First Take SA

More than 30 thousand security guards are unable to access medical insurance and other benefits due to non-payment by private security companies. This was revealed in a statement by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA. The Union says companies are deducting money from workers but not paying the service provider. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to NUMSA's National Spoke...

Video analysis of the footage on the alleged gun firing incident at the EFF's fifth birthday celebrations in 2018 took center stage in the East London regional court yesterday during the trial of EFF leader, Julius Malema, and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman. The duo faces charges of the illegal possession of a firearm, contravention of the Firearms Control Act, the illegal possession of ammunition,...

There is more bad news for businesses that are already weathering the impact of the electricity crisis - The price of fuel for both grades has gone up. This follows the announcement by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy that fuel prices were set to increase. Both grades of petrol have increased by 28 cents per liter; while diesel has increased by nine-point-one cents per liter as of mi...

Flavio Hlabangwane has been found guilty of premeditated murder, defeating the ends of justice, and violating a corpse by the Johannesburg high court. Hlabangwane confessed to killing his girlfriend and cousin Tshepang Pitse, saying he plotted to do so after discovering she had been unfaithful to him. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Zodwa Zwane, family spokesperson and former personal as...

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party's Lekgotla has reached a consensus to declare South Africa's energy crisis a National State of Disaster. President Ramaphosa made the announcement yesterday at the party's Lekgotla at Esselen Park in Ekurhuleni - As the country grapples with Stage 4 load shedding. The DA has repeatedly called for a ring-fenced declaration of a state of disaster around E...

Johannesburg Water says it is monitoring severely constrained reservoirs and towers, impacted by the recent power failure at the Eikenhof pump station. There has been a reduction in the water supply to several pump stations affecting several suburbs in the metro. The affected areas include Parktown, Winchester Hills, and Roodepoort among others. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg Wat...

Time to take 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

It was another busy news weekend - with the ANC who plan to end load shedding before the end of the year or reduce it to Stage 2. This was revealed at the party's NEC Lekgotla at Esslen Park east of Johannesburg at the weekend. In the same breath, there have been murmurs of Deputy President David Mabuza's imminent resignation to pave the way for Paul Mashatile. And in KZN, former President Jacob Z...

A faction of the South African National Civic Organisation, SANCO is challenging the legitimacy of former President Jacob Zuma's election as its provincial chairperson in KZN. Sizwe Cele who claims to be the legitimate SANCO provincial secretary says the two-day conference in Durban which elected Jacob Zuma was a sham. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Cele and Thulani Gamede, SANCO's...

The water crisis in Nelson Mandela Bay is becoming even more dire as dam levels are steadily decreasing by the day. Residents in the drought-stricken municipality have been warned to use water sparingly, as municipal officials ramp up emergency measures to mitigate the situation. Some residents sought divine intervention and gathered to pray for rain at the Gelvandale Stadium yesterday.  For more...

Is nuclear power key to meeting South Africa's energy needs? As Eskom continues to grapple with deep structural and maintenance problems and citizens continue to endure Stages 4 and 5 load shedding this week, we examine nuclear power as an alternative energy source - As Eskom tries to complete the refurbishment of its flagship nuclear facility Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town. For more o...

The City of Johannesburg's Mayor Mpho Phalatse has been ousted in a motion of no-confidence for a second time. About 140 councilors voted for the motion while 120 councilors voted against it. The motion was tabled by three parties - the African Transformation Movement, African Independent Congress (AIC), and Al-Jamah-Ah party. To further discuss this we Elvis Presslin spoke to Democratic Alliance...

Time to take 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

Disgruntled Queenstown residents in the Eastern Cape have vowed to continue protesting until power is restored in the area. Enoch Mgijima Municipality residents shut down the town center calling on the ANC in the province to address the constant power cuts and other service delivery issues. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Loyiso Magqashela, ANC PEC spokesperson in the Eastern Cape

Economists are expecting the South African Reserve Bank to deliver another hefty interest rate hike today when it announces the decision of its monetary policy committee. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Tertia Jacobs, an economist at Investec

The South African Medical Association Trade Union, Samatu will march in four provinces today, to demand the employment of medical doctors in hospitals. The Union has criticized the national health department, accusing it of failing to employ doctors who completed their mandatory community service. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Samatu General Secretary Dr. Cedric Sihlangu and  Dr. Percy...

Three motions of no confidence have been filed by minority opposition parties to remove Johannesburg Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse. Phalatse was reinstated after the Patriotic Alliance left the DA-led multiparty coalition in the City of Johannesburg in September last year and went on to vote for a motion that removed her as City mayor. But during the same month, the high court in Johannesburg found that...

The Democratic Alliance will be marching to the ANC's headquarters, Luthuli House today against load shedding and high electricity tariffs. Judgment has been reserved in the DA's challenge against the ANC's cadre deployment policy, which it says has contributed to the issues at Eskom. Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC National Spokesperson, Pule Mabe

The Democratic Alliance will be marching to Luthuli House today to protest against load shedding and high electricity tariffs. The party says through the policy of cadre deployment, incompetent ANC cadres were deployed to destroy Eskom. Corrupt tenders for power stations were handed out, and SA is left with load shedding. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the DA National Spokesperson, Cill...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the Eskom board to postpone its pending 18.65% electricity tariff hike approved by the National Energy Regular of South Africa, Nersa. His intervention comes amid growing calls for protests and boycotts against the hike which comes into effect in April this year. For more on this, Udo Carelse spoke to Political analyst Dr. Ebrahim Harvey.

Members of the Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association are taking the ANC to court over the disbandment of the veterans association. The MKMVA recently filed court papers to have the decision to disband them overturned. The MKMVA was disbanded in 2021. For more on this, Udo Carelse spoke to MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus...

Time to take 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...

Civil rights organization, Action Society SA has reported that 43 shooting incidents occurred this past weekend on the notorious gang-ridden Cape Flats, in the Western Cape. The organization says there were several fatalities reported. For more on this, Udo Carelse spoke to Ian Cameron, the Director for Community Safety at Action Society SA.

Aggrieved Free State ANC members are threatening legal action over the results of the party's 9th provincial conference in Bloemfontein. The group is questioning the validity of the results, saying conference processes were not fair. Former Free State ANC treasurer, Mxolisi Dukwana, has been elected as the new party chairperson. For some analysis, Elvis Presslin spoke to political analyst from the...

The Democratic Alliance will today challenge the ANC's cadre deployment policy in the North Gauteng High Court. The opposition party wants the court to declare the policy unlawful and unconstitutional. The DA says cadre deployment exacerbates South Africa's economic, social, and governance woes. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA National Spokesperson, Cilliers Brink