First Take SA

Time to take 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 Zimbabwean government says it has begun preparing for an influx of its returning citizens, as special permits expire in South Africa. Most Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa under the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) system do not qualify for critical skills permits. About 180 000 ZEP holders will be affected by the 30 June 2023 deadline set by South Africa. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to our correspondent in Zimbabwe Ephert Musekiwa

Two of the 12 suspects who escaped from custody at Komatipoort police station, Mpumalanga have been re-arrested. The two were arrested whilst trying to cross the Lebombo border to Mozambique. The suspects were arrested for various offenses that included rape, robbery, theft, and kidnapping. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

Actress Terry Pheto has denied her alleged involvement in a multimillion-rand scheme relating to funding by the National Lotteries Commission. Pheto says she will fully cooperate with investigations. She is among a group of individuals and companies implicated in the corruption scandal which the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) is probing. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari has expressed concern at what he says, are misguided statements shared on social media regarding the cost of animal-drawn carts handed to 20 beneficiaries at Dibono and Manawana villages outside Mahikeng, in the North West. Lehari says, the handing of the carts to mostly women beneficiaries was in line with the National Land Transport Act and sought to alleviate challenges faced by rural communities. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Deputy Leader in the North West, Freddie Sonakile

President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Egypt for the COP27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm el Sheikh. This is as the World Bank has approved an R9 billion loan facility to power utility Eskom, as part of the Just Energy Transition initiative, which focuses on achieving "Net Zero" carbon emissions by the year 2050. President Ramaphosa has also released an R1.5 trillion investment plan to decarbonize South Africa's economy. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Liz McDaid, strategic lead at the Green Connection

Time to take 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 Freedom Front Plus says broad-based black economic empowerment policies have left a deep trail of economic destruction across the country. This is after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed during his Q&A session in the National Assembly yesterday that the country will continue with Triple-B EE, Affirmative Action, and other transformational policies. FF Plus leader Dr. Pieter Groenewald says skin color cannot be used as a generalized indicator of disadvantage. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Wouter Wessels, FF Plus head of campaigns

The Department of Water and Sanitation will today open a case against Jagersfontein Developments over the mine wall dam collapse. Earlier this year the mine's dam wall burst, flooding the town with sludge from the mine dam. More than 160 houses were damaged and three people lost their lives in that disaster. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Human rights attorney Richard Spoor, who represents families affected by the disaster

The School Governing Body of Phoenix High School in Vereeniging says the Gauteng Education Department is paying R180 000 a month to rent a school it sold for R600 000. The school governing body has taken the matter to Afriforum who say by the end of the lease in 2026 the taxpayer will have forked out R32 Million. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Spokesperson for Afriforum's Private Prosecution Unit, Barry Bateman