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"...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) says the Judicial Service Commission is attempting to misuse the constitutional power in the process of appointing a Chief Justice. The JSC has recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa should appoint the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Mandisa Maya to be the next Chief Justice. The other three candidates who were interviewed were Acting Chief Justice  Raymond Zondo, Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and Judge President of the Gauteng High Court Division, Dunstan Mlambo. Meanwhile, the Helen Suzman Foundation has raised objections to the manner in which the process of interviewing the four judges was conducted. For further details, here is legal councillor at the Helen Suzman Foundation, Anton Van Dalsen

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says schools are ready for learners to return to the classroom full-time, from today. She says the scrapping of the rotational timetable, which was implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had already been gazetted. The move comes after a cabinet decision at the end of last month, to end rotational learning with immediate effect and to remove social distancing measures. Meanwhile, the Educators Union of South Africa has called for infrastructure challenges in schools to be given urgent attention. For more on this here is EUSA spokesperson, Kabelo Mahlobongwane

Many areas have been flooded following heavy rains in Gauteng at the weekend. Meanwhile, authorities say over one-hundred people have been left homeless following heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal. The provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta says disaster management teams are continuing with assessments that will provide the extent of the damage in various municipalities. For a quick update, here is the COGTA department's spokesperson Senzo Mzila

Four North West police officers have been granted bail of R500 each by the Coligny Magistrate's Court in the province. They allegedly colluded with petrol attendants between January and December 2020 using fuel cards of police vehicles to pay for fuel that was never poured into these vehicles. For the latest, here is North West Police Spokesperson, Lieutenant colonel Amanda Funani

Chief Justice nominee Dunstan Mlambo has denied allegations of sexual harassment against him. He describes it as a poisonous rumour. Mlambo faced these questions during his interview by the Judicial Service Commission for the top position in the constitutional court. The Judge President of the Gauteng High Court Division also pleaded with the JSC to warn a candidate ahead of the interview -  when there are serious allegations against the person. For a look at what has transpired all week, here is Mbekezeli Benjamin researcher and advocacy officer for the organisation Judges Matter

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories, here is Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back"

The University of Cape Town says rape allegations against a senior member of the SRC are receiving urgent attention at the highest level. This follows protests on campus which were sparked by an anonymous social media post alleging that a member of the SRC had sexually assaulted and raped a first-year student in October last year. The SRC has since also issued its own statement condemning sexual violence and insisting that a case will be formally opened soon with the institution's Special Tribunal for Gender-Based Violence. For the latest on this here is our reporter, Carmel Loggenberg

A hospital in Louisiana in the United States has become one of the first hospitals to install a robot designed to assist surgeons in the operating room. However, there are some things we can do to assist our bodies before we need a visit to the operating room. So will a "Chiropractor" be replaced by a robot? To answer this question and other medical matters here is Dr Travis Mitchell, a chiropractor in Johannesburg

Community members of Umzinto on KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast are threatening to boycott the upcoming census if their water challenges are not addressed urgently. Stats SA will be conducting a nationwide census up to the 28th of February. This community however says their water woes have been ongoing for more than 4 years without any concrete solutions. This comes after a protest in the area on Monday that brought the town to a standstill. One protester was shot and injured in the leg. People say they have had enough - all they want is water. For more on the start of the census, here is Luqmaan Omar , Head of Census Programme Office