First Take SA

Trade unions, civic groups and pro-Palestine activists are protesting across South Africa today, opposing the government's coal exports to Israel amid the ongoing Hamas and Israel conflict. Demonstrations are expected outside the Department of Trade and Industry in several provinces. Protesters claim South Africa's coal supplies fuel Israel's energy needs, powering systems used to profile Palestin...

ActionSA has slammed the Department of Health for approving radio ads claiming vaping is as harmful as smoking cigarettes. The party calls the statement false and misleading, citing scientific evidence that vaping poses fewer risks than combustible cigarettes. ActionSA accuses the Department of spreading propaganda and undermining Parliament by presenting unpassed provisions of the Tobacco Product...

Civil society group My Vote Counts has criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to raise the annual political donation limit to R30 million from R15 million and the disclosure threshold to R200,000 from R100,000. Senior Researcher Joel Bregman told our senior producer, Ronald Phiri, that the changes will reduce transparency in political funding, potentially allowing private interests to exe...

A suspect is in custody following a violent attack on three Democratic Alliance MPs in Philippi, Cape Town. The incident occurred shortly after an oversight visit to the SAPS Training College. Chairperson of Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee, Ian Cameron, along with DA MPs Lisa-Maré Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell, were ambushed by men armed with bricks who smashed their vehicle's w...

Today marks the anniversary of the United Democratic Front's launch In 1983, In Cape Town's Rocklands Community Centre, Mitchell's Plain. The UDF, a major anti-apartheid coalition, united groups to oppose the Apartheid Government's Tricameral Constitution, which offered limited rights to Indians and Coloureds while excluding Blacks entirely. The launch was strategically timed to coincide with the...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA has reached a settlement with Goodyear Tyres, bringing relief to over 900 workers affected by the closure of the Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape after 78 years of operation. Each employee will receive a lump sum severance package starting at approximately R100,000, along with additional non-financial benefits. Although Goodyear declined t...

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

Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has dismissed allegations of irregular payments and nepotism at Mogalakwena Local Municipality. The claims surfaced on a social media account allegedly run by Mogalakwena Municipal Manager Morris Montengo Maluleka. According to the post, Premier Ramathuba and Cooperative Governance MEC Basikopo Makamu supposedly directed Maluleka to process suspicious transacti...

The e-Hailing Partners Council is marching today to the Gauteng Legislature and provincial Roads and Transport Department to protest ongoing issues. The group accuses the departments of failing to issue operating permits, conducting unfair vehicle impoundments and neglecting to integrate efficient transport systems. They also claim the Taxi Violence Police unit has not been deployed to key areas l...

The ANC has sharply criticized two of its National Executive Committee members, Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu, for recent public remarks. This after Gigaba claimed the ANC has "lost its way" and failed to achieve its goals, while also calling for the postponement of the National Dialogue held this past weekend. Mchunu warned that the party is on the verge of collapse. The ANC labelled their state...

The DA in Johannesburg has slammed City Power's plan to cut electricity to entire neighbourhoods unless 80% of households prove legitimate vending compliance. The DA calls the policy unconstitutional, unlawful and unfair, arguing it punishes paying customers and harms vulnerable residents. The party is demanding the City to scrap the blanket disconnection plan immediately. Elvis Presslin spoke to...

AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa has called for a major political overhaul in South Africa. Speaking at the 13th anniversary of the Marikana massacre near Rustenburg, in the North West, Mathunjwa proposed reducing the country's over 600 registered political parties to just two. Mathunjwa argues this would streamline governance and address ongoing challenges. Elvis Presslin spoke to AMCU President,...

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has revealed a questionable European trip by seven Transport Department officials, who travelled to France and Amsterdam to inspect a smart card printing machine for driver's licenses, only to reportedly examine the wrong one. A video shared on X shows the group toasting in Amsterdam, raising concerns about the trip's purpose amid a 600,000-driver's licens...

The South African Communist Party, SACP, has questioned the criticism surrounding SANDF chief Rudzane Maphwanya's recent visit to Iran. Iranian media reports that Maphwanya praised Iran's military capabilities, suggesting potential cooperation with South Africa to promote mutual interests and global security. However, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO has clarified t...

The South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO, has slammed false social media claims suggesting it ordered private motorists not to carry passengers. The council says taxi use is voluntary and only law enforcement can regulate transport. This follows the tragic killing of an e-hailing driver at Maponya Mall in Soweto, where he was allegedly shot by disgruntled taxi operators. His vehicle, along...

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 National E-hailing Federation of South Africa (NEFSA) has condemned the brutal murder of an e-hailing driver at Maponya Mall in Soweto. One person was burned to death and two others were shot and wounded in the attack on Wednesday night. The federation demands urgent intervention from authorities, Maponya Mall, and industry bodies to end transport violence. Elvis Presslin spoke to Tella Masaka...

The National Dialogue which kicks off today continues to draw attention as South Africans seek solutions to the country's socioeconomic issues. The Dialogue has sparked debate, with anti-corruption and Social Justice activist Dr. Makhosi Khoza questioning the selection of participants. In a statement, Khoza criticized the dominance of English and Afrikaans in business and education, which reported...

The PinkDrive, in partnership with Rio Tinto and the Department of Health, has launched a mobile cancer screening campaign to reach underserved communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga. The organisation says the initiative running until the end of August, aims to screen over 12,000 people for various cancers and health conditions, while providing vital health educat...

At least one person was reportedly burned to death and two others shot and wounded after two e-hailing vehicles were attacked at Maponya Mall in Soweto last night. The police have opened a case of murder, attempted murder and arson. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still unknown. Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg MMC for Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku

Global rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have strongly criticized the U.S. State Department's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The groups accuse the reports of being politically driven, selectively documenting abuses in some nations while downplaying violations by governments the U.S. seeks to engage. South Africa's Department of International R...

The Northern Cape Education Department has suspended an Upington teacher following a controversial incident at Duineveld High School last week. The teacher allegedly wore blackface during a school function, sparking widespread outrage after images went viral on social media. This marks the second racism-related incident at the school in two years. The EFF in the province have condemned the inciden...

Over 100 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, have been hospitalised following suspected food poisoning. Provincial health officials say the pupils were taken to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre. Several are receiving treatment on drips, while those in more serious condition were airlifted to hospi...

The Gauteng ECD Forum is set to march to the Premier's office in Johannesburg today, to raise concerns about the Early Childhood Development sector. After the ECD function shifted from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education in 2022, stakeholders say they're facing multiple challenges, including inadequate funding of just R17 per child per day for registered centr...

As South Africa marks Women's Month, celebrating the resilience and achievements of women, advocacy group Embrace Dignity and survivors of prostitution have strongly opposed a recent proposal by EFF leader Julius Malema to legalise prostitution. Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, Co-founder of Embrace Dignity, expressed disappointment, stating that legalising prostitution would effectively endorse pimping...