First Take SA

There has been a marked increase in the demand for training material on how to manufacture coffins and caskets since the lockdown. That's according to Peter Louw, of the SA Coffin Training School, based in Boksburg on Gauteng's East Rand. Louw says the increased number of deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic has also led to a high demand for funeral services, as well as burial space.

Political parties have given mixed reactions to the International Monetary Fund - IMF's - multi-billion rand loan to South Africa. The Executive Board of the IMF has approved the country's request for a 70-billion rand loan to help bolster its response to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. But with rampant corruption in the country, some parties are sceptical the money will reach its intended beneficiaries

Trade union Nehawu has questioned the accuracy of Covid 19 stats that are released by the Health Department, particularly on health workers. The union was briefing members of the media in Johannesburg. This as the country's confirmed cases continue to reach record highs. The union has also threatened to go on a nationwide strike in the health care sector over the lack of protective gear in some hospitals.

Electricity tariffs are set to increase after Eskom won a court battle against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa over a 69-billion rand equity injection. In the scathing judgment YESTERDAY*, the high court declared that Nersa's decision to deduct the equity injection into Eskom from its allowable revenue for the period 2019/2020 to 2021/2022 was illegal. The court has instructed that the full amount be rocovered in a phased manner over the next three years. The power utility has welcomed the judgement, saying it will assist in paving the way forward towards financial sustainability.

Government's "special official" funeral for the last Rivonia trialist to pass away, Andrew Mlangeni, will be held at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto THIS MORNING (Wednesday 29/07/2020) at about nine o'clock. Ninety-five-year-old Mlangeni died at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria last Wednesday (22/07/2020). He was one of the ANC's first MK members to be trained in China and to meet "Chairman Mao" in 1962. Back home, Mlangeni disguised himself as a priest to recruit others into the armed struggle and became known as "Robot". In mid-1964, Mlangeni and seven other Rivonia trialists - including Denis Goldberg, "Kathy" Kathrada, Raymond Mhlaba and Elias Motsoaledi - were convicted of conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government. For that, Mlangeni was jailed for over 26 years. He only tasted freedom again at the age of 64 in late 1989

Residents of Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas in KwaZulu Natal run the risk of suffering from further respiratory diseases as toxic smoke continues to blanket the City, forcing many residents to flee their homes. The smoke emissions, which environmentalists have warned could potentially carry cancer-causing chemicals, emanates from a local landfill site that has been continuously burning for over a week. The Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee conducted a site visit over the weekend and recommended that the landfill site be shutdown and removed

President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Khusela Diko, has temporarily left office. This comes amid a probe into the awarding of two contracts for the supply of PPEs to Royal Bhaca Projects in which her husband is a director. There are concerns that Diko might have used her position to get the tender for Royal Bhaca Projects. This comes as the ANC in Gauteng announced that it had summoned Khusela Diko together with Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and his wife Loyiso Masuku to a meeting over the scandal.

At least 25 people were arrested yesterday across the Cape Penisula on charges of public violence and contravening sections of the Disaster Management Act. This followed various shutdown protests called by the Cape Coloured People's Congress demanding among others houses and job opportunities.

Cape Town Mayoral member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the City will act against protests, should they turn violent, including the obstruction of access to public roads and the vandalism of infrastructure. This as a group called the Gatvol Capetonian Movement plans a shutdown of the City this morning. They are protesting against poor service delivery in coloured communities

The Gauteng Health Department says it's waiting for the City of Tshwane to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enable them to turn the Tshwane Events Centre -- formerly known as Tshwane Show Grounds -- into a Covid-19 field hospital. The city took control of the facility after a protracted legal battle with TSHWABAC -- who owned and managed it. The property was transferred free of charge to Tshwabac -- formerly known as the Northern Transvaal Chamber of Industries