First Take SA

The DA has unveiled its seven point plan to help resuscitate the local economy. This follows last week's news that the country had slipped into a technical recession. The official opposition says its plan entails -- among others, privatising SAA and Eskom, reducing the number of cabinet ministers and exempting small businesses employing less than 250 people from complying with restrictive labour laws. Our Political Correspondent, Ntebo Mokobo has more...

Health sector unions will seek legal recourse following the fire that has left the Bank of Lisbon building in downtown Johannesburg gutted. The fire broke out on the 23rd floor on Wednesday and left three firefighters dead. The building, which housed three Gauteng departments, is one of seven government buildings in the city centre that don't comply with health and safety standards. Unions say they've been raising concerns for years about the unsafe condition of the building. Elvis Preslin spoke to Gauteng government spokesperson, Thabo Masebe.

Health sector unions will seek legal recourse following the fire that has left the Bank of Lisbon building in downtown Johannesburg gutted. The fire broke out on the 23rd floor on Wednesday and left three firefighters dead. The building, which housed three Gauteng departments, is one of seven government buildings in the city centre that don't comply with health and safety standards. Unions say they've been raising concerns for years about the unsafe condition of the building. Tshimologo Maputla reports

ANC MP Vincent Smith will only know by Wednesday whether his request to step aside as chairperson of various committee has been granted or not. This is according to the ANC Chief Whip's Office in Parliament. Smith has requested to step aside until the Ethics Committee has concluded its investigation into his conduct. The Council for the Advance of the South African Constitution believes that Smith took the right decision to step aside as our Parliamentary Correspondent, Mercedes Besent tells us...

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. It's a day meant to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. In South Africa, according to the available data, approximately 11 out of every 100 000 people across all age groups commit suicide. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), estimates that suicide accounts for up to 9% of all deaths among the youth..Elvis Preslin spoke to Wouter Lombard, Associate Director at health and pharmaceutical giant, CIPLA.

The secretary of the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal, Thanduxolo Sabelo, has lodged a complaint with the Press Ombudsman following a weekend report that he was involved in plans to oust President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Sunday Times newspaper reported YESTERDAY that former president Jacob Zuma allegedly held a secret meeting in Durban last week with key ANC officials including the party's Secretary-General Ace Magashule, former North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, Secretary-General of the Women's League Meokgo Matuba and KZN Youth League Secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo in which they were plotting to unseat Ramaphosa. The ANC has dismissed the claim as unfounded. Elvis Preslin spoke to secretary of the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal, Thanduxolo Sabelo

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the public should not panic after the country slipped into recession. Ramaphosa has given the assurance that government will soon respond to South Africa's plunge into a technical recession. Ramaphosa was in KwaZulu-Natal to engage business and party leaders where he also addressed the community of Chatsworth as part of the Thuma Mina Campaign. Elvis Preslin spoke to chief executive of Pan-African Investment and Research Services Dr Iraj Abedian

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has heard submissions from various implicated persons to cross- examine some of the witnesses. He has since granted businessman Fana Hlongwane permission to cross-examine former deputy Finance minister Mcebisi Jonas. Former president Jacob Zuma's chief-of-staff Lakela Kaunda and Hawks official Mandla Mtholo willl cross-examine former ANC member of Parliament Vytjie Mentor. But Zondo has reserved judgment for in the applications of Ajay Gupta, Rajesh Gupta and Duduzane Zuma. The SABC reporter, Mbali Thethani reports…

The new Nelson Mandela Bay coalition administration is on Friday expected to continue with the council meeting that ousted the former Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, Speaker Jonathan Lawack and Chief Whip Werner Senekal after DA's councilllor Mbulelo Manyathi abstained during voting. The meeting was adjourned after the election of the mayor and chief whip and some agenda points were not discussed. The DA led coalition partners say they won't attend the meeting as it is illegitimate and is currently challenging the previous sitting that ousted Trollip, Senekal and appointed new Speaker ANC's Buyelwa Mafaya. Trollip was replaced by UDM's Mongameli Bobani as the Executive Mayor. SABC reporter, Mcebisi Ngqina reports…

Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, has promised to take full responsibility for the deadly Bank of Lisbon building fire in the Johannesburg CBD should investigations find he was at fault. Three firefighters were killed and several others injured fighting the blaze. It has since emerged that the building is among several that did not comply with safety standards. Firefighters spent a second day trying to extinguish the blaze. Elvis Presslin spoke to City of Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi....