First Take SA

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) says its working class summit set to take place this weekend in Johannesburg will present the working class an opportunity to unite into a mass campaign for a free, democratic and equal society. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi

Economists say the Reserve Bank MPC statement indicates that the bank is not in a hurry to hike interest rates. The Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent as widely expected. Tshepo Mongoai reports

The Public Works department has lost over 2-billion rands due to fraud and corruption as a result of 16 -thousand suspicious transactions. This was discovered during an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).These revelations were made during a joint media briefing by public works Minister Thulas Nxesi and SIU head, advocate Andy Mothibi in Pretoria. Phumzile Mlangeni reports

He stands today as a beacon of universal values, peace and forgiveness and is recognized as one of the greatest leaders of our time. So says the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who along with actor and UN envoy, Forest Whitaker, headlined the official commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day at the United Nations in New York. The UN's Postal Administration also unveiled a new Mandela postage stamp to mark the centenary of his birth. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.

The CEO of the South African Post Office Mark Barnes says he's relieved that they've reached a wage agreement with recognised unions. The deal with the Communications Workers Union (CWU), the Democratic Postal Workers Union (DEPACU), and the South African Postal Workers Union (SAPWU) was signed. It brings to an end the strike which started on the third of this month. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to CEO of SAPO, Mark Barnes

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to emulate the legacy of the late former President Nelson Mandela by making a meaningful and lasting difference in their communities. The country will celebrate Madiba's birthday next Wednesday. The late struggle icon and statesman would have been 100 years old had he lived. Former US President Barack Obama will deliver the 16th Nelson Mandela annual lecture in Johannesburg on Tuesday. President Ramaphosa says showing compassion for the poor will be a fitting legacy for Madiba. The president had this to say as the country and the

Former US president, Barack Obama, has outlined various ways in which the youth in Africa can become involved in politics and leadership. Obama was speaking during an engagement with young people at the Young Leadership Academy held in Honeydew, in Johannesburg . This as South Africa celebrates the late former president Nelson Mandela's centenary birthday. Mbali Sibanyoni reports…..

Former COSATU Secretary General and Minister in the Mandela administration, Jay Naidoo, says South Africa and the World need to look to Indigenous Knowledge Systems to resolve their challenges like Madiba did. He says one of the major reasons the former statesmen had such great empathy was because of his self knowledge and his bid to find greater understanding of the earth and its workings. Naidoo says how we live today raises profound questions about the ways we have traditionally designed and put to use our institutions. He spoke to Tsepiso Makwetla

Power utility ESKOM was on Tuesday night expected to table a revised wage offer to employees. Labour unions have rejected the power utility's wage increase of seven per cent. Eskom has indicated that it wants a three-year wage deal and the unions' demands for bonuses to be deferred. Elvis Preslin spoke to spokesperson for the National Union of Mine Workers, Livhuwani Mmamburu.

July is South Africa's National Savings month. Over the next few weeks, we will be running educational features on how you can make your rand stretch and also save enough for rainy days. Today we are looking at debt consolidation. According to an article by MoneyWeb, over 16-thousand South Africans are signing up each month for debt review. The article further says since National Credit Act (NCA) became law in 2007, the number of consumers in distress has grown by 61 per cent. And, the number of credit-active consumers has grown to more than 24 million. Elvis Presslin spoke to Meerkat Debt Counselors' managing director, David O'Brien...