First Take SA

Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer are increasingly becoming a public health crisis in South Africa. Diabetes, particularly Type 2, is the leading cause of death, making up over 90% of all diabetes cases. According to Percept, a Cape Town-based consulting firm, nearly 5.6 million South Africans were living with diabetes in 2019, with projections ind...

Today, President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a working visit to Angola, where he will meet with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. The two leaders will use this opportunity to review the bilateral relationship between their countries. They will also discuss regional mutual interests, including the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the broader efforts to resolve con...

The Hawks In Ventersdorp, in the North West province, have arrested a school principal and an education department circuit manager for allegedly selling teaching positions for R15,000 each. The two were arrested following an investigation into allegations of corruption in the appointment teachers in Ventersdorp and surrounding areas. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to North West Hawks Spokes...

The NPA's Investigating Directorate (ID) says it will promptly reinstate the R280 million Estina dairy farm fraud and corruption case. This follows the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein removing the matter from the roll yesterday. The trial, which involves former minister Mosebenzi Zwane and 15 others, was originally set to run from August 5th to September 13th. The case centers around alleged...

The Democratic Alliance says it intends to refer the management of the Nasi iSpani programme and Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi to the office of the Public Protector for investigation, for what the party calls irresponsible promises made by Lesufi to thousands of job seeker. The DA says it wants answers after 32 000 teaching assistants, who were employed on a contractual basis through the Nasi iS...

The Department of Home Affairs says it has found prima facie evidence that the woman registered as the mother of Miss SA contestant, Chidimma Adetshina, may have committed identity fraud and identity theft when registering Adetshina. In a statement released last night, Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber says Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as...

King Jacob Lleka Kekana who claims ownership of over 56 million hectares of South African land through title deeds has been fighting for recognition as the monarch of 12 tribes of Amandebele. His extensive land claims span to four provinces: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and Gauteng. Despite this, the democratic government of South Africa has not recognized his status as a monarch. King Kekana...

The ANC in Johannesburg says plans are afoot to recall Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda. According to ANC Joburg spokesperson Masilo Serekele, it's only a matter of days before the city appoints a new mayor. Calls for Gwamanda's resignation have grown louder amid allegations of corruption, inadequate service delivery, and the controversial R200 electricity surcharge impacting low-income residents. For more o...

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is today kicking off the inaugural two-day National Joint Sitting of the Council of Mayors and Speakers in Polokwane, Limpopo.  Mayors and Speakers from all 257 of the country's municipalities will convene in an effort to tackle critical issues in municipal governance and service delivery. The sitting is the first of its kind, following the Go...

RISE Mzansi says the party's Western Cape convener, Axolile Notywala will be joining the GOOD party caucus, as one of the latter's councilors in the City of Cape Town. The party says the move will strengthen its commitment to exploring long-term collaboration with the GOOD Party, following the 2024 national elections. In a statement announcing Notywala's appointment, the party said the poll result...

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has welcomed an announcement by newly-appointed Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson that his department will be initiating an independent investigation into the procurement and renovation of the South African Police Service headquarters, in Pretoria. The Telkom Towers Building was purchased in the year 2016 for over R700 million, and d...

National Student Financial Aid Scheme says scheme is grappling to address a range of challenges, some of which have remained unresolved since 2017. Speaking to members of the media yesterday, Nomvalo highlighted some of the key issues, including the delay in reports from 2017 to 2023, unreliable payment systems, late accommodation payments and the delayed finalization of appeals for the 2024 acade...

The disturbing images of a group of gun and panga-wielding men violently removing two learners from the Matshidisong Primary School in Katlehong, on Gauteng's East Rand, have brought to the fore, the issue of custody battles and how the conduct of the adults in a child's life, can impact the child. This as four out of five men arrested in connection with the incident are expected to appear before...

The Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ultra Galaxy, which has been stranded near Lutzville on the Cape west coast since July, has broken into four sections, resulting in an oil spill. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) confirmed the incident, adding that measures are being taken to prevent further fuel and oil spillage, and to salvage the ship's fertiliser cargo. Samsa says it has acti...

The Gauteng Department of Education has expressed vehement condemnation of a violent incident in which two learners were removed from Matshidiso Primary School, in Ekurhuleni, by a group of men brandishing a gun and pangas. The department says police are investigating after video footage of the incident went viral on social media platforms yesterday. Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona says the...

The Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa (TAPSOSA) is calling for an inclusive approach in rooting out rogue elements within the private security sector. This call comes after the discovery of 95 Libyans at a suspected military training camp disguised as a legitimate training site in White River, Mpumalanga. The association says an investigation should be launched into security f...

Johannesburg's MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso has called for a swift investigation into the death of Economic Freedom Fighters councillor, Moshe Mphahlele. Mabaso expressed concern after Mphahlele was shot and killed on Sunday, when police and private security officers were evicting persons occupying containers erected to provide shelter during the Covid-19 pandemic, in Johannesburg's...

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 Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has urged prospective principals of customary initiation schools, to apply for permits in order to operate during the upcoming 2024 Summer initiation season. The Committee says applications are open for both male and female initiation schools. The call follows recent concerns by the Commission for Gender Equality, which noted what it calls a...

The South African Communist Party says it takes a critical but non-oppositionist stance towards the Government of National Unity. The party was commemorating its 103-rd anniversary in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats on Sunday. General Secretary, Solly Mapaila says the SACP's structures will have to decide on the future of its role within the Triparite Alliance.  Mapaila has criticised what he descri...

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa has disclosed that President Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential izimbizo events have cost taxpayers a substantial R44 million over just four events. The four events were held over an 8-month period, with the aim of addressing public service delivery concerns and providing a platform for citizens to voice their complaints and...

The African National Congress' National Executive Committee has reflected on the party's electoral losses at the 29 May polls and vows to take decisive action in order to restore support. ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa told delegates attending the party's National Executive Committee Lekgotla, that the party will crack the whip on underperforming deployees. Ramaphosa made the comments during his o...

Over 150 homeless individuals in Cape Town's CBD have chosen to move to Safe Space shelters as eviction plans loom. This follows the Western Cape High Court  authorizing the eviction of those living under bridges, effective from 1st of August. The City of Cape Town plans to assist with voluntary relocations to shelters like Ebenezer Safe Space in Green Point and Culemborg Safe Space, ensuring acce...

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has responded to DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille's assertion that there is no government of national unity (GNU). Mbalula says the ANC won't beg Zille and the DA to remain in the Government Of National Unity, citing the party's 40% share of the vote. This follows Zille's comments at a Friedrich Naumann Foundation event, where she denied the existence...

The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee has condemned "malicious and unethical" attacks on boxer Imane Khelif, accused of being transgender. The committee says the claims are "lies" and "unjust" as Khelif prepares for the Olympics. This follows previous criticism and a ban from the World Championships against Khelif due to failed testosterone and gender eligibility tests. Khelif won her Olympic...