First Take SA

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

SASSA has put in place measures to assist those affected by the floods in KwaZulu-Natal. Families that have been affected by floods will be given a 1-thousand 2-hundred rand voucher to purchase essential items. At least 448 people have died from the floods in KwaZulu-Natal. Thousands of people have been left homeless after their houses were washed away away floods. For the latest we're joined on the line by Sassa spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi...

Government has set aside an amount of about 200-million rand for all the tertiary institutions that might have been affected by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal. This was announced by the Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande in Parliament. Nzimande says the department decided to re-prioritise this money as part of emergency undertakings for unforseen situations. For the latest we're joined on the line by the Department's Director-General Mr. Nkosinathi Sishi...

Plans are in place to restore stability at the financially troubled Mangaung Metro Municipality, in Bloemfontein. This follows a visit to the metro by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The plans to bring stability to the embattled metro  come as Tebogo Motlashuping is reported to have been appointed as the new and fourth acting city manager for a period of a year, after acting city manager, Mzingisi Nkungwana's contract allegedly ended. 

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter says the power utility is facing two decades of unattended maintenance. Briefing the media yesterday, de Ruyter accused his predecessors of delaying the introduction of the Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme for a number of years. He says currently there was an additional 200 Mega Watts of power available from independent power producers, but contractually they are being prevented from feeding this into the grid, due to government regulations. Yesterday Eskom implemented stage 4 load-shedding after its Majuba unit 5 and Tutuka unit 4 tripped. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to former Eskom CEO, Mr. Matshela Koko

ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has cautioned that President Cyril Ramaphosa's promises to the residents of the floods ravaged parts of the provinces should be taken with a pinch of salt. This follows assurances by the president that the national disaster relief funds would not be stolen. Co-operative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma gazetted regulations for the national state of disaster that were prompted by devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape which have thus far claimed 445 lives. ActionSA provincial chairperson in KZN, Musa Khubeka however says it is well documented how COVID-19 relief funds did not reach the intended recipients.... 

The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union says at least 58 healthcare services have been damaged by the KwaZulu-Natal floods with hospitals and clinics struggling to provide normal services. This situation has been made worse by the damage to roads and infrastructure including the power supply with several areas without any water supply due to the Umngeni infrastructure being damaged. Healthcare workers have also since been struggling to get to and from work, as most roads remain inaccessible. For more on the concerns around the health and safety of healthcare workers, Elvis Presslin spoke to the YNITU's General Secretary Lerato Mthunzi

Home Affairs officials together with the police and soldiers have arrested hundreds of undocumented foreign nationals at the Beitbridge Border Post at Musina in Limpopo. They were arrested during the safety operation campaign at the border post. There's a huge police presence at the port of entry since the start of the Easter weekend. Koketšo Motau reports.

The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department says latest reports indicate that over 600 schools have been damaged by last week's devastating floods. The damage is estimated at over four-million rand. Mobile classrooms are being dispatched to prepare for the re-opening of schools on Tuesday.

Government has declared a National State of Disaster following the devastating floods in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. In addressing the nation on Monday Night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the severity of the flooding and damage in both provinces, as well as the possibility of extreme weather in the North West and Free State provinces has necessitated this. The Minister of Co-operative Governance Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been mandated to gazette the declaration. Busi Chimombe reports....