First Take SA

The high court in Pretoria is today set hear an urgent application by public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan to interdict the implementation of the remedial action from public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's report into the so called SARS rogue unit. Mkhwebane found the unit, which was allegedly aproved by Gordhan, was in violation of the constitution, and has directed President Cyril Ramaphosa to take appropriate disciplinary action against him

The associate professor at the Wits school of governance, Ivor Sarakinsky, has warned of a constitutional crisis in South Africa if the court rules against President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to take the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's report on an urgent judicial review. Ramaphosa confirmed his decision to approach the courts in a media briefing in Pretoria last night. Mkhwebane's report found that Ramaphosa misled Parliament about receiving a hefty donation for his 2017 presidential campaign from BOSASA

South Africans must brace themselves for a busy day as hundreds of activities are expected to take place around the country in celebration of the annual Nelson Mandela International Day today. A businessman from the O R Tambo region has contributed positively to change the lives of the children at Mzomtsha Children's Home in Ngqeleni in the Eastern Cape. Ludumo Mjanyelwa who owns a road construction company, has donated benches and vertical garden made up of recycled plastic bottles to honour the ethos of the late former President Mandela.

A survey commissioned by Tyme Bank has revealed that most South Africans run out of money before the end of the month. According to the report, while many do have a budget 76% of those surveyed still go broke before their next pay. Women are said to be the hardest hit and this is because they take care of their children and families

Today is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the spaceflight Apollo 11 that landed humans on the moon 4 days later. Apollo 11 was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on July 16, 1969 and was the fifth crewed mission of NASA's Apollo programme. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin, landed the Apollo Lunar Module, Eagle, on July 20, 1969. To look at the significance of this historic moment we are joined on the line by Eugene Avenant, Chief Engineer for Space Operations at the South African National Space Agency - (SANSA)

Former Communications Minister General Simphiwe Nyanda says Former President Jacob Zuma is clutching at straws in a bit to deflect attention from the damaging corruption allegations he is facing. Nyanda says if he was a spy why did Zuma deploy him to important positions in his cabinet.

Former President Jacob Zuma is expected to appear at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture today. Several witnesses have accused him of overseeing mass looting of state funds during his nine-year reign before Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him last year. Zuma has denied all wrongdoing. His lawyers have described the inquiry as an attempt to humiliate him.

Violence continued in some areas of the Cape Flats this past week-end despite a strong police presence in Phillipi East. One of the latest victims is EFF branch chairperson in the Western Cape, Xolani Jack, who was shot 14 times and killed in Khayelitsha. Three alleged gang members have also been injured in a shootout with the police in Grassy Park.

Commercial farmers in the North West province are concerned over the increase in the number of invasions into their farms. Agri North West is alleging that some local small-scale farmers living adjacent to large commercial farms have been forcefully accessing their properties seeking grazing land for their own livestock.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has filed an urgent application to suspend and interdict the remedial actions in a report released by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. In a statement, Gordhan's lawyers say he wants to review and set aside the report and have it declared unlawful, unconstitutional, irrational and invalid. In her report Mkhwebane found Gordhan guilty of maladministration and violating the prescripts of the National Strategic Intelligence Act, as well as the Constitution, for the establishment of an intelligence unit at the South African Revenue Service in 2007.