First Take SA

Several July unrest suspects have been arrested In an operation by the Hawks targeting alleged instigators of last year's insurrection. The unrest saw a wave of looting, riots, damage to businesses and infrastructure worth over 50 billion rands, and violence that left over 350 people dead in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. In the aftermath of the unrest, the government said at least 12 instigators had been identified. The unrest allegedly stems from the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma. Elvis Presslin spoke to the Hawks Lt-General Lebeya...

State-owned arms manufacturer Denel has announced that all outstanding salaries owed to its employees have now been fully paid, after a two-year battle. Denel has paid 318 million rands in outstanding salaries. Head of restructuring, Riaz Saloojee, says the new restructuring plan will place the embattled arms company at the centre of defence industrial capability and excellence. Saloojee says they have been working tirelessly to get the company back where it was before it was brought to its knees by State Capture. Elvis Presslin spoke to trade union Solidarity's Sector Coordinator for Defence and Aerospace Derek Mans

South African Airways has been given 90 days to provide details on Takatso deal or risk losing licenses. It has been reported that the Air Services Licensing Council wants SAA to address breaches of aviation law - including providing more information about the proposed deal and management changes. The airline, previously grounded for almost two years under business rescue, only resumed operations late last year. Elvis Presslin spoke to aviation law expert Haydn Davies of Webber Wentzel

FOCUS POINTS:

***Central African ministers meeting in Cameroon have agreed to merge two regional blocs in a move to boost trade and growth. 

***The inauguration ceremony of the power generation second turbine of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is underway.

***The US and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to form a working group to protect the enormous Congo basin rainforest and peatlands

With less than four months to go before the ANC's 55th National Conference, the party is racing against time to conclude its provincial conferences. At least six out of the nine provinces have convened their conferences with the North West scheduled to hold its 9th provincial summit in Rustenburg this weekend. The ANC leadership under its former chairperson Supra Mahumapelo was dissolved four years ago and was replaced by an interim structure. The interim leadership says it's all systems go for their provincial conference after a number of postponements. Elvis Presslin spoke to a Political analyst in the North West, Andre Duvenage

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa says the new premier of KwaZulu-Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube is compromised and his party will hold her government accountable. Dube-Ncube became the new premier of KwaZulu-Natal after she defeated the DA's Mabatho Tembe in a secret ballot during a legislature sitting. The DA had fielded its own candidate to contest the position. Legislature members of both the IFP and the EFF abstained from voting. The vacancy emanates from the resignation of Sihle Zikalala last week. Elvis Presslin spoke to IFP leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa...

Workers belonging to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) at the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, have downed tools, demanding salary increases. The union has vowed to continue with the strike action until their demands are met. This as the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (GoGTA) has condemned the strike, saying it is illegal. Elvis Presslin spoke to Samwu Provincial Secretary Luzuko Yalezo...

The government will pay the 48 outstanding Marikana litigation by the end of this month - 10 years after the massacre. Solicitor General, Fhedzisani Pandelani says 48 cases are outstanding. Families of slain Marikana miners are suing the state and President Cyril Ramaphosa for a billion rand. Elvis Presslin spoke to Khuselwa Dyantyi, a Candidate Attorney at the Socio-economic Rights Institute, SERI, who is representing the 36 mine workers who were killed by police...

A high-ranking ANC official In KwaZulu-Natal has reportedly been arrested for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife. One of the ANC's regional secretaries reportedly assaulted his estranged wife reportedly with the help of his current girlfriend. Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo... 

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, will today host her counterpart, Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava in Pretoria. The purpose of Minister Shava's visit to South Africa is to review progress made in implementing bilateral programmes between the two countries. The meeting will afford the ministers the opportunity to discuss pertinent bilateral issues, including immigration, and trade relations, among other things. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC reporter Khayelihle Khumalo