First Take SA

Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema says President Cyril Ramaphosa has passed a motion of no confidence in himself  by shifting government's responsibility of job creation to the private sector. However his sentiments were not shared by the Democratic Alliance which welcomed the Ramaphosa's pronouncement on the role of the private sector in growing the economy. His sixth SONA has been met with been mixed reaction from other parties. Elvis Presslin spoke to Senior Research Fellow and Political Economist at Trade Collective, Lebohang Pheko.

This week on Africa Brief we begin in Kenya where the Equity Group Ranked the Fifth Strongest Banking Brand in the World, in Morocco, the EU Unveils €1.6 Billion Investment in Morocco and Kiswahili Becomes AU's Working Language. Elvis Presslin spoke to  Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo and author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back", Victor Kgomoesoana.

Some government departments, embassies, businesses, homeowners are without electricity and water after owing City of Tshwane seventeen-billion Rands in utilities. The City of Tshwane has embarked on what it says "an aggressive revenue collection campaign" by disconnecting services to defaulting customers. Elvis Presslin spoke to the acting chief of staff in the City of Tshwane Mayor's office, Jordan Griffiths.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate says it is investigating a case of death as a result of police action, after an on-duty police officer gunned down his on-duty nurse girlfriend at the Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg. The officer shot the 30-year-old woman several times before turning the gun on himself. He is now in a crital but stable condition at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. Elvis Presslin spoke to IPID spokesperson Ms Grace Langa.

Social Justice Organisation, Black Sash says it will continue its call for President Ramaphosa to extend the Social Relief of Distress Grant and recommends that it be increased to at least the Food Poverty line of just over R600. Ramaphosa is set to focus on the progress made in the four key priority areas he identified last year when he delivers his State of the Nation Address on on Wednesday evening. His address comes at a time when the economy is faced with a combination of high unemployment, stagnant GDP growth as well as a widening gap between rich and poor. Elvis Presslin spoke to Black Sash's paralegal field-worker, Vincent Skhosana. 

 In the build up to this year's State Of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, there are growing expectations that he will address calls for jobs in some sectors of the economy to be reserved exclusively for South Africans. The possible exclusion of foreign nationals from some sectors was reportedly discussed by the African National Congress, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party at a recent Lekgotla. This comes amid growing tensions in the country as some demand better regulations for foreign nationals. ELvis Presslin spoke to leader of the South African First Party, Mario Khumalo....

Former DA Federal Chairperson, Athol Trollip has been touted as the latest new member that is about to join Herman Mashaba's ActionSA. This follows meetings by Mashaba in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape where the party tweeted it would be announcing its new members to lead the province. Trollip, a former mayor of the hotly contested Nelson Mandela Bay metro resigned from the DA following the departure of former DA leader, Mmusi Maimane. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC politics reporter, Samkele Maseko and political analyst at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Dr Kuhle Zwakala.

40 Richards Bay High School pupils were hospitalized yesterday after a suspected gas leak at the Foskor plant. The plant is a producer of phosphates and phosphoric acid. The were also reports that other residents were also rushed to hospital after experiencing vomiting, nausea and breathing difficulties reportedly due to the unknown gas leak. KwaZulu Natal Provincial Education Spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi.

The Expert Panel looking into the July unrest says Cabinet must be held accountable for the violence which claimed over 300 lives. The panel, appointed in August last year, also found that the country's intelligence services failed to intercept and prevent the planned and orchestrated riots. The report released by President Cyril Ramaphosa says Cabinet must take responsibility for failing to contain violence which saw the destruction of public property, the killing of over 300 people, and destruction of businesses in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and some parts of Mpumalanga. Program manager at the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, Themba Masuku.

Black First Land First, BLF is expected to hand over an affidavit to the Hillbrow Police Station in Johannesburg, which the party says proves that President Cyril Ramaphosa should be charged criminally for corruption. The party says Ramaphosa is compromised as he was allegedly involved in criminality for contravening Sections 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. This stems from leaked audio which purports to be of Ramaphosa admitting to using state funds for the African National Congress' operations. Here is BLF president, Andile Mngxitama