First Take SA

Figures released by Statistics South Africa indicate that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 29-point-1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the third of last year. The results further indicate that the number of employed persons increased by 43-thousand to 16-point-4-million, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by 8-thousand to 6-point-7-million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

On Thursday (13 February) President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his second State of the Nation Address since last year's general elections. Ramaphosa came into office promising to reverse the damage caused by over nine years of Jacob Zuma's presidency. He has, however, faced serious challenges in this regard, not least being his government's seeming inability to arrest the spiralling economic decline. The President also faces an onslaught from within his own party, the ANC.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is TODAY expected to deliver the keynote address during the 30th anniversary of the release date of former statesman Nelson Mandela from prison. Mandela was released from the then Victor Verster Prison 30 years ago after serving 27 years behind bars. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the apartheid government. The day also marks the 13th anniversary of the unbanning of political parties and the release of political prisoners.

No identity documents, no proof of residence, no viewing of property. This is just one of the measures estate agents have had to adopt to try and protect themselves from criminals posing as buyers. However, unsuspecting people have also been defrauded of their monies by people posing as estate agents.

Former Head of procurement at SAA technical Nontsasa Memela has denied all allegations labelled against her including bribery and wrong doing in which she had been implicated by two witnesses last week. She told Justice Zondo she did not see a conflict of interest when a bidding company paid 2.5 million Rands towards the purchase of her property in Bedfordview. She has also denied she supplied bid documents to JM aviation so they could secure a 1-point-2 billion Rand contract with SAA technical

The EFF has vowed to disrupt the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party says it wants to see the back of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan before the day of the SONA. Malema addressed the media in Centurion, Pretoria yesterday following the party's Stategic Meeting, the Plenum that seek to pave a way forward for the EFF in the year 2020.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust has welcomed the announcement by the Chinese to enforce the ban on illegal wildlife trade and increase regulation of wildlife markets. It is believed that the Coronavirus originated in a food market in China, which was illegally selling wildlife. More than 500 people have died of the virus in mainland China, and thousands infected.

Germany has vowed to work with South Africa and help it overcome its energy crisis. The Germans will also provide vocational training to young people in the country. This came out during Chancellor Angela Merkel's working visit to the country yesterday. In his response, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the need to increase investment by over 600 German companies operating in the country.

South African Airways has announced that it will be cancelling more domestic, regional and international flights by the end of the month. The only route the ailing airline will retain locally are reduced flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, ceasing operations to Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London. Regional flights to Luanda, Entebbe, Abidjan via Accra and Ndola will also be canned. Internationally, flights to Hong, Sao Paolo Brazil, Guanhzhou and Munich Germany will also be chopped.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it is dismayed by the warrant of arrest issued by the Pietermaritzburg High Court for former President Jacob Zuma. Zuma did not attend the court proceedings of his corruption trial and the judge was not satisfied with the content and authenticity of a sick note produced by his lawyer. However, the warrant will be executed only if he does not appear in court on the 6th of May.