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First Take SA

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13:56

UAT calling on President Ramaphosa to move beyond...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

As South Africa approaches the 2026 State of the Nation Address, United Africans Transformation (UAT) is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to move beyond repetition and symbolism. UAT says the address must include clear, time‑bound commitments that address weak economic growth, high unemployment, rising violent crime and deteriorating public services. The party also demands a full, transparent report on what the government has delivered since taking office, warning that without accountability,

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11:45

SONA expectations unpacked

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

COSATU says it expects President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, SONA to address South Africa's 42.4 % unemployment, 1 % growth, poverty, inequality, crime and corruption. The labour union is calling for faster fixes at Transnet and Metro Rail, debt relief for Transnet, stronger commuter security, an end to austerity, more frontline funding, a push on National Health Insurance, and a "Marshall Plan" against violent crime among other demands. Elvis Presslin spoke to COSATU

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7:57

Political analyst Professor André Duvenage unpacks...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

Political analyst Professor André Duvenage says President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation Address will be delivered in a climate that has moved from simmering to boiling point. He expects the speech to reflect domestic tensions, especially around local government, service delivery and the ANC's declining support and to highlight recent populist legislation such as land expropriation without compensation, the BELA Act and National Health Insurance. Elvis Presslin spoke to Professor

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5:35

Residents of Johannesburg's southern suburbs will...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

Residents of Johannesburg's southern suburbs will this morning hold a peaceful protest over ongoing water outages. Communities from Mulbarton, Robertsham, Ridgeway, Ormonde and Winchester Hills are gathering to demand reliable water supply and better communication from Joburg Water and Rand Water. Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg southern suburbs community representative, Zubair Patel

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6:46

UNTU: The government's fast‑tracked rail reforms are...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

The United National Transport Union, UNTU says the government's fast‑tracked rail reforms are showing deep cracks. Private Train Operating Companies, once hailed as the solution, are now demanding urgent upgrades to a network long neglected by underinvestment and security failures. UNTU warns that opening the rail system to private operators without fixing the 31,000 km infrastructure, now managed by Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), will not solve the problem. The Union is hoping for

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5:46

Sport news with Janet Whitton

First Take SA ·

2026/02/12

Full sport news with Janet Whitton

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5:41

ActionSA Tables Motion Calling for Immediate Rollout...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

ActionSA has tabled a motion in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature demanding the immediate rollout of a Dual Stream Grade 1 Admissions Model. The move follows a surge of complaints from parents whose children, already in Grade R at a school, risk being denied a place in Grade 1 at that same school. Under the current framework, Grade 1 is treated as an entry grade, forcing families to reapply and compete for a spot their child already occupies. ActionSA says the resulting administrative strain and

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4:57

African School Governors Association to March to...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

The African School Governors Association will march to National Treasury today to deliver a memorandum of grievances over unpaid fees. This comes after scholar transport operators stopped transporting school children due to outstanding payments.The Gauteng Education Department reportedly acknowledges that the strike is disrupting learning and teaching and states it is working to pay the operators. Elvis Presslin spoke to Jomo Rapholo, Chairperson of African School Governors Association (ASGA)

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4:08

Joburg residents to stage protests over ongoing water...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

Residents of several Johannesburg suburbs will today stage protests over ongoing water shortages and a lack of response from Joburg Water and Rand Water. This as some residents have endured weeks without water. For more on today's protest Elvis Presslin spoke to Hermien Geldenhuys, a concerned Parktown West resident

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4:30

Russian president Pledges Assistance in Repatriating...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will assist in the return of 17 South African men involved in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. President Cyril Ramaphosa received a briefing from President Putin on the situation in Ukraine and on Russia's commitment to a diplomatic solution. The men were reportedly lured to join mercenary forces in the war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts. Sandile Ndhlovu, a brother of one of the 17 South African men told our senior producer Ronald Phiri that

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6:19

ATM Demands Urgent Accountability from GNU Ahead of SONA

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is demanding urgent accountability from the Government of National Unity ahead of the State of the Nation Address tommorow. ATM says modest economic growth has not reached ordinary South Africans, with about 23 million people still living below the poverty line. The party criticises recent electricity tariff increases, warning they will deepen energy poverty. ATM also highlights ongoing corruption, unemployment at 32 %, a water crisis projected to reach a

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7:30

UNICEF report: 1 in 5 Children in Eastern and...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

A new UNICEF data brief reports that nearly one in five children in Eastern and Southern Africa are engaged in child labour. The region accounts for almost one‑third of the global total and has the highest number of children in hazardous work, including mining and construction. UNICEF says children belong in classrooms, not workplaces. Elvis Presslin spoke to Nankali Maksud, Regional Advisor for Child Protection at UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa

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6:48

Paul O'Sullivan's Credentials Questioned at...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/11

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan's credentials have been questioned at Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on criminality in the justice system. During his testimony, O'Sullivan described his work exposing corruption and assisting crime‑prevention as a police reservist. When asked by ActionSA MP Dereleen James to state his formal qualifications, he admitted he holds none. For more reaction Elvis Presslin spoke to MK party Member of Parliament, David Mandla Skosana

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7:34

UDM Warns Student Housing Crisis Deepens as Students...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

United Democratic Movement, UDM acting Secretary General, Zandile Phiri says the recent sight of students sleeping outside Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a clear sign that South Africa's student accommodation crisis is deepening. Hundreds of students at the start of the 2026 academic year remain without confirmed residence placements. NSFAS has stated it does not manage university housing and that institutions are responsible for student accommodation, while some providers have accepted

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5:13

AFRICA BRIEF with Victor Kgomoeswana

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

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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4:53

ANC Youth League in Gauteng to Lodge SAHRC Complaint...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng will today lodge a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against the Gauteng Department of Education over its alleged failure to pay scholar‑transport service providers. A strike that has left thousands of pupils without transport for a second week. For more on the League's complaint, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANCYL Gauteng Provincial Chairman, Ntsako Kevin Mogobe

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4:43

March and March leader for Mass Deportations, Warns...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

March and March founder and leader Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma has called for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and urged South Africans to stop renting space to those harbouring them. Speaking at a recent campaign event, she asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency, deploy the army to assist police and involve courts and the defence force in removing illegal foreigners. She claims undocumented migrants are linked to high crime rates and are draining public resources

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6:45

Paul O'Sullivan to Testify in Person Before...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan is expected to testify in person today before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, which is investigating allegations of corruption and political interference in South Africa's criminal justice system. O'Sullivan had asked to appear virtually, citing security concerns. The EFF had earlier accused Speaker Thoko Didiza of trying to shield Brown Mogotsi and Paul O'Sullivan from testifying before the committee. Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Member of Parliament, Sinawo

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4:49

ANC Rejects DA Claim Crediting Steenhuisen With...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/10

The ANC Study Group on Agriculture has rejected the Democratic Alliance's claim that Minister John Steenhuisen single‑handedly revived local Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine production after 21 years. The ANC says the groundwork was laid under its 6th administration, with Agricultural Research Council scientists already developing strains from 2010 to 2018 and registering a vaccine in 2023. The ANC adds that former Minister Thoko Didiza's 2022 nationwide cattle‑movement ban helped contain

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6:16

Talks continue with public scholar transport service...

First Take SA ·

2026/02/09

The Gauteng Department of Education is calling for calm as it continues talks with public scholar transport service providers to settle outstanding payments. The department says it's working in good faith to reach a sustainable solution and urges providers to keep services running for learners who rely on them. Schools have been told to prepare academic recovery and catch up programmes to address any learning losses from recent disruptions. Elvis Presslin spoke to Sibongile Maseko, General Secretary

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