First Take SA

It's now time to take a look at 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....

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has released a study examining women's access to communal land in the North West, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape provinces. The findings reveal that patriarchal norms and traditional structures often limit women's land ownership, frequently requiring them to rely on a male relative or child. Elvis Presslin spoke to chairperson of The Commission for Gender Equali...

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has unveiled the key findings of the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey for the Eastern Cape province. The survey results revealed Between 2017 and 2022, HIV prevalence in the Eastern Cape stabilized, decreasing slightly from 15.9% to 13.7%. This equates to around 980,000 people living with HIV in the province in 2022, dow...

The Department of Justice has refuted claims that it blocked the NPA's Investigative Directorate from obtaining vital evidence from the State Capture Commission. This response comes after reports surfaced, alleging that the NPA had been unable to access key state capture digital evidence for more than two years. The reports further indicated that the NPA and the Investigating Directorate had compl...

Gauteng police are probing the deaths of four learners in the province. This after three siblings fell ill at the Evaton Primary School in Sebokeng and one grade 8 learner from the Tsakane Secondary School. According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the learners from Evaton Primary, who were in Grades 3, 4 and 5 were rushed to a local medical facility, where they were declared dead. Simphiw...

The Msunduzi Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal has cut off water and electricity to 23 schools due to unpaid bills totaling over R32 million owed by the provincial education department. This action, which comes just two weeks before the Grade 12 trial exams, is part of a broader crackdown by the municipality on overdue municipal services and rates. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mzimkhulu Thebolla, the mayo...

The Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron says he welcomes the dismissal of the head of crime intelligence in the Western Cape, Mzwandile Tiyo, from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The dismissal follows a Section 34 inquiry to establish his fitness to hold office following allegations that he lost both a laptop and a firearm and also used crime intelligenc...

Thousands of patients are reportedly bearing the brunt as Gauteng's two largest cancer-treatment hospitals; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, continue to buckle under the sheer number of patients requiring urgent care. The situation was thrust into the spotlight after the Cancer Alliance, which represents 30 groups of cancer advocates, launched a cou...

The Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco's) inspectorate team, in collaboration with police, is intensifying efforts to combat ticket fraud. This crackdown has led to the apprehension of 28 individuals involved in fraudulent activities, including one suspect who was caught with multiple counterfeit tickets, allegedly trying to sell them to passengers. This comes on the heels of February's c...

South African and Lesotho officials have been accused of enabling sex trafficking. The damning 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US State Department reveals how corrupt officials in both countries are complicit in the sex trafficking of Basotho women into South Africa, allowing the illicit practice to persist with "impunity". For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Kekeletso Moto...

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency on the continent. The health body says over 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been recorded on the continent, with a total of 18 countries affected by the outbreak. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Foster Mohale, Spokesperson for the National Department of Health

Outgoing Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has blamed his predecessor, Herman Mashaba, for the poor state of service delivery in the city. This follows Gwamanda's resignation yesterday as Mayor. Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA Gauteng provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni

The Democratic Alliance will today stage a protest outside the North Gauteng High Court, where the accused in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal will face pre-trial proceedings. The party is demonstrating against the alleged embezzlement of pensioners' savings and municipal funds, which were reportedly used to finance the extravagant lifestyles of politicians and officials. To discuss this further Elvis...

Build One South Africa (BOSA) Leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, will today lead a protest against gun violence at the Motherwell Police Station in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The community has been plagued by a recent surge in gun violence, leaving families shattered and demanding justice. In a recent brazen attack a gang of armed men stormed a school's awards ceremony in Motherwell at the weekend, firing mul...

The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in a case by lobby group, My Vote Counts, challenging the Electoral Matters Amendment Act, which permits political parties to accept unlimited donations.  They argue that the annual donation limit should remain capped at R15 million, with all contributions exceeding R100,000 being declared. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Joel Bregman, sen...

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg is expected to hear a legal challenge by former President, Jacob Zuma and the Umkhonto Wesizwe party, against the use of the term 'Government of National Unity' by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). In papers before the court, they have argued that the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) and...

Healthcare workers have downed tools at Mpumalanga's Themba Hospital in Kabokweni, outside White River. The protest comes after hospital staff members were allegedly held at gunpoint by two men who were demanding that their friend be attended to ahead of everyone else already in line. In response to the incident, National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, has called for more conducive a...

The Gauteng Department of Education has expressed deep sorrow following news of the deaths of four learners in two seperate incidents. In the first incident, three siblings enrolled at Evaton Primary School in Sebokeng, south of the province, reportedly fell ill at around 08:00 yesterday morning. Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona says two of the learners, a girl in Grade 3 and a boy in Grade 4...

The inquest into the tragic deaths of 21 underaged patrons at the Enyobeni tavern is expected to resume today at the East London Regional Court, in the Eastern Cape. The aim of the inquest is to determine whether anyone can be held criminally responsible, either by action or inaction, for the June 2022 deaths in Scenery Park, East London. The court is hearing the case following a Human Rights Comm...

The Gauteng Department of Health has noted a recent ruling by the Special Tribunal which invalidated and set aside a R257 million COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contract awarded to Nkhane Projects and Supply by the Department. The matter was brought before the Tribunal, a court with similar status to the High Court, by the Special Investigating Unit after the unit found that the cont...

Elvis Presslin takes a look at the top business stories coming out of Africa with 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

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has strongly condemned the loss of civilian lives following an Israeli air strike on a school building, in Gaza, on Saturday. The attack claimed the lives of over 70 people who had sought refuge in the building. The United Nations reports that, as of last Tuesday, 477 of Gaza's 564 school buildings have been directly hit or damaged, with more than a dozen targeted...

Three Mexican nationals and two South Africans, facing charges of drug manufacturing and dealing, will continue their bail hearings at the Groblersdal Magistrate's Court this week. The court has directed the state to present a photo album showing the crime scene, after a group of suspects was arrested during a raid by the Hawks, where a massive illicit drug lab was discovered at Thaba Monate farm...

In a historic moment for South Africa, Mia le Roux has been crowned Miss South Africa 2024, making her the first hearing-impaired winner in the pageant's 66-year history. The 28-year-old from Oudtshoorn, diagnosed with profound hearing loss at just one year old, captured the judges' hearts with her vision for an inclusive society, stating that she aims to teach the included to embrace those who ar...

Police minister, Senzo Mchunu says his department is emphasizing the safety and security of South African citizens as investigations continue into the latest discovery of a suspected military training facility, this time at a farm in the Limpopo province. This comes after the Hawks discovered numerous licensed firearms, rifles and ammunition at the farm in Modimolle, last Thursday. Mchunu's Spokes...