First Take SA

Today's highly anticipated court appearance of jailed former President Jacob Zuma will be heard virtually. This after the former president was admitted at a Military hospital on Thursday for observation by the Military Health Services. The virtual court appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court is expected to hear Zuma's application for a postponement of the case. Initially, today's date was set down to hear Zuma's application for the recusal of prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer. For an update on the story here is SABC reporter in KwaZulu Natal, Vusi Makhosini...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government has allocated approximately R21 billion over the next three years to support the six pillars of the national strategic plan aimed at eradicating gender-based violence. He says the critical pillar of the plan is to ensure womens' economic-financial inclusion. Yesterday, Ramaphosa held a virtual women's day celebration address, marking the sixty years since more than twenty thousand women marched to the Union Building against pass laws. For a reaction on the measures announced by the president aimed at dealing with challenges faced by women in South Africa, National Director at the Khulumani support group, Dr Marjorie Jobson...

Power utility Eskom has assured consumers that an explosion at the newly completed multi-billion rand Medupi power station would not result in load shedding. The power utility said a generation unit caught alight on Sunday night and affected another unit. All employees who were on duty were accounted for while several employees were treated for shock. No other serious injuries were reported. For inside information on the incident, here is Energy Expert, Ted Bloom...

This Tuesday, 10 August 2021 edition of Africa Brief we take a look at

• SADC Cross-Border Payments Become Seamless
• Agricultural Exports in Egypt Rise to 4.3 Million Tons...and...
• Nigeria's Dangote Refinery Capacity Scares Off Licensees From Investing in Petrol Refining

Victor Kgomoesoana, Director at "Africa Is Open For Business" who has also authored a new book "Africa Bounces Back", to look at this week's top African economic stories.......

EAST AFRICA: The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development - IGAD - Issues Alert Over Ageing Tanker Abandoned in the Red Sea

ANGOLA: Isabel dos Santos Ordered to Return to Angola U.S.$500 Million in Shares 'Tainted by Illegality'

NIGERIA: Nigerian Govt to Invest $2.76 Billion in Dangote Refinery, $1.5 Billion in Warri & Kaduna Refineries

The battle by education advocacy group, Section 27, to get rid of pit toilets in Limpopo schools is set to continue in the Polokwane High Court today (Friday). In 2018, Judge Gerrit Muller ordered that the Limpopo Department of Education and Department of Basic Education to develop a plan to eradicate pit toilets at Limpopo schools. Section 27 together with Equal Education, who have joined as a friend of the court, believe the plan provided by government is unconstitutional and unreasonable. For more here is Section27 communications officer, Julia Chaskalson... .

One of the most glaring surprises of last night's cabinet reshuffle announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa was his acceptance of the resignation of a long-standing request by Minister Tito Mboweni to be excused from his position as Minister of Finance. He was replaced by ANC finance guru, Enoch Gondongwana. To find out how he will be recieved by the business sector and the markets here is Dawie Roodt, chief economist  at  Efficient Group....

For some analysis of last night's cabinet reshuffle here is Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu, Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University....

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made some changes to his Cabinet. This saw several ministers being moved around, following the resignation of Health Minister Doctor Zweli Mkhize and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. The president told the nation as he announced the changes in his cabinet, that this happens at a time the country is facing several challenges which needed to be attended to, with urgency. President Ramaphosa says due to the many developments in the country in recent months and weeks, some action needed to be taken to further improve governance in South Africa. However, there were no ministers who faced the axe, as Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be deployed to a different area, where she will serve the nation. The following new appointments have been made - Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Defence Minister Thandi Modise, Finance Minister Enoch Gondogwana, Health Minister Joe Paahla, Human Settlements Minister Mamoloko Kubayi, Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu. The president has thanked both former Ministers, Tito Mboweni, who leaves the Finance Department and Doctor Zweli Mkhize who resigned as Health Minister, just hours before the cabinet reshuffle. For his reaction to the cabinet reshuffle here is Rev. Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, ACDP...

Former president Jacob Zuma will have his in-person court hearing next week Tuesday, following a directive that the matter involving him and the Thales Group will be heard in an open court in the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The decision comes after a ruling against an application by prosecutor advocate Billy Downer, who wanted the matter to be held virtually like before. For more on this here is the spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi...