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First Take SA

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8:10

ANC calls for 2026 Budget to drive growth, jobs and...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/25

The ANC is calling for the 2026 National Budget to drive growth, jobs and social protection. With economic momentum building and inflation under control, the party wants reforms in electricity, logistics, and water to boost employment. The ANC also wants to protect social services and extend the Social Relief of Distress grant. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Joe Maswanganyi, ANC MP and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance

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4:17

Voter turnout in local government elections hits...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/25

Voter turnout in local government elections has hit an all-time low of 46% in South Africa. Analysts say residents are rejecting a system failing to deliver basic services like water and electricity. Researcher Lesego Mahlangu says weak community structures and reliance on social media stunts by politicians are to be blamed for the decline. She warns trust in local democracy will erode without stronger participatory mechanisms this as Municipal elections are due later this year. Elvis Presslin spoke

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6:52

Protests taking place ahead of budget speech

First Take SA ·

2026/02/25

COSATU and affiliates will stage protests ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget Speech in Cape Town today. The unions are opposing austerity measures and a 9.8% GEMS contribution hike. Elvis Presslin spoke to COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew Parks

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10:21

SALGA hosts 9th National Communicators Forum

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

South African Local Government Association is hosting its 9th National Communicators Forum in Cape Town today. Under the theme "Elevate, Reclaiming Trust, Credibility and Citizen Connection", the event aims to equip municipal spokespeople with practical tools ahead of next year's local government elections. SALGA says the gathering comes at a critical moment, marking 30 years of organised local government while public trust remains fragile amid rising service delivery challenges. The programme

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5:20

ActionSA criticises Premier Panyaza Lesufi's State of...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni has criticised Premier Panyaza Lesufi's State of the Province Address, saying the ANC is failing the province. Ngobeni called on Lesufi to account for promises made in previous SOPAs and to provide evidence of delivery. To elaborate on his concerns Ngobeni spoke to Elvis Presslin

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6:44

One of the 17 South Africans recruited to fight in...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

The brother of one of the 17 South Africans recruited to fight in Ukraine says he's coming home this week. Sandile Ndhlovu confirms his brother is among 13 enroute to South Africa from Russia, with four already back in South Africa.The men were allegedly lured under false pretences to fight in the war. Ndhlovu spoke to our senior producer Ronald Phiri

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4:57

AFRICA BRIEF with Victor Kgomoeswana

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

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

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7:05

20 Home Affairs officials dismissed and 16 suspended

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

Twenty Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 16 suspended following a probe into document fraud and visa manipulation. The Special Investigating Unit, SIU launched the investigation in April 2024, uncovering recurring schemes and facilitation networks. For reaction, Elvis Presslin spoke to Lemias Mashile, former Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour and Home Affairs

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5:57

MK Party lodges application to halt former NDPP's...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/24

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has lodged an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court to halt former NDPP Shamila Batohi's pension and post‑term gratuities pending a review. The party also wants to reverse funding for her legal costs in the Nkabinde Inquiry, arguing payments must be lawful and rational amid alleged misconduct. The MK says concerns raised during Batohi's testimony at the inquiry require scrutiny before any benefits are disbursed. The three‑part case is scheduled for hearing in March

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9:11

Bellarmine Mugabe and co-accused to appear in court

First Take SA ·

2026/02/23

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and a co‑accused are due in the Alexandra Magistrates Court this morning. They were arrested after a 23‑year‑old gardener was shot twice at Mugabe's Hyde Park residence last week and remains in critical condition. The pair face attempted‑murder charges and have been held at Bramley police station. Activists and Citizens Forum spokesperson Dennis Bloem says the case must be treated purely as a criminal matter, with no

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21:06

Concern and anger over GEM' 9.8% member contribution...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/23

Major COSATU-affiliated public service unions, including NEHAWU, SADTU, DENOSA and POPCRU, will hold a media briefing today to express their anger over GEMS' 9.8% member contribution increase. The Unions will also raise concerns about governance lapses, threats to collective bargaining and announce details of their intended action against the medical scheme. The briefing will take place at COSATU House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Elvis Presslin spoke to COSATU National Spokesperson, Zanele Sabela

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5:58

Shock after figures show 97 SAPS members accused of...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/23

Gauteng's Community Safety Committee says it is deeply shocked and angry after official figures showed at least 97 South African Police Service members have been accused of sexual violence or rape across the country. The number was revealed in the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's latest annual report and came up during a stakeholder meeting last Friday. Elvis Presslin spoke to Committee Chairperson, Dr. Bandile Masuku

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4:36

Suspects appear in court over emergency school...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/23

More than 20 people are set to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court today, facing charges of fraud, theft and money‑laundering linked to a R113 million "emergency school repairs" scheme in Mpumalanga. The Hawks, with support from Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape, arrested the suspects in a coordinated operation targeting 40 individuals and companies accused of siphoning funds meant for 21 rural schools. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel

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6:58

SANRAL says toll tariffs on national roads will...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

The South African National Roads Agency, SANRAL says toll tariffs on national roads will increase by 3-point-12 percent from the first of march. SANRAL ties the annual adjustment to the consumer price index from Stats SA. The figure, confirmed in the government gazette earlier this month, comes in below last year's 4.85 percent rise. For reaction we're joined by Gavin Kelly, Road Freight Association Chief Executive Officer

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4:58

The son of the late former Zimbabwean president...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

Two men will appear before the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on charges of attempted murder. One of the suspects is the son of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. They face attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting a gardener in Hyde Park, north of Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU‑PF, says they "abhors violence in any form" and that late party President Mugabe had been clear on this. Farai Marapira, is the Zanu PF Spokesperson...

en-US

7:41

PSA to embark on a protest against increased GEMS...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

The Public Servants Association will embark on a major protest this Saturday against steep contribution increases to the Government Employees Medical Scheme, GEMS. More than 5,000 PSA members are set to gather at the GEMS head office in Pretoria, with simultaneous demonstrations planned across all nine provinces. For the latest we're joined by Claude Naiker, Acting Deputy General Manager for the Public Servants Association, PSA.

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6:28

117 strikes took place across South Africa in 2025

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

The Casual Workers Advice Office has published its 2025 Strike Barometer and the numbers show a clear uptick in labour unrest last year. 117 strikes took place across South Africa in 2025. That's a sharp rise from the 87 recorded in 2024 and edges above the pre-pandemic figures of 116 in 2018 and 102 in 2019. For more on this we are joined on the line by Sydney Moshoaliba, Casual Workers' Advice Office (CWAO) Researcher...

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10:28

African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association claims...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

The African Unite Borders Bus Trucks Association is calling for the immediate resignation of the head of law enforcement at the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency. AUBBTA chairperson Phumudzo Mukhwathi says the group is devastated after yet another crash yesterday at the same treacherous Tshambudzi mountain curve near Makhado on the N1 - the very spot where 43 people died in a bus plunge back in October last year. Reports say the latest Zimbabwe-bound bus veered off the road and into a ditch in the

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4:36

AFRICA BRIEF: Stories making business headlines...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

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7:09

SAPU to hold national dialogue to declare GBV /...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

The South African Policing Union, SAPU, together with philosopher Professor Motsamai Molefe, will today hold a national dialogue in Pretoria to declare gender-based violence and femicide a National Moral Disaster. The event builds on President Ramaphosa's previous call to treat GBV and femicide as a national disaster. Organisers are now going further, issuing a clear five-point demand: stop GBV, stop femicide, stop rape, stop murder and stop the killing of police officers. Elvis Presslin spoke to

en-US

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