First Take SA

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says he supports Sanral's decision to cancel tenders worth over 17 billion Rands. Briefing the media yesterday, Minister Mbalula said the South African National Roads Agency acted in the best interests of the company to maintain good governance in its decision to cancel the tenders. For the latest, Elvis Presslin spoke to Sanral's National spokesperson Mr. Vusi Mona

A young Russian soldier has been sentenced to life after being found guilty of war crimes by a Ukrainian court. 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin pleaded guilty to killing a 62-year-old Ukrainian man in the northeastern Sumy province during the war between Russia and Ukraine. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Irina Filatova, Professor Emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN...

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..

Former Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize has accepted a call by some traditional leaders to run for ANC President. The embattled former Minister was endorsed during his son, Dedani Mkhize's traditional wedding at Willowfontein, Kwa Zulu Natal at the weekend, ahead of the ANC's National Elective Conference in December this year. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst Dr. Levy Ndou

eThekwini municipality, in KZN has activated its disaster management plan after the South African Weather Service upgraded its weather warning for heavy rains and floods to the highest possible level. At least 440 people died in last month's flooding that hit the municipality particularly hard. Parts of the Metro have again suffered massive damage including uMdloti. For the latest update, Elvis Presslin spoke to the spokesperson for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, COGTA in KwaZulu-Natal, Senzelwe Mzila

Israel and Switzerland have become the latest countries to confirm cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of nations reporting outbreaks to 14. More than 80 cases have been confirmed in the recent outbreak in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia. The World Health Organization says another 50 suspected cases are being investigated and warned that more infections are likely to be confirmed. To tell us more about this disease Elvis Presslin spoke to the Chairman of the South African Medical Association, SAMA, Dr. Mvuyisi Mzukwa

The Foreign Press Association Africa has expressed its displeasure against media outlets using images of black people alongside stories of the Monkeypox outbreak in America and Europe. The association says it condemns the perpetuation of this negative stereotype that assigns calamity to the African race and privilege or immunity to other races. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Kennedy Wandera, Chairperson of the Foreign Press Association in Nairobi

The Portfolio Committee on police has adopted a report on the Criminal Law Forensic Procedure Amendment Bill. When enacted the Bill will see mandatory DNA samples taken from inmates convicted of crimes under schedule 8 offenses which include rape, murder, human trafficking, robbery, and culpable homicide. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Ian Cameron, the Director for Community Safety at Action Society SA - civil rights organization which has been advocating for this Bill...

The alleged Stellenbosch University student rapist, who was arrested yesterday (Thursday) morning, is out on 1-thousand rand bail. The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that the student made a brief appearance in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on two counts of rape. His case was postponed until 29 June 2022 for further investigation.  This, as students at the University, have intensified calls for the expulsion of Theuns du Toit. The first-year law student has been suspended pending an investigation into an incident of racism. For more on this,  Elvis Presslin spoke to SASCO Chair at the Tsietsi Mashinini Stellenbosch branch, Queen Majikijela

The Reserve Bank has after a meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee decided to increase the repo rate by 50 basis points. The bank revised its headline inflation forecast to 5.9 percent from 5.8. Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago defended the MPC's decision to hike rates by 50 basis points by arguing that the bank cannot act when inflationary pressures are out of control. The increase also comes on the back of increasing fuel and food prices with fuel expected to increase by almost R2 next month. To discuss the impact of increasing repo rate and cost of living on ordinary citizens Elvis Presslin spoke to Mukhethwa Nemanashi.