First Take SA

The Congress of the People, COPE has suspended party president Mosioua Lekota, for what it calls, the role he played in dividing COPE. COPE deputy president, Willie Madisha told a media briefing in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, that the Congress National Committee decided that Lekota was no longer fit to lead the party. Reports suggest that Lekota held frequent meetings in the Free State, seeking to divide the 14-year-old party.  But there was a report released late yesterday retracting the statement. To speak more about this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Dr. Ralph Mathekga

Mzwanele Nyotsho has been re-elected unopposed as PAC president at the party's national conference held in Seshego, Limpopo.  Apa Pooe also retained his position as the party's Secretary General.  Victor Serakalala replaced Doctor Lunga Mantashe as deputy president and Sbusiso Xaba was elected as National Chairperson. The three-day conference started on Friday. Nyotsho says the party is growing. The re-elected PAC president Mzwanele Nyotsho speaks to Elvis Presslin

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo will today lead a march against illegal and unsafe termination of pregnancy, in Germiston, Gauteng's East Rand. Dr. Dhlomo says the aim of the march is to raise awareness among young people about the importance of access to health services, especially sexual reproductive health services. For more on this Deputy Health Minister Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo speaks to Elvis Presslin

Eastern Cape Police are investigating a murder case after a ten-year-old boy was stabbed to death - allegedly by a nine-year-old boy in Ntwashu village. It is alleged that the two were fighting when the nine-year-old allegedly reached for a sharp object and stabbed the ten-year-old who died later in hospital. Eastern Cape Police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana speaks to Elvis Presslin

ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile has praised the ANC in the North West for making history by electing 22 women into its leadership. He was speaking at the end of the ninth Provincial Conference in Rustenburg. After having elected one woman as part of the top five officials, delegates elected an extra 21 women as Provincial Executive Committee members. Mashatile says this is historic in the existence of the ANC. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst from the North West University, Professor Andre Duwenhage

The DA and EFF are calling for the removal of Limpopo health MEC Dr. Phophi Ramathuba over remarks she made to a Zimbabwean patient in a viral video. Dr. Ramathuba was captured on video talking to the patient at a hospital in Bela Bela, about the burden illegal foreign nationals bring to the province's healthcare system. She further asks the patient if she thinks her department is running a charity and for the patient to pay for services before being discharged. Elvis Presslin spokt to Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo

The DA and EFF are calling for the removal of Limpopo health MEC Dr. Phophi Ramathuba over remarks she made to a Zimbabwean patient in a viral video. Dr. Ramathuba was captured on video talking to the patient at a hospital in Bela Bela, about the burden illegal foreign nationals bring to the province's healthcare system. She further asks the patient if she thinks her department is running a charity and for the patient to pay for services before being discharged. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. KP Muzenda, President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association

The Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected Ingonyama Trust's application to appeal an earlier ruling, which found that the Trust was wrong to insist on people living on the land it controls to sign leases and pay rent. Just recently the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said there were no plans to seize the land under the trust, after media reports that the ANC's Integrity Commission had ordered the governing party to use its powers in government to urgently repeal the Ingonyama Trust Act. To discuss the court ruling Elvis Presslin spoke to Legal Resources Centre's Sharita Samuel

Tshwane mayor Randall Williams will face a motion of no confidence today (Thursday) when the council meeting sits. The ANC is expected to table the motion against Williams, who faces allegations of interfering in the city's supply chain management processes. This is after a leaked audio recording of a meeting last year between the mayor and senior officials regarding an alleged unsolicited bid. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to the deputy chairperson and leader of the NAC caucus council of the ANC in Tshwane, Frans Boshielo

The South African National Taxi Council, SANTACO says it will not be joining today's planned national shutdown, despite numerous requests for the association to participate.  This as thousands of workers affiliated to some unions including labour federations COSATU and SAFTU, down tools and take part in the protest action against the increasing cost of living and interest rate hikes. Elvis Presslin spoke to the chief strategic manager for the SANTACO Bafana Magagula...