First Take SA

Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani is reported to have fled the country as the Taliban take over Kabul as the last big city under the control of the government. This as foreign nationals scramble to vacate the country fearing for any potential violence that may happen. The Taliban insists it wants a peaceful transition of power following the exit of US led forces which started two decades ago. Taliban forces have now taken control for the majority of country leaving many fearing for the future.

Zambian police have appealed to citizens to refrain from expressing their anxiety through protesting on the streets. The country is monitoring the slow trickle of results in the presidential and national elections. Zambians went to the polls on Thursday. There have been several incidents of violence and disturbances around the elections. President Edgar Lungu who is trailing his opposition, Hakainde Hichilema claimed the elections were not free or fair

Four countries in Africa have entered their fourth wave of surging COVID-19 infections. According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, Algeria, Kenya, Somalia and Tunisia are seeing infections rise again for a fourth time since the pandemic. Less than 2-percent of the continent's population is fully vaccinated as countries continue to struggle in securing COVID-19 vaccine doses.

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday dedicated much of his second day at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, to deal with state security and the renewal of the ANC. The president defended his decision to take charge of the Ministry of State Security and rejected the notion that he is amassing power in order to deal with his enemies.  Ramaphosa also reiterated the ANC's commitment to cleanse itself of corruption.

A senior official at the WHO has warned against stigmatization, which could emerge as the divide between vaccinated and unvaccinated people within communities or societies, grows.  This sentiment was echoed by an official at GAVI- The Vaccine Alliance who reiterated their view that vaccinations were an individual choice despite the urgent public health implications of not vaccinating.  This as the federal government, the military, companies and cities in the United States increasingly demand employees are vaccinated to be able to return to work- or mandate it for entry into indoor facilities like restaurants and gyms

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he considered a number of options when he found out state capture was happening under his watch as deputy.  He was testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture YESTERDAY. Ramaphosa, will continue to testify TODAY, giving evidence as head of the ANC and as Deputy President of the Republic from May 2014.  The president also dealt with matters of cadre deployment in the party and allegations leveled against him in his personal capacity with regards to Eskom. Independent researcher and author, Dr. Dale Mckinley...

As South Africa continues to record new covid-19 cases and deaths, pharmaceutical company MSD says an effective treatment, in addition to vaccination, could prove to be a critical component in the fight against the virus. MSD says it is in its final stages of developing an Investigational Antiviral Candidate for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19.  The organization says clinical trials began in the country in June this year. For more on this here is principal investigator in the MSD phase three clinical trial for an anti-viral candidate treatment for COVID-19, Dr Lize Hellstrom...

Demand for oxygen and Oxygen cylinders has skyrocketed in the country due to covid-19 related infections. Health care professionals say consumers are prepared to pay any price to purchase oxygen and oxygen cylinders to save the lives of their loved ones. An oxygen cylinder and a regulator could now cost you about four thousand Rands, while refiling oxygen could set you back more than 200 Rands. Amina Accram reports

The ANC in the Free State has re-iterated that members can support criminally-charged party members in their personal capacity. This is ahead of TODAY'S multimillion rand asbestos corruption pre-trial hearing in the Bloemfontein High Court. Suspended ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, alongside 10 others and five companies face more than 70 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The charges relate to the alleged irregular awarding of the 255-million-rand asbestos roof eradication contract in 2014. Our reporter in Bloemfontein, Makgala Masiteng brings us more...

The ANC caucus in Parliament has nominated former Defence minisiter, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, as the Speaker Elect. This follows the selection of National Assembly Speaker, Thandi Modise to replace Mapisa-Nqakula in her former position in last week's cabinet reshuffle. Parliament is currently in recess until the middle of this month after which a Speaker will be elected at the sitting of the National Assembly. Any of the other parties in the House may nominate a candidate, although none have indicated that they would do so. Political analyst and author, Sanusha Naidu brings us some analysis...