First Take SA

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he intends on nominating Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to fill the now vacant post of Deputy Chief Justice. The two judges' names come from a Nomination Panel list of four which also included Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and Justice Duston Mlambo. Mbekezeli Benjamin from the Judicial watchdog group Judges Matter

Reactions continue to pour in at the appointment of Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as the next Chief Justice commencing on April 1st. The African Transformation Movement's spokesperson Sibusiso Mncwabe had hoped Justice Maya would be announced as the first woman Chief Justice.

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"...

The City of Johannesburg has officially reversed the permanent contracts of 130 employees back to fixed-term. This after the conversion of the contracts to permanent employment - under the then ANC administration was found to have been irregular and illegal. The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) who have accused the City's Executive Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse of a political witch-hunt, say it will challenge the decision to rescind the permanent employment contracts. For more on this, here is Samwu Regional Chairperson Esther Matatyana

The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) is set to march to CLOVER's head office this morning in anticipation of a meeting between the diary company and the Israeli Central Bottling Company. The union together with the Food and Allied Workers' Union (FAWU) have been on strike over retrenchment at the company since November last year. The prolonged stalemate over jobs has been coupled with the death of at least two security personnel with unions distancing themselves from the attacks. Police have since been deployed to high-risk areas of the company to quell the violence. For the latest on the march here is DIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei...

A showdown is looming between the Gauteng Department of Health and the Heads of Clinical Departments at the Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg ahead of what the HODs are calling the unnecessary imminent sacking of 800 healthcare workers. The workers were hired at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak following capacity shortages at one of the world's largest hospitals. This comes as staff at several hospitals in the city battle under what they call increased capacity and pressure following the closure of the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. For more on this here is the Chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee At Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Professor Mmampapatla Ramokgopa...

The Alexandra Dudula Movement has threatened a complete shutdown of all South African townships as clashes with foreign nationals intensify. The movement went on a rampage yesterday forcing businesses to close down as they made their demands for land and job spaces. The group alleges undocumented foreign nationals have a complete monopoly and dominance of the township informal market leading to many local South Africans out of work and job opportunities. One of the leaders of the movement says they intend on leading all other townships in their call for undocumented foreign nationals to go. One of the leaders of the movement, identified as 'MSYZA'...

DA leader, John Steenhuisen has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to end lockdown regulations and open up the economy to make a full recovery. This as the country's state of emergency is set to expire next week following months of extensions since inception back in March 2020. President Ramaphosa has previously indicated that the latest state of disaster extension will be the last, as new long-term and permanent regulations are being finalized. Steenhuisen says it is time to no longer be fearful of COVID-19 by treating it in the same way as we treat other health risks, such as HIV, TB, and cancer. 

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories.....We are joined on the line by 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...

Disgruntled ANC Mpumalanga members have threatened to interdict the party's provincial elective conference. This, after the provincial executive committee, was disbanded. Last week the ANC disbanded the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga top structures due to expired mandates and failure to hold conferences in time. Meanwhile, party president, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with the ANC in Mpumalanga today. For more on this, here is provincial task team co-ordinator, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali