First Take SA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA says it will not participate in the planned national shutdown today. Speaking to our senior producer Ronald Phiri after welcoming the labour court's decision to dismiss Ruth Ntlokotse's application to hold Numsa in contempt of court for proceeding with its congress last month, the Union's General Secretary Irvin Jim says while they agree with the contents of the campaign, they will not join the shutdown by Trade union Cosatu, Saftu and its affiliates today...

The Constitutional Court has dismissed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO's leave to appeal a decision against its plans to donate over 50 million rands to Cuba. Earlier this year, the High Court in Pretoria granted an application by Afriforum against the donation. Afriforum had argued that the funds could rather be used to help South Africans in desperate need. Elvis Presslin spoke to AfriForum's spokesperson, Reiner Duvenage 

The City of Tshwane says it has consistently been engaging power utility Eskom over its outstanding electricity debt. This, after Eskom athe nnounced that it is considering disconnecting electricity supply to the City in an effort to secure the payment of up to one point six billion rand. Eskom says the City of Tshwane is in breach of the the Electricity Supply Agreement which was due on 17th of this month. The power utility says the City has only paid 68 million rand to date, which has done little to dent the massive outstanding balance on its electricity account. Elvis Presslin spoke to the City of Tshwane Finance MMC, Peter Sutton

Thousands of workers affiliated with South Africa's two largest workers union federations are expected to down tools tomorrow (Wednesday) and join the planned national shutdown. Labour federations, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) say the strike is in response to the socioeconomic challenges faced by the poor and working class, caused by escalating fuel prices, rolling blackouts, and unemployment. Elvis Presslin spoke to former labour unionist and author Dr. Ebrahim Harvey 

Private schools have been paying ten times more for rates and tariffs since the reclassification of private schools as businesses by the City of Johannesburg. Joburg Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse says 741 private schools and 921 public schools which have been paying ten times the usual rates will now pay five percent more. Mayor Phalatse says the private schools were categorised as business and commercial entities in line with the National COGTA regulations. The schools have been paying higher than normal rates since the first of July this year. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mandla Mthembu, Chairperson of the National Alliance of Independent School Associations, Naisa...

The family of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a medical doctor in his Kimberley consulting room last week is demanding that the Health Professions Council of South Africa remove the doctor from its list of practicing health practitioners. It also demands that Home Affairs investigates whether the doctor who originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo is in the country legally. The family said this during the brief appearance of the doctor in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court in the Northern Cape for a bail hearing. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Aunt of the 17-year-old girl...

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The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union will be picketing today against the possible closure of the only nursing college in the Northern Cape. The Hendrietta Stockdale Nursing College faces the danger of being closed as it has yet to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education and the South African Nursing Council. Elvis Presslin spoke to General Secretary of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, Lerato Mthunzi 

Ahmed Kathrada's widow and anti-Apartheid activist Barbara Hogan says BEE is only benefiting a small political elite, damaging competitiveness and discouraging investment, while the bulk of black South Africans remains not empowered. Hogan was speaking at the launch of the Ahmed Kathrada Exhibition at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg at the weekend while honouring the legacy of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada. Hogan says while the country is celebrating her husband's legacy, the nation has nothing to celebrate as bad values and greed have taken over society. Elvis Presslin spoke to  Lindiwe Madonsela, Senior Manager for Compliance, Advocacy and Awareness at the BBBEE Commission... 

A group of aggrieved ANC members in the North West, have served both the party's National Executive Committee and the newly-elected provincial officials with court papers. The group intends to challenge the outcome of the ninth provincial conference which was held in Rustenburg last weekend. It is questioning the legitimacy of the conference saying there were irregularities and non-compliance with the party's constitution. Elvis Presslin spoke to s political analyst from the North West University, Professor Andre Duvenage