First Take SA

Fifteen ANC councillors from Nkomazi Municipality in Malelane, Mpumalanga, have until the end of business today to explain why they should not be suspended from the party. This after the councillors, nominated and voted in Johan Mkhatshwa for the position of mayor and also placed forward their own candidate for the position of speaker. Councillors from two other municipalities in the province are reported to have voted with opposition parties without the consent of the ANC. Mpumalanga's ANC acting secretary Lindiwe Ntshalinsthali says Mkhatshwa, as a PEC member and former chief whip, should have known better than to defy the party's directive.

Victor Kgomoesoana, DIirector & Author of " AFRICA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS" takes a look at this week's top African economic stories.

* Ethiopian Airlines participates in re-launching of Zambia Airways 

* United Bank for Africa (UBA) Wins 'African Bank of the Year Award

* Russian Investors Targets Nigeria Agriculture, Oil & Gas Sectors

The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools  - FEDSAS - has expressed disappointment and concern at what it calls a late extension of the placement deadline of learners at Gauteng schools. The Gauteng education department yesterday announced an extension of online applications for placement for next year to December the 10th. This is as more than 121-thousand learners remains in limbo as to which schools they will start their Grade 1 and Grade 8 next year. The department has cited delays by parents in accepting placement offers while FEDSAS says the process was opened late this year. FEDSAS Education and Technology Manager in Gauteng, Riaan Van Der Bergh.

The focus on the spread of coronavirus is disrupting HIV/AIDS programs in Limpopo. This is according to several home-based and life care centers in the province. Scientists have sounded the alarm over thousands of young African girls who continue to bear the brunt of the AIDS and HIV scourge.  New research shows that over 4-thousand people are infected daily with 25% of them being young African women. The other vulnerable groups include homosexuals and drugs users. Professor and Director of Research at the WITS Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Sinead Delany-Moretlwe...

The South African National Blood Services has appealed to blood donors to come forward as blood stocks are running critically low. This as only less than one percent of the South African population are active donors despite the fact that each unit of blood donated can save a minimum of three lives. SANBS notes that it needs Group B+ and AB- including O+ donors to come forward urgently. The need for blood donations becomes critically important ahead of the festive season, as fatal accidents are more prevalent. FSANBS national spokesperson, Khensani Mahlangu

The Road Freight Association of South Africa has warned that consumers will bear the brunt of the latest fuel price hike. This comes as motorists face yet another big jump in the petrol price with authorities confirming an 81 cent increase from midnight tonight. This means that petrol will cost more than R20 a litre inland. The petrol price has been hiked by over R2 a litre in just two months. The price of diesel will go up by between 72 and 74 cents a litre. The price of illuminating paraffin will go up by over 40 cents a litre. CEO of the Road Freight Association of South Africa, Gavin Kelly 

The University of the Free State says its vaccine exemption committee will sit every week to consider the applications of staff and students who want to be exempted on health and religious grounds. The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francis Petersen says this will ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the processing of applications. The University's vaccination policy comes into effect in February next year. This will see students returning back to classes on a full-time basis for the first time since the face-to-face classes were halted following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. South African Union of Students, Lukhanyo Daweti

Gauteng Police have called on anyone with information relating to the discovery of seven bodies at the Makause Informal settlement in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, to come forward. The deceased which include a child, were found not far away from each other on Monday morning. Police Spokesperson Kay Makhubele says while details remain sketchy, the circumstances surrounding the crimes are being investigated. 

Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back" brings us this Tuesday edition of Africa Brief

While President Cyril Ramaphosa kept South Africa at Alert Level 1 for now, the tourism industry is hardest hit as countries suspend flights to and from Southern African countries. Ramaphosa updated the nation about the Omicron variant, which is largely behind the latest increase in positive Covid-19 infections. Tourism Business Council CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa discusses the implications of a hard lockdown and the travel ban on tourism.