First Take SA

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's 2019 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement will be tabled on tomorrow. The minister is expected to outline government's revenue and expenditure plans for the next two years. The minister is experiencing huge challenges which are mainly political in a slow growing economy. Revenue collection has been very low and economists predict a revenue shortfall as South African Revenue Service (SARS) struggles to achieve its tax collections targets. Treasury is also likely to revise down its economic growth forecast for the year from one-point- five percent to one percent

Newly elected DA parliamentary leader, John Steenhuisen says there still remains hope for change in South Africa through the Democratic Alliance. Steenuhisen was elected unopposed to replace former party leader, Mmusi Maimane after he resigned from the party and all its political positions. Steenhuisen, who had also stepped down as party chief chip following Maimane's resignation says his main priority is to stabilise the party and continue to hold government accountable.

The South African National Editors Forum - SANEF - has implored Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to reveal the names of the journalists he says he paid to make a story about an alleged relationship with a young woman disappear. In a story carried by Sunday World newspaper YESTRDAY, Mantashe, when contacted by the paper to comment on allegations that he was involved in an affair with a young student in Johannesburg, he allegedly said he paid R70 000 for the story not to be published and he was not going to pay more money on the same story

Springboks have booked themselves a place in the finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. This follows a nail biting win against Wales yesterday. The narrow win by the green and gold sent shockwaves across the country as Bok supporters now look ahead to a clash with England at the weekend. President Cyril Ramaphosa will also be making his way to Japan where he will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former statesmen Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki by lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.

A number of opposition leaders say they are not surprised at the dramatic developments within the Democratic Alliance. Wednesday (23/10) witnessed the resignations of party leader Mmusi Maimane and Federal Executive Chairperson Athol Trollip. Earlier this week, Herman Mashaba announced his resignation as Johannesburg Mayor and his official exit from the party. While some party leaders believe this will weaken the role of the country's opposition others see it as an opportunity to grow their electoral support

Results of Botswana's general elections are expected later today after counting and verification of ballots continued overnight.. Scores of people flocked to voting stations across the country to cast their ballots yesterday (Wednesday). The Independent Electoral Commission says voting began without any major incidents. Some political analysts say the elections are expected to be the first genuine challenge to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party - which has won every election since independence from Britain 53 years ago.

Tensions are rising between e-hailing taxi operators in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, after taxi owners entered the market with the launch of a new operation called YoTaxi. There have been reports that the new kid on the block has warned Uber and Bolt drivers to stop their operations in the province and be incorporated into their service. In a video that has since gone viral on social media, a man believed to be a YoTaxi owner, is seen threatening other drivers.

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula has urged passengers to not panic over yesterday's grounding, promising that operations will return to normal by no later than the end of this week.

Commitment to a pro-poor agenda and patriotism, are some of the reasons outgoing Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba has given for his resignation as both Mayor and DA member. Mashaba made the announcement at a media briefing at the Johannesburg council chambers on Monday. This follows the election of Helen Zille to the party's powerful Federal Council Charperson position on Sunday. Two weeks ago, Mashaba threatened to leave if what he called "right-wing elements" took over the party.

Helen Zille has once again beaten Athol Trollip in a leadership contest becoming the Democratic Alliance's Federal Council Chairperson. Zille, who came ahead of two other senior DA members, takes over from James Selfe who served for 19 years. Zille's new position, is said, comes with an incredible amount of power and influence within the party. Speaking to the media shortly after the results announcement at the party's headquarters on yesterday, Zille vowed to stay in her lane and assume the background role to support party leader Mmusi Maimane.