First Take SA

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he regrets that the party delayed investigating allegations of state capture through parliament's committees in 2016, but denies that this was due to deliberate resistance. Testifying on Day Two at the State Capture Commission as Head of the ANC, Ramaphosa dealt with issues relating to political party funding including his CR17 campaign, party discipline as well as efforts by the party to renew itself.

Former ANC Chairperson and Premier of the North West, Supra Mahumapelo has called on the party's Secretary General, Ace Magashule to NOT step aside if he feels he has not done anything wrong. Mahumapelo was speaking with our political reporter, Samkele Maseko in an exclusive interview YESTERDAY. Although Mahumapelo has been slapped with a five year suspension from the party for indiscipline by the North West Interim Provincial Committee, he insists that he remains a full ANC member in good standing. He also announced that has written to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party appealing his suspension. Mahumapelo says the step aside resolution must not be used to fight political differences within the ANC.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande has defended the government's decision to source Cuban engineers to help repair the country's ailing water infrastructure. Nzimande was speaking during a visit to the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. The centre upskills mineworkers in various fields

The City of Cape Town will today be meeting firefighters over a threat to down tools due to poor working conditions and retrenchments. The meeting comes after South African Municipal Workers Union - SAMWU warned against the impending mass dismissal of over 500 firefighters by the City of Cape Town. SAMWU is also complaining about the long working hours without any form of compensation nor control which they say both endanger the firefighters lives and those of the communities they serve.

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, has until Friday to suspend her department's Cuban engineer programme, or she may have to defend its rollout in court. The programme has aroused controversy, with trade union Solidarity, threatening to go to court TOMORROW (Friday) to obtain an interdict, forcing its suspension. There's also been a backlash from South Africa's Engineering Sector. Sisulu brought in 24 Cuban engineers to help repair the country's ailing water infrastructure at a cost of 65-million rand.

The ANC did not do enough to fight corruption and state capture. President, Cyril Ramaphosa made this acknowledgement at the Zondo Commission on Wednesday. He said the capture was only clear in hindsight. The commission spent much of the day questioning Ramaphosa on the ANC's Cadre Deployment policy.

The South African Municipal Workers Union - SAMWU - has warned against the impending mass dismissal of over 500 firefighters by the City of Cape Town. This follows a wage dispute between firefighters and City management which dates back to 2010. The matter was brought to the Labour Court with both parties instructed to sit and resolve their differences. The bone of contention is the terms of employment between the two parties, specifically the issue of firefighters working for the full 24 hours in a day. SAMWU says the long hours without any form of compensation nor control both endanger the firefighters lives and those of the communities they serve.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has implored South Africans to vote out corrupt and incompetent leaders at the upcoming October 27th polls. He says voting is the best form of protest and reminds all leaders that they are in the service of the people and not themselves. The President was speaking at the Freedom Celebrations in Botsabelo, Free State, YESTERDAY as the country commemorated 27 years of Democracy

Former Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has told the State Capture Commission that he appointed two of his advisers because they understood the culture of the African National Congress. However, when further questioned the former minister failed to give information about two of his advisers, Malcolm Mabaso and Kueban Moodley. Zwane told the commission that it was his department that was supposed to provide him with information about the two men that he had appointed

Former ANC Chairperson and premier in the North West, Supra Mahumapelo, says the ANC is flouting the constitution, as some of the party's resolutions are in conflict with the law. He says they want the national executive committee (NEC) of the party to intervene. This emerged during Maumapelo' address to branch members in Delareyville.