First Take SA

The Inter-Ministerial Task Team coordinating the preparations for the ceremonial handover of the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini will today brief members of the media on the state of readiness towards the ceremony. The certificate of recognition handover ceremony will take place this Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to William Baloyi, the chief director for media engagement at GCIS

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the Mid-term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament today. He is expected to outline governments' plans to keep the lights on and announce plants to reduce Eskom's high debt burden. If Eskom's debt is transferred, economists expect the debt burden for the country to grow. Treasury is also expected to revise the country's growth prospects downwards. To discuss this further Elvis Presslin spoke to Economist, Thabi Leoka

Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell is set to face a motion of no confidence today. The ANC caucus spearheaded the motion, claiming Campbell had neglected service delivery in the region, particularly in townships. Meanwhile, Dr. Mpho Phalatse has been reinstated as the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg after a court yesterday declared her removal unlawful. To further discuss the recent developments, Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst Dr. Levy Ndou

The South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU is calling for an increase in the public sector wage bill, ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's mid-term budget today. The union is demanding that the government give public servants an 8% wage increase. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to SAFTU National Spokesperson Trevor Shaku

Equal Education is calling on the National Treasury to stop cuts to the basic education budget. This as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to table his medium-term budget policy statement in parliament today. Equal Education says money must be put towards fixing South Africa's schooling crisis. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Equal Education researcher Jane Borman

The Matric class of 2022 will begin their final examinations today, amid concerns of disruptions due to load shedding. But the department of Basic Education has expressed confidence that year-end exams can continue despite the ongoing rolling blackouts. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Department's national spokesperson Mr. Elijah Mhlanga

The DA will today present its alternative Medium Term Budget ahead of Finance Minister Godongwana's Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday. The party will put forward its own viable policies to rescue the country's economy. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the DA's Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen

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 Hawks in Mpumalanga is concerned about the alarming number of hijacking incidents in the province. This, as the latest annual statistics, show hijackings in South Africa are at an all-time high. Earlier this month, a German tourist has fatally shot allegedly in an attempted hijacking close to the notorious Numbi gate of the Kruger National Park. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi

President Cyril Ramaphosa says there will be no place for corrupt people, criminal networks, or perpetrators of state capture to hide. Ramaphosa was addressing the nation last night about how the executive intends to implement the findings and recommendations of the State Capture Commission Report. He says the report requires a fundamental redesign of anti-corruption architecture and has assured citizens those implicated in the report will be brought to book. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Political analyst Dr. Ebrahim Harvey