First Take SA

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...

Minister Thembi Simelane has been moved from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development to the Ministry of Human Settlements, while Mmamoloko Kubayi takes over as the new Justice Minister. The move comes as Simelane continues to face scrutiny over her alleged involvement in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, which has left many questioning whether her new role will provide redemption or simp...

Eskom, has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to approve a 36.1% electricity price hike from April 2025, a 11.8% price increase in 2026 and an 9.1% increase in 2027. BOSA Leader Mmusi Maimane is set to lead a picket today against NERSA's proposed electricity tariff increase, which is expected to exacerbate the economic hardship faced by many South Africans. The picket will ta...

The Gauteng High Court has ruled that the South African Police Service breached a court order by restricting essential supplies to miners trapped underground in Stilfontein, North West. The judgment comes after an urgent contempt application by the Mining Affected Communities United in Action. For insight, Elvis Presslin spoke to Koketso Phasha, Spokesperson for the General Industries Workers Unio...

The Office of Deputy President Paul Mashatile has announced that arrangements are underway to return a precious stone gifted to his wife, Humile Mashatile. The gift was from controversial diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg, who is currently facing multiple charges, including fraud, racketeering, and theft. To shed more light on this development, Elvis Presslin spoke to Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperso...

The Western Cape has made significant strides in securing equal access to schools for all learners. Following litigation by Equal Education (EE) and parent applicants, the Western Cape High Court ruled that out-of-school learners must be placed in schools for the remainder of 2024. A significant move that has been welcomed by Equal Education. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Ntsikie Dlulan...

Former MK Party convener Mary Phadi is set to challenge her expulsion from the party at the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela today. Phadi's dismissal was sparked by allegations of mismanagement of party funds and her purported involvement in an assassination plot. Party leader Jacob Zuma terminated Phadi's membership following the allegations. For more on today's court hearing, Ms. Phadi spoke to...

The ANC-led coalition in Tshwane has decided not to pay historical salary increases to city officials. This decision comes after the coalition had initially promised to pay the increases. The city is contesting rulings that denied its requests for exemptions from the 3.5% and 5.4% salary hikes. Their argument is that these increases could exacerbate financial instability and compromise essential s...

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the fate of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial structure will be decided within the next two weeks. This comes after a meeting between the ANC National Working Committee and the KZN PEC in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. The meeting aimed to address the challenges facing the ANC in KZN, following its poor performance in the May 29 elections, where it secured onl...

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 Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has highlighted road safety as a critical issue as South Africa marks 30 years of democracy a milestone celebrated alongside pressing challenges. Speaking at the launch of the festive season road safety campaign, Creecy echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa's call to address the alarming statistics outlined in the 2023 Road Traffic Management Corporation repor...

The head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, has clarified that there is no plan within BRICS to establish a common currency. Instead, discussions are focused on member states trading in their own currencies. This comes in the wake of the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatening 100 percent tariffs against BRICS countries, including South Africa, unless they abandon any notion of creating a...

KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma is set to meet with representatives of the taxi industry this week to address their grievances. This comes after the Durban Long Distance Taxi Association launched a strike on Friday, leaving commuters stranded. The strike stems from ongoing tensions with the government over operating permits and the release of impounded taxis. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke...

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has announced its intention to independently contest the 2026 Local Government Elections, breaking away from its longstanding alliance with the African National Congress (ANC). The party plans to finalize its strategy at its 5th Special National Conference in two weeks. This move follows its previous independent participation in the Metsimaholo Municipality...

The ANC's National Working Committee is set to convene with KwaZulu-Natal's Provincial Executive Committee today. The meeting will focus on addressing key organizational challenges identified during recent provincial visits. Speculation is rife that the PEC may be dissolved and replaced with a provincial task team, a move linked to the province's disappointing performance in the May 29 elections....