First Take SA

Cabinet has approved the publication of the Constitution's Eighteenth Amendment Bill for public comment. The amendments will give recognition to South African Sign Language as the 12th official language of the country. The Department of Basic Education announced earlier this month that it would incorporate sign language as an option in the school curriculum. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Atiyah Asmal, Co-founder of SociGo, an NPO for Deaf creatives and performing arts with assistance from Thuli Zikalala, a qualified South African Sign Language interpreter.. 

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...

After two days of political bickering on whether the four suspended SAFTU National Office Bearers should be allowed to contest elections, delegates finally agreed to have their names on the ballot paper. The issue nearly collapsed the five-day meeting with the federation's biggest affiliate NUMSA threatening to pull out from the congress while police union SAPU threatened to disrupt the gathering. Elvis Presslin spoke to Labour analyst, Mamokgethi Molopyane

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) is calling for a referendum on the death penalty amid the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide against women and children. Over the past few weeks SA has been rocked by several GBV cases, including the murders of Hillary Gardee, Namhla Mtwa shot nine times in her driveway, and 6-year-old Bontle Mashiyane kidnapped raped, and murdered. Elvis Presslin spoke to Noele Didakwane from the Organisation for Democracy and Freedom about Contralesa's call

The family of Nomaqocwa Blackie is appealing for help from the South African government following the mysterious death of their daughter, whose body was found in her apartment in Shanghai, China in April. Her family says it has done everything that was required in terms of documentation for the repatriation of her body. Nomaqocwa fondly known as 'Noma' left Motherwell, in the Eastern Cape in 2017 to pursue a career as an English teacher in Shanghai. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Arthur Blackie, who is Noma's brother...

Former General Secretary of COSATU, Mbhazima Shilowa has expressed his concern following tensions among senior leaders of the South African Federation of Trade Unions SAFTU. This as the federation holds its second elective conference in Boksburg, East of Gauteng. During his address to delegates at the conference yesterday, Shilowa urged union members to introspect on where they are as an organization. Elvis Presslin spoke to Shilowa about his concerns...

The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) says its members, who are employed by the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) will today officially start their strike action. Nehawu and the Public Servants Association (PSA), are demanding an across-the-board wage increase of 7%. Wage talks between the union and the employer are deadlocked. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Nehawu president Mike Shingange

South Africans continue to mourn the death of veteran TV actor Jamie Bartlett. The multi-award-winning actor best known for his role as TV villains Mike O'Reilly in Isidingo on SABC3 and David Genaro in Rhythm City on e.tv died Monday night at the age of 55. For more on Jamie Bartlett's life, Elvis Presslin spoke to Jack Devnarain, a renowned actor and chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors.

As the continent marks the annual commemoration of Africa Day today, we focus on the status of migration on the continent and try to find ways how to integrate Africans. Africa's mass migration and displacement are exacerbated by wars, conflicts, politics, famine, and environmental factors such as floods, droughts, and other natural disasters. How can we find a lasting holistic solution to the challenge of Africa's human migration and nutrition?  For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Victor Kgomoesoana, Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo...

The Democratic Alliance says it has learned with dismay of a proposal by the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa the name of the Afrikaanse Taal Monument in Paarl Western Cape province, changed. The DA says the Monument symbolizes the diversity and growth of the Afrikaans language, and changing the name would take away from its historical value. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration, Dr. Leon Schreiber