First Take SA

The new South African Airways (SAA) Chief Executive Officer Vuyani Jarana started his first day at the national carrier today following his appointment in September. Jarana has being credited with transforming and positioning Vodacom Business as a growth engine of Vodacom. National Treasury said Jarana has built a solid and transformed organisation with emphasis on both top line business growth, as well as margin expansion. I spoke to him earlier about his first impressions on day one at SAA today.....

Municipal workers union - SAMWU - says it has written to the of the Ekurhuleni city manager to demand that pre suspension hearing against two metro police officers be canceled. The Ekurhuleni Metro police officers appear on a video brandishing piles of cash in take-away containers. SAMWU says it's just mere speculation that the money in possession of the officers was the proceeds of crime. We are now joined on the line by SAMWU spokesperson Papikie Mohale

The much anticipated romantic-comedy Zulu Wedding is set to hit the cinema screens nationwide in February 2018. Produced and directed by Lineo Sekeleoane, the movie follows the life of a woman who leaves South Africa to America to persue her dance career, where she finds love. When she brings her American lover home, she discovers she had traditionally been engaged to a Zulu king, since birth. The cast includes some of the best actors of the SA film and television industry such as Bubu Mazibuko and Jerry Phele as well as international actors Darrin Henson and Carl Anthony Payne. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the producer and director Lineo Sekeleoane

INTRO: The Department of Social Development and the South African Post Office, are set to brief a joint sitting of the Social Development Portfolio Committee and Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on the way forward following a deadlock yesteday regarding the social grants distributions contracts. SAPO and SASSA were sent packing, with an order to come up with an agreement to ensure everything is in place for the grants payouts next year. Meanwhile the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has since written to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking her to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to look into the Social Grants payment system. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to IFP MP, Mkhuleko Hlengwa and our Parliamentary reporter, Lulama Matya.

Five prisoners who were re-arrested after escaping from the Kutama Sinthumule maximum security prison have briefly appeared at the Louis Trichartd Magistrate's court in Limpopo. They have been charged with escaping from custody. They escaped last week during a strike by prison warders. During the strike, inmates went on the rampage, and setting parts of the prison on fire. Two of the prisoners are still on the run. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says South Africans need not be alarmed about the so-called Black Death plague. This follows an outbreak of the disease in neighbouring Madagascar where some 1-thousand 300 cases have been reported. A South African died after visiting the Island. The NICD held a media briefing to given an update of the disease. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the spokesperson for medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders in Madagascar, Dr Tim Jagatic

The unemployment rate for the third quarter of 2017, remains unchanged at 27-point-7 percent. However, the financial sector did record some growth in employment- with the industry creating 68 000 jobs. Manufacturing, Construction and Agriculture are the only sectors that didn't report any employment growth quarter-to-quarter and they've declined by 50 000, 30 000 and 25 000 respectively. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Statistician General, Dr Pali Lehohla

The Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini says they are prepared to work with the South African Post office. She, also urged SAPO to enter again into procurement processes on alternative payment services for social grants distributions. Dlamini was was speaking in Parliament where the Treasury, SASSA and the Post Office - accompanied by ministers, were briefing joint committes on progress to phase out Cash Paymaster Services from grants distribution. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Themba Godi

Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared the winner of the re-run presidential elections. This despite that voting did not take place in 25 constituencies following violent disruptions. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, withdrew from the presidential election rerun and is now demanding fresh elections within 90 days. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in Kenya, Sarah Kimani

Labour union, BEMAWU, has issued a notice to strike to the SABC board today. The union says there has been no communication from the SABC board to curb the impending strike. SABC workers are demanding a ten percent increase. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to BEMAWU President, Hannes Du Buisson