First Take SA

Protests over chronic water shortages in Johannesburg's Westbury and Coronationville areas turned violent yesterday, leaving one elderly man dead and several others injured. Residents blocked roads with burning tyres and debris, demanding reliable water after nearly a week without taps running. Johannesburg Water says the outages stem from ongoing maintenance, but locals say tanker deliveries aren...

Today marks three years since the devastating Jagersfontein tailings dam failure in the Free State. On the 11th of September 2022, the dam collapse flooded homes in Charlesville and Skoti, causing widespread damage. In related news, 26 victims of the disaster, along with the Kopanong Local Municipality, have launched a civil lawsuit against Jagersfontein Developments mine, seeking over three billi...

Civil rights organisation Action Society has raised concerned about the wave of violence targeting South Africa's justice system. The organisation has condemned the attacks on courts and legal professionals as a direct threat to the rule of law. This month a man awaiting a bail hearing was fatally shot at Athlone Magistrate's Court in a suspected gang-related hit, two others were wounded. Police b...

The Pretoria High Court has dismissed an application by Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya to challenge his placement on leave. The court ordered Sibiya to pay legal costs. The decision follows his suspension in July amid allegations of misconduct raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Sibiya sought to have the leave order declared unlaw...

Police in Tshwane are working to resolve a tense hostage situation in Mamelodi East's Buffer Zone. A 32-year-old police constable has been holding his grandmother, nephew, and another young boy inside a house since 8 AM yesterday. Authorities report the officer fired two shots before police arrived. Hostage negotiators and the Special Task Force are on the scene, engaging with the constable, who i...

Hamas says its leadership survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, but confirms six people were killed, including a Qatari security officer. Qatar, a key mediator in Israel-Hamas talks, condemned the strike as a "blatant violation" of international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared there would be "no immunity" for Hamas leaders, stating the attack was a response to recen...

September marks National Wills Month, shining a spotlight on one of the most overlooked aspects of financial planning. From 15 to 19 September, the Law Society of South Africa hosts Wills Week, urging citizens to draft valid wills. With over 85% of South Africans dying intestate, families face delays, disputes, and financial strain. Experts stress that a will is not just for the wealthy, it's a si...

The South African government is facing sharp criticism after representatives of the sanctioned M23 rebel group attended a peace and security dialogue in Magaliesburg, Gauteng, without proper vetting. The Thabo Mbeki Foundation hosted the event, which aimed to address conflicts across Africa. The presence of M23, just months after 14 South African soldiers were killed in clashes with the group in G...

Today is the second day of the Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia, over 60 children from 14 African countries are urging leaders to put their voices at the heart of climate policies. UNICEF warns that 51 million children across the continent face hunger, displacement, and climate shocks. The summit aim to accelerate climate solutions in response to the worsening impacts of climate change on African...

Trade union Solidarity is taking Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to court over alleged defamation, after she claimed that Solidarity and its sister organisation AfriForum led misinformation campaigns against South Africa. The union launched a defamation case against Ntshavheni, with President Cyril Ramaphosa being the second respondent in the case. Elvis Presslin spoke to Solidarit...

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe corruption and political interference in South Africa's justice system is facing criticism after revealing its findings will not be legally binding. Evidence Leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson says the Commission's role is to hold public hearings and make recommendations to the president, who will have the final say....

Today marks International Alcohol and Foetal Spectrum Disorders Day. The day highlights the risks of alcohol use for pregnant women and their unborn children. To address this, a consultant with the South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD), has spearheaded a new initiative. Julie Mac Donnell developed "Pregnancy and Substance Use", a toolkit designed for South African healthcare profe...

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

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will open the 12th SA AIDS Conference today at Emperor's Palace in Gauteng. The event gathers leaders, researchers, academics and advocates from South Africa and beyond to tackle the ongoing fight against HIV and its management. Elvis Presslin spoke to Public Health Specialist at Anova Health Institute and SA AIDS Conference 2025 Co-Chairperson, Dr. Kate Rees

MK Member of Parliament Visvin Reddy has slammed the exorbitant payments made to water board executives. According to a parliamentary response from Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, senior board members earn nearly R50-million a year in fees, with some pocketing up to R100,000 for a single meeting. Reddy calls this a blatant misuse of funds, accusing water boards of becoming cash cows...

Shell and the South African government have applied for leave to appeal a High Court ruling that halted offshore drilling along the West Coast. Last month, the Western Cape High Court overturned environmental approval for exploration in Block 5,6 and 7 pointing to inadequate assessments of oil spill risks, climate impacts and effects on coastal communities. The case was brought by The Green Connec...

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has condemned the killing of insolvency lawyer Bouwer van Niekerk, who was shot at his Johannesburg office on Friday. The Minister expressed her condolences to van Niekerk's family, friends and colleagues. Authorities are investigating but no motive has been established. Elvis Presslin spoke to Terrence Manase, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Justice and Constitut...

The South African Human Rights Commission has slammed unlawful evictions carried out by municipalities, law enforcement and private security firms. The Commission says these actions breach the Constitution and the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act. The Commission also criticized Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's recent comments about conducting evictions in the early hours, calling them "inhumane,...

The Gauteng Health Department is urging parents and guardians to urgently sign consent forms to allow children to receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine amid an ongoing outbreak. The department says the six-week vaccination drive, running until September 12th, aims to protect over 3 million children, yet fewer than a million have been reached so far. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mari van der Westhuizen, C...

Former EFF and MK Party member Floyd Shivambu will today announce the results of the Mayibuye's Consultation Process at a press conference. The nationwide initiative, led by Shivambu, has engaged communities, traditional leaders and civic groups to explore forming a new political movement for the 2026 local government elections. The process aims to address issues like inequality and social upliftm...

The taxi strike that brought eThekwini to a standstill is over. Taxis are back on the roads today after Durban taxi operators and KZN transport officials reached an agreement late last night. Yesterday, thousands of commuters were stranded as operators joined the South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO's call for a stay-away over delays in issuing operating licenses and the impounding of taxi...

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 Democratic Alliance has welcomed Stellenbosch Mayor Jeremy Fasser's call for a special Council meeting today to address allegations of racism against Acting Corporate Services Director Alexander Kannemeyer. The DA is pushing for Kannemeyer's dismissal after a video surfaced showing him making racially charged remarks about white employees. In the footage, Kannemeyer suggests making life diffic...

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is facing increasing pressure to abandon its proposed amendments to the National Credit Act, particularly a controversial provision allowing student loans and education-related debt to be listed with credit bureaus. Elvis Presslin spoke to Thato Masekoa, Spokesperson of the South African Union of Students (SAUS)... 

The South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO in KwaZulu-Natal is threatening a two-day strike over taxi impoundments in the province. SANTACO is demanding the provincial government to address the issue and threatening to halt all taxi operations across the province if their demands are not met. Elvis Presslin spoke to Sifiso Shangase, Spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council, S...