First Take SA

The Garden Route in the Western Cape is bracing itself for more damaging spring tides, which have caused widespread destruction along the coastline. A 93-year-old woman died after sustaining injuries, after being caught in a wave at a beach in Wilderness, near George. The sea has caused havoc -- damaging municipal infrastructure and private properties. The South African Weather Services says the c...

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 Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union says the alleged suicide of a young pregnant mother-to-be at Kopanong Hospital, could have been prevented. 26 year old Refilwe Thamae allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside a bathroom at Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging. Thamae was reportedly suffering from a mental illness and was displaying abnormal behaviour. For more on this Elvis...

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Mondli Gungubele, has apologised to SASSA grant recipients for the technical glitch at the Post Bank. This  has left about a half million SASSA beneficiaries destitute after they failed to receive their monthly stipend. The glitch was caused when Post Bank upgraded its payment system. Gungubele together with Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zul...

BUILD ONE South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane says Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, has one of the highest unemployment rates in South Africa, with a large number of young people without jobs. On Wednesday, Maimane led a march against unemployment and corruption in the City, as part of his nationwide engagements ahead of his party's one-year anniversary on Heritage Day. The party says it's agai...

Former Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane plans to challenge her removal from office. President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Mkhwebane from office following a majority vote by the national assembly to impeach her after a Section 194 process found her guilty of misconduct and incompetence. Mkhwebane is the first Chapter 9 head to be fired. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate Busi...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU is threatening to go on strike if the City of Tshwane fails to pay salary increases. This after the City announced its intentions to challenge the bargaining council's decision to immediately pay a 5.4% wage increase promised to workers in 2021. The City has cited its financial woes for not being able to pay salary increases for the 2023 financial...

Civil Society group, the People's Movement for Change (PMC), will today march to the Cape Town Civic Centre to outline its concerns to city Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Key issues to be highlighted include high electricity and water tariffs, unfair treatment of informal traders and unemployment among a myriad of other issues. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Siya Nyeka, Head of Communication...

BUILD ONE South Africa will today host a march against unemployment and corruption in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The march will be led by the organisation's leader Mmusi Maimane, protesting against alleged job-killing corruption at the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), which has cost the people of Nelson Mandela R781 million in funding so far.  The party says this is part of its nationwide engag...

The Special Investigating Unit, SIU is considering legal action against former Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter for authorizing a private Investigation into corruption at the power utility. The Unit was briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa about an intelligence report commissioned by de Ruyter into sabotage and looting at Eskom. De Ruyter commissioned the report without authorizatio...

The City of Tshwane has served seven bus services employees with intended letters of dismissal. The seven employees dubbed "strike instigators" by the City, were served with notice for supporting the furtherance of the prolonged illegal SAMWU strike. Five of the seven employees are SAMWU shop stewards. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to City of Tshwane Spokesperson, Selby Bokaba

The City of Joburg has begun collecting unpaid rates and services bills from indebted ratepayers at roadblocks. The City plans to post finance officers at certain roadblocks in an effort to collect outstanding revenue for water, electricity, rates and taxes. For a reaction on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Wayne Duvenage, CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, OUTA

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality says its gearing up to recover around R1.6 Billion in municipal services debt. The municipality says the main culprits are businesses who have failed to pay for water and electricity, which has put a strain on the Metro's revenue collection. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Councilor Khanya Ngqisha, MMC for Infrastructure and Engineering in the Me...

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in partnership with the Law Society of South Africa and other participating stakeholders, officially opened the National Wills Week campaign at Thohoyandou In Limpopo. The Wills Week initiative affords members of the public an opportunity to learn about the significance of Wills and how to draft them. Master of the High Court offices in all...

The National Assembly has voted to remove suspended public protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane from office. Mkhwebane was impeached with a vote of 318 for, 43 against and one abstention in the National Assembly yesterday. She is the first Public Protector to be removed, just weeks before her seven-year term expires in mid-October. Mkhwebane's removal follows a Section 194 Committee report which...

Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back brings us the top African Economic stories. Victor is also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo

The passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has renewed discussions about the legacy he leaves behind. Messages of condolence have been pouring in following his death on Saturday at his home in KwaZulu-Natal . The 95 has been described as a patriot and freedom fighter who contributed immensely to South Africa's democracy and the Zulu nation. But his critics remember Shenge, as he is affectionately...

September 11th 2022, will forever haunt the families of Jagersfontein, who were displaced when the mine dam collapsed. To date many residents are at the end of their tethers, with their livelihoods taking a turn for the worst. Government says legal disputes are hindering the progress of building houses for the affected families. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Human rights attorney Richar...

A memorial service will be held today for the victims of the Albert Street fire in Johannesburg's city centre. Last week a fire tore through the five-story Usindiso Centre for Women and Children, killing 77 people and leaving scores other injured, in the illegally occupied building. The South African Council of Churches in Gauteng will host the memorial service at the Central Methodist Church in t...

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NSPCA has opened a criminal case against Julius Malema for animal cruelty. The organisation says it received complaints after a video of Malema slaughtering a cow went viral on the social media platforms. The slaughtering of the cow was done as part of the party's 10th anniversary celebrations in July. To further discuss this Elvis Pre...

Transnet Freight Rail has appointed Voestalpine South Africa to manufacture and supply turnout sets for the next three years. This as the railway company seeks to improve and advance its railway solutions to boost the South African economy. The turnout sets and components for this project will be manufactured at VAESA's Isando facility in Johannesburg. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Voes...

The United Democratic Movement, UDM and African Transformation Movement, ATM are calling for a secret ballot when suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane faces a vote of removal from office in Parliament. The Section 194 Committee recently adopted a final report which recommended her removal. The parties wrote to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, requesting for a secret ball...

ActionSA in Johannesburg has slammed the Democratic Alliance for voting with the ANC to increase the salaries of all councillors. ActionSA says the salary hikes will cost the city an additional R5.5 million per year, or R20,000 per councillor. The party says the money could be better used to improve service delivery in the city. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Councillor Strike Ram...

Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says pregnant women who consume alcohol must be criminally charged. She was speaking at an event to raise awareness on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Ndwedwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal. This as September marks Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders awareness month. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Vivien Lourens, founder of the Fetal Alcoh...

The South African Municipal Workers' Union in the Free State will today march to Matjhabeng Local municipality to voice their grievances. Members of the Union, along with workers at the municipality are expected to deliver a memorandum of demands to Executive Mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Vusi Xaba, SAMWU's Secretary in the Matjhabeng Local municipality