PODCAST

First Take SA

SAfm

News and Current Affairs

news

All Episodes

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

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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.

en-US

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...

en-US

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

en-US

4:36

AFRICA BRIEF: Stories making business headlines...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/20

en-US

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

8:00

4 of the 19 trapped in Russia arrives back in South...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

Four of the 19 men who were trapped in Russia have arrived back in South Africa. In November last year, the government received distress calls from 17 of the men, who were believed to have been lured to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs before reportedly being placed in a military‑training programme. Jabulani Khumalo, who is assisting the families of the South African men still stranded in Ukraine, spoke to Elvis Presslin

en-US

11:17

Former Public Protector challenges Shadrack Sibiya's...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

Suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya told the Madlanga Commission that former Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane had cleared him and the City of Joburg of wrongdoing over his appointment as head of Group Forensic Investigation Services. But Mkhwebane's 2022 report, posted on X, lists irregularities and calls for further action, directly challenging Sibiya's testimony. General Sibiya is facing scrutiny over corruption, political interference and alleged links to organized

en-US

5:12

DA Gauteng leader to deliver party's alternative True...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga will today deliver the party's alternative True State of the Province Address. Msimanga, joined by DA MPLs and councillors province-wide, will highlight ongoing service delivery failures plaguing the province. Elvis Presslin spoke to Member of Provincial Legislature and Leader of the DA in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga

en-US

13:33

COSATU in KZN condemns collapse of business rescue...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

Trade union federation COSATU in KwaZulu-Natal has strongly condemned the collapse of the business rescue process at sugar producer Tongaat Hulett. The company's administrators last week applied to the High Court to end rescue proceedings and move to provisional liquidation, after key sale agreements lapsed earlier this month and no viable rescue remained possible. COSATU KZN says the failure threatens thousands of jobs in the province. Elvis Presslin spoke to Edwin Mkhize, COSATU KZN Provincial

en-US

8:37

DA calls for answers following break-in at the SAPS...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/19

The Democratic Alliance is calling for urgent answers after a break-in at the SAPS K9 Unit in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal. Reports say unknown suspects forced their way in and stole four pistols, one R5 assault rifle, one shotgun, plus around 300 rounds of ammunition, handcuffs and empty magazines. The theft was spotted during a shift change. DA NCOP member on security and justice, Mzamo Billy MP, says this is a major security lapse that puts lives at risk. He spoke to Elvis Presslin

en-US

14:07

COSATU: latest Stats SA figures show positive shift...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/18

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU says the latest Stats SA figures show a positive shift in the labour market.This follows the release of the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, which showed that the unemployment rate decreased by point five of a percentage point to 31point four-percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. COSATU is calling on the ANC‑led government to strengthen frontline public and municipal services, boost infrastructure investment and expand public employment

en-US

6:38

Hormone-disrupting chemicals found in sanitary pads...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/18

A new University of the Free State study has found hormone-disrupting chemicals in every sanitary pad and pantyliner tested from brands sold in South Africa, even those labelled organic or chemical-free. The research detected phthalates, parabens and bisphenols in all samples, with at least two such substances in every product. UFS scientists warn that millions of women face regular exposure and are calling for clearer labelling, tougher safety regulations and urgent further research. Elvis Presslin

en-US

5:24

Gauteng ANCYL slams Education department over unpaid...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/18

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng has slammed the Gauteng Department of Education over unpaid municipal electricity bills that have left schools in Ekurhuleni without power. In a strongly worded statement, the League described the situation as unacceptable, saying learners are now forced to study in the dark because of the department's failure to settle accounts with the City of Ekurhuleni. Elvis Presslin spoke to Kgotso Pooe, ANC Youth League Spokesperson in Gauteng

en-US

6:35

Messages continue pouring in for Reverend Jesse Jackson

First Take SA ·

2026/02/18

Messages of sympathy are flooding in for Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, who passed away at his Chicago home on Tuesday at age 84. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling Jackson "a good man with lots of personality, grit and street smarts" and offering condolences to his family. Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said Jackson "created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more." Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary

en-US

8,022 results

First Take SA

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci