First Take SA

Wearing masks could soon be a thing of the past - after Health Minister Joe Phaahla reportedly wrote to provincial health MECs recommending for all COVID-19 restrictions be lifted, as the country exits the fifth wave of the virus. Currently, wearing masks in indoor spaces is compulsory. Government and health officials are expected to hold a meeting later on today to discuss the removal of Covid regulations. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Mr. Foster Mohale, Spokesperson for the National Health Department

Forensic Consultant Paul O'Sullivan has accused the DA of political grandstanding after the party approached the United States' FBI, to investigate allegations of possible money laundering on President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm. Briefing the media yesterday, DA leader John Steenhuisen said President Ramaphosa needs to come clean regarding the details surrounding the alleged robbery of millions of dollars on his farm. Speaking to our senior producer Ronald Phiri yesterday O'Sullivan said it is not within the FBI's mandate to investigate a sitting president in another country

 A gold-crowned tooth is all that remains of assassinated Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba. The tooth of the executed leader was returned to his family during a ceremony in Brussels. It will be taken back to DRC and tour the country before being buried. Lumumba was assassinated by a firing squad in 1961 with the tacit backing of former colonial power Belgium. A former police chief, Gerard Soete admitted publicly to being involved in the killing and dissolution of the body in acid. Soete later died without being prosecuted. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to African Politics Writer and Analyst Hubert Katulondi 

Associations and unions in the trucking and logistics industry together with the government's interministerial committee have reached an agreement to bring about stability in the sector. The agreement includes the formation of integrated joint multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations and the possible introduction of operating licenses.  The agreement comes after truck drivers blocked the N3 highway in KwaZulu-Natal over the hiring of illegal foreign drivers. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Sabelo Mali, spokesperson for Labour and Employment Minister Thulas Nxesi

Residents of Soweto will be marching to the Johannesburg Mayor's office to submit a petition over the lack of service delivery. The resident will also be marching against Eskom switching off electricity in the township. The march comes on the back of a violent protest in the township yesterday. Elvis Presslin spoke to City of Johannesburg Mayoral Spokesperson, Mabine Seabe..

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

The Ankole cattle auction at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo raked in millions of Rands at the weekend. The Ankole Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa who organized the auction says the controversy surrounding the theft of millions on President Ramaphosa's farm has highlighted the Importance of Ankole in South Africa. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jacques Malan, President of the Ankole Breeders Association of South Africa.

ANC North West has postponed its provincial elective conference that was slated to start this week. The party says this is to allow for appeals on some of the disputes within branches.  ANC North West has been operating with an interim structure since the dissolution of the provincial executive committee led by former premier, Supra Mahumapelo. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ANC North West interim coordinator Hlomani Chauke

ActionSA will picket in front of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe's Head Quarters in Sunnyside, Tshwane this Tuesday. ActionSA, as supporters of the Lily Mine Families, say the planned picket is over the government's failure to retrieve the bodies of Pretty Nkabule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda, the three miners whose remains have not been retrieved underground at Lily Mine, almost six years later. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to ActionSA President, Mr. Herman Mashaba

Pro-Palestinian activists Africa4Palestine are threatening to disrupt Justin Bieber's concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg if the Canadian pop star does not cancel his upcoming performance in Israel. The group says Bieber should boycott Israel altogether due to its "crimes against the Palestinian people". For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Muhammed Desai, the Executive Director for Africa4Palestine.