First Take SA

Police have confirmed that two toddlers and a baby are among the seven people killed in the fire in Karatara area of Knysna in the Western Cape. Wild fires have been raging in the George and Karatara area since last week, leading to evacuations yesterday. The fires have been fanned by strong winds and heat. More than 300 firefighters are on the ground battling the blazes. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Western Cape Disaster Management Spokesperson James Styan

Home Affairs Department Minister Malusi Gigaba claims the leak of a sexual video, is at the centre of blackmail and extortion attempts against him. The video which was circulating on social media early yesterday morning has been removed. In a number of tweets Gigaba apologised saying the video dates back to 2016/2017 and was only meant to be viewed by his wife. The minister also claims the video was stolen from his phone during a hacking incident which occurred in March 2017, around the time he was appointed Minister of Finance. Meanwhile, Social media law experts have warned that anyone who shares sexually explicit material of a person without their consent is guilty of distributing revenge porn and can be held liable for defamation or crimen injuria. This after the explicit video of Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has been doing the rounds on social media. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Social media lawyer Diana Shwarz

DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, has reportedly retracted a statement he made in which he claimed that the five DA councillors who resigned from the City of Cape Town on Thursday, were implicated in tender irregularities and maladministration in the Bowman Gilfellan report. The City commissioned the report to investigate corruption. Shaun August, Suzette Little, Thulani Stemele, Gregg Barnardo and Siya Mamkeli all resigned as DA councillors, citing issues of racism within the party as the reason for their resignations. The councillors had given Maimane until 6pm TODAY (29/10) to retract the statement or face legal action. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to former DA chief whip in the City of Cape Town council, Shaun August

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has commenced with the process of re-enlisting former police officers. The re-enlistment is aimed at improving capacity in different SAPS divisions that are currently facing operational problems. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SAPS' General, Lenny Govender

TALKING POINTS:
**** The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari says he will no longer sign any treaty without assessing the impact it will have on its citizens
**** Liberian President George Weah has cancelled tuition fees for undergraduate students in the West African country
**** Ambassador Sahlework Zewde to Become Ethiopia's President replacing replacing the outgoing president, Dr. Mulatu Teshome, who has been the president since October 2013

DA leader in the Western Cape, Bonginkosi Madikizela says racism in South Africa manifests itself in all political parties. Madikizela was responding, YESTERDAY evening, to reasons given by now former chief whip of the DA in the Cape Town City council, Shaun August, that he is leaving the DA because of racism in the party. August together with four other councillors dramatically resigned yesterday during a council meeting which was to discuss a report implicating Cape Town Mayor, Patricia De Lille. Krivani Pillay spoke to political analyst from the Nelson Mandela University, Ongama Mtimka

Alliance partners expect newly appointed Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, to not only give substance to the economic stimulus package announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa -- but also to boost confidence in the economy. The country entered a technical recession, plunging an already stagnant economy into deeper trouble. The former governor of the Reserve Bank will have his work cut out, as he navigates the tough economic challenges. Meanwhile, economists expect Finance Minister to make some announcements on expenditure rather than tax increases when he delivers the mid-term budget. Economists say there is no more room for VAT increases. Also revenue collection needs to be more efficient by increasing tax compliance measures and fixing tax administration and governance challenges at SARS. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to political economist and senior research fellow at Trade Collective, Lebohang Pheko

SAMWU in Limpopo has called on the ANC to recall its deployees in the Vhembe District Municipality over links to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. Municipal workers yesterday downed tools and forcefully removed the municipal manager, Reuben Rambado from office. Rambado, together with Executive Mayor, Florence Radzilani are amongst the implicated people in the Reserve Bank report tittled 'The Great Bank Heist'. Radzilani is also the ANC provincial deputy chairperson in Limpopo. SAMWU's shopsteward at Vhembe District Municipality, Timson Tshililo says they will stay away from work until the implicated parties are removed from office. Tsepiso Malwetla spoke to SAMWU's provincial Secretary in Limpopo, Patrick Aphane and Vhembe District Municipality spokesperson, Matodzi Ralushai...

The Judge in the rape trial of controversial Nigerian pastor -- Timothy Omotoso -- has refused to recuse himself from the case, following a request by the defence for him to do so. Judge Mandela Makaula has agreed to postpone the case till Thursday, to allow the defence time to prepare its argument for an appeal. Omotoso and two co-accused are on trial in the Port Elizabeth High Court, and are facing 97 sex related charges. Meanwhile, Omotoso remains in custody and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sithohave have been granted bail, supporters of Cherly Zondi and other witnesses who are yet to testify have alleged that Omotoso is receiving preferential treatment while in custody. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo

TALKING POINTS:
*** Paul Biya who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, won a landslide victory in a controversial presidential election
*** The Bank of Mauritius has been conferred the Capital Finance International Award for Best Central Bank Governance
*** Dispute between Tullow Oil and the Uganda government over a law governing taxation of the sale of shares