects paraffin is being mixed with diesel on a larger scale. The tax agency believes it has identified a key player in the multibillion-rand illegal fuel trade. It says these operations mark a significant move in SARS' ongoing effor...

The City of Johannesburg has fined Devland Cash and Carry for multiple fire and safety violations. During an inspection led by MMC for Public Safety, Cllr. Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, officials discovered fire hazards, goods without expiry dates, and the use of cats to control rodents. The MMC, has expressed concern over spaza shops purchasing expired goods from wholesalers like Devland and repackaging th...

The Hawks have launched an investigation into Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and her husband, Lawrence Mathae, following corruption allegations. The probe comes after claims from a businessman who alleges he gave the couple lavish gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz, after receiving government tenders. The businessman's company was awarded a R269-million contract while Letsoha-Mathae was M...

Calls for donations are growing as devastating floods continue to wreak havoc in the Eastern Cape. At least one person has died from electrocution while attempting to flee rising floodwaters. Heavy rains have left thousands of residents displaced, with Nelson Mandela Bay being the worst affected. Homes, roads, and bridges have been submerged, causing widespread destruction. Authorities are urging...

Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) has issued a warning on the dangers of illicit electrical products flooding the South African market. A recent survey by tax justice South Africa found that 78% of industry leaders are deeply concerned about the rise of non-compliant goods, such as plugs, cables, and fittings. The group fighting for tax justice says these products not only evade taxes but also endan...

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been given the greenlight to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the agreement between the SABC and the Gupta-Owned TNA Media Pty (Ltd) over the "TNA Breakfast Briefings" programme. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation dated the 18th of October 2024. The proclamation authorises the SIU to investigate se...

ActionSA's Gauteng Members of the Legislature were blocked from entering Sebokeng Hospital during a surprise oversight visit in Emfuleni. Among those denied access was ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson Funzi Ngobeni. According to the party, the refusal came despite the Members of the Legislature securing permission from the District and clearly identifying themselves to hospital officials. For more on...

The South African weather service has warned of heavy rain and flooding and has issued an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rain, with heavy downpours and potential flooding expected in parts of KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, a Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms over areas of Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to South African Weat...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today be attending the start of a 3 Day Brics Summit in Kazan, Russia. Ramaphosa and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are also expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit. This will be the first BRICS summit since the expansion of the bloc. To look into some of the Brics Summit matters Elvis Presslin spoke to RiskRecon Director and For...

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

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, with a special focus on October 20th, a day officially designated to celebrate the achievements and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome while raising awareness about the condition. Down syndrome, the most common genetic disorder, is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, also known as Trisomy 21. Each year, Down Syndrome South Africa an...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his well-wishes to the Matric Class of 2024 as they begin their final examination today. This year, a staggering 880,000 full-time and part-time candidates will sit for exams across South Africa. Additionally, around 16,000 students from private schools will undertake the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams. This significant milestone marks a crucial s...

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has called for stricter measures to tackle corruption in municipalities. During a recent presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, Salga outlined their 2023/24 annual report, stressing the need to "disbar" corrupt municipal managers and senior officials. This would prevent those guilty of misconduct from moving between...

Fana Mokoena. renowned actor turned politician has resigned as a Member of Parliament of the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Central Command Team of the Economic Freedom Fighters. Mokoena's resignation comes hot on the heel of the resignation by former Public Protecor and EFF MP Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane earlier this week. To delve more into these resignations we caught up with Political Analy...

The ANC in Limpopo last night held a memorial service for former finance minister and reserve bank governor Tito Mboweni at his home village of Nkowankowa in Tzaneen. The ANC in Limpopo says the late Tito Mboweni played a crucial role in shaping South African politics during and after Apartheid rule. We caught up with the ANC Limpopo Spokesperson Jimmy Machaka.....

Lets turn our focus on the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by Victor Kgomoesoana, 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