First Take SA

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Contralesa says initiation schools can reopen. This after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted cultural practices, forcing several initiation schools in various provinces, except the Eastern Cape, to close down. For the latest here is Contralesa President, Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena

Six people have been killed during a mass shooting in Umlazi, Durban. The shooting reportedly happened in an informal settlement. For more here is Brigadier Jay Naicker, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson...

Public Participation Group, Dear South Africa together with AfriForum intend on taking the government to court in order to force it to end the National State of Disaster. This follows reports that despite the low COVID-19 infections, the National Coronavirus Command Council is considering extending yet again the state of the disaster by another month. This is in order to finalize regulations to help contain and fight the virus. The current state of disaster expires today and President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation soon on the way forward. Dear SA Director, Gideon Joubert says government seems to not have an appetite to leave the state of disaster...

Leaders of Opposition Parties represented in Parliament are expected to meet today over what they term 'Project South Africa' which they believe is on a slippery slope. Part of the agenda for the meeting is amongst others, lockdown regulations, service delivery issues, and corruption linked to the State Capture Commission. UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa argues the governing party has effectively muzzled opposition parties and parliamentary process through the National Coronavirus Command Council when it comes to running the country...

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...

Over 2000 military veterans plan to bring a class-action suit against President Cyril Ramaphosa over unpaid benefits. The ex-combatants are from Umkhonto weSizwe, Azanian People's Liberation Army, and the Azanian National Liberation Army. Andries Nkome is a lawyer for the aggrieved military veterans...

27 Gautrain workers have been suspended for reportedly refusing to vaccinate against Covid-19, according to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA. Gautrain implemented a mandatory vaccination policy which came into effect from the 28th of February this year. Numsa has since taken Gautrain to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA for suspending workers that refused to vaccinate. For more on this, here is Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA National Spokesperson

The African Diaspora Forum has called on people to leave relevant authorities to deal with the issue of illegal immigrants, instead of taking the law into their own hands. This follows the clashes, which erupted between supporters of the Dudula Movement and foreign national traders in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg last week. The movement insists foreign nationals should be deported and their businesses taken over by South Africans. Meanwhile, the DA has proposed that undocumented foreigners in South Africa should be given amnesty to leave and try to re-enter the country legally or apply for visas in the country. For more on this, here is the party's shadow minister for home affairs, Adrian Roos...

Thousands of passengers were left stranded after Comair's operations were suspended indefinitely at the weekend. The South African Civil Aviation Authority, SACAA grounded Comair's planes indefinitely on Sunday, saying the airline had not adequately addressed safety issues. The suspension has affected passengers of low-cost airline, Kulula, and British Airways. Comair says it is unable to confirm when it will start flying again. For the latest, here is The South African Civil Aviation Authority, SACAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu

New Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo takes up his new appointment on April 1st. President Ramaphosa made the announcement yesterday saying he intends on nominating Mandisa Maya as deputy chief justice. Political analyst at the Nelson Mandela University, Ongama Mtimka