First Take SA

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has told members of the Provincial Legislature that the Cannabis Sector will receive more attention from his government in the next five years as part of growing the economy. This follows an announcement by Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane last year that this sector will be prioritised by government in order to enhance job opportunities for the youth. Makhura says they are already in consultation with the different national departments on how the industry can be further industrialised.

The second day in the trial of the televangelist Timothy Omotoso, saw the first witness, Andisiwe Dike continuing her testimony in the Port Elizabeth High Court. Dike gave details of how young women were allegedly sexually abused and intimidated by the accused. The thirty year old woman spent thirteen months in the church house of the Jesus Dominion International Church in Mhlanga north of Durban, with the hope of improving her life.

The Commission for Gender Equality says forced and coerced sterilisation is a gross violation of women's human rights. The Commission released a report on forced sterilisation of women living with HIV in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. The Commission has revealed that women would be forced to sign consent forms under the guise that they were approving a ceasarian section and the nurses and doctors would go ahead and sterilise them. Meanwhile, the International Community of Women Living with HIV -ICW- has called on the South African government to ensure justice and remedies, including reparations, to the survivors and families of forced sterilisations. Lawyer, Jody Lee Fredericks...

!!!Please be warned that the following story contains details that might offend sensitive listeners!!!.
First witness Andisiwe Dike has given chilling details on how she was sexually abused by controversial pastor, Timothy Omotoso, in his church house in Durban.

SABC reporter, Pimani Boloyi reports on the family of a two year-old boy whose body was found floating in the Letsitele river, outside Tzaneen, in Limpopo believes he had been mutilated and killed before being dumped in the river. Meanwhile, 57-year-old man has allegedly beaten his four-year-old daughter to death in the Dlamini Township in Soweto. It's alleged that the man took his daughter to the Chiawelo Clinic after the assault. She died of her injuries shortly after arriving at the clinic. Advocacy manager for Women and Men Against Child Abuse, Luke Lamprecht talks to us about children continuing to die at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them...

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's Budget Speech is expected to look at innovative ways to boost economic growth, create job opportunities and alleviate poverty. As different sectors of the economy continue to lobby Finance Minister Tito Mboweni ahead of his budget speech on Wednesday, the South African Liquor Brand Owners Association has called on Mboweni to consider an inflation only increase to the Excise Tax for alcoholic beverages when he delivers his budget. The association's spokesperson Sibani Mngadi...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has apologised to the Malema family following accusations of domestic violence that were raised during two seperate occassions in joint sittings of Parliament. During the State of the Nation Address and again during the debate that followed SONA, ANC MP, Boy Mamabolo, accused Malema of abusing his wife, Mantoa. Responding to the debate, Ramaphosa called the allegations uncalled for and improper. He also called on Parliament to apologise to the nation for the way gender-based violence was used to score political points.

South Africa's parole system is once again in the spotlight following yet another young girl child that has been murdered, allegedly by someone on parole. The body of 8-year-old Tazne van Wyk from Elsie's River in Cape Town was found in a stormwater pipe outside Worcester in the Boland, two weeks after she went missing. A 54-year-old suspect is due to appear in court today.

The United States Secretary of State's remarks that land expropriation without compensation would be disastrous for the South African economy are just the latest comments from the US Government casting aspersions on the process. Addressing Ethiopian business leaders in Addis Ababa, Mike Pompeo criticized centralized planning in economies pointing to failures in Zimbabwe and Tanzania among others before turning his attention to South Africa. This comes despite efforts by Pretoria to explain the process to American stakeholders including a meeting between the country's chief diplomats in 2018, soon after President Donald Trump tweeted about the matter.

The war of words between ANC MP Boy Mamabolo, and EFF leader Julius Malema in Parliament has raised concerns over the use of Gender Based Violence to score political points. On Tuesday during the SONA debate, Mamabolo claimed that Malema had abused his wife. And in response, Malema shocked Parliament when he claimed President Cyril Ramaphosa used to beat up his late wife. Now, the fight between Malema and Mamabolo is heading to court. Malema and his wife, Mantoa Matlala, are each suing Mamabolo for one million rand.