First Take SA

The United Democratic Movement is calling for an urgent debate on the National Importance of load-shedding and its impact on South Africa. UDM Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa has written to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula requesting the debate. Kwankwa says the UDM also wants Eskom to be called to account to Parliament. This comes at a time when Eskom has been implementing stage 6 rolling blackouts. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to UDM Deputy President and Chief Whip, Mr. Nqabayomzi Kwankwa

The Constitutional Court has given legal recognition to Muslim women married under Sharia law. The apex court delivered its judgment on Tuesday - confirming a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling which legally recognizes Muslim marriages, and declares certain sections of the Marriage Act and Divorce Act unconstitutional. The case was brought by the Women's Legal Centre. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate Nazreen Bawa, Legal representative for the Women's Legal Centre

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has denied suspending a pupil from school over her traditional attire. This is after a 15-year-old pupil and sangoma Mbalenhle Ngobese from Nombika High in the iLembe district reportedly committed suicide after the school suspended her. However, the education department in the province says the learner was not suspended but failed to show up to school for 21 days. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to KZN Education Head of Department, Nathi Ngcobo

The National Union of Mineworkers, Num, and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Numsa say there is no wage agreement with Eskom. Yesterday Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced the power utility had reached a wage agreement with striking workers. The two unions say this is false. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Livhuwani Mammburu, the National spokesperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha...

Civil rights organization AfriForum has instructed its legal team to bring an urgent application to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, to compel law enforcers to take action against striking Eskom employees. The organization says Eskom indicated during a media conference that it is already in possession of a court order declaring the strike illegal but has thus far failed to enforce the order. My colleague Ronald Phiri spoke to Afriforum's Legal and Risk Officer, Armand Greyling about their plan of action...

The owner of Soweto Creamery in Jabulani, Soweto Thando Makhubu says load-shedding has Impacted his business negatively. This was after Eskom announced Stage 6 load-shedding. Makhubu, an entrepreneur who rose to prominence after he was mentioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation address, on how he started a business with his R350 social relief distress grant says he can no longer rely on Eskom...

The body of Nomaqocwa Blackie who died mysteriously in her apartment in Shanghai, China will finally be repatriated back to South Africa. Nomaqocwa fondly known as 'Noma' left Motherwell, in the Eastern Cape in 2017 to pursue a career as an English teacher in Shanghai. In 2022, Noma was found dead in her apartment during the Shanghai lockdown which was implemented due to the surge in Covid-19 infections. The cause of Noma's death remains a mystery. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Arthur Blackie, who is Noma's brother

The DA in Gauteng has called on the provincial Infrastructure Department to urgently fix the emergency generator at the Garankuwa state mortuary in Pretoria. The generator has experienced multiple failures and is unable to function whenever there is load shedding in the area. During the rolling blackouts - bodies are temporarily stored in a freezer before being removed early in the morning for post-mortems. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the DA's Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom

Police investigations into the horrific deaths of at least 21 young people at the Enyobeni tavern in the Eastern Cape are continuing.  A forensic team has been going through the site to try to understand what exactly took place. Post-mortem examinations have been completed but some bodies have not been identified and authorities have called on families to come forward. The youngest of those who died was 13 and the oldest was 17. Some speculation is that the victims were poisoned, but this has not been confirmed. Elvis Presslin spoke to Ntombizonke Mgangala, a mother whose child died at the tavern

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, 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...