First Take SA

The South African Police Service has instructed striking emergency centre workers to report to work by close of business tomorrow or risk facing disciplinary action. 10111 workers aligned to union SAPU have been on strike since August. An agreement between the Police Service and majority union POPCRU has been signed, rendering the strike illegal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Oscar Skommere, Secretary General for the South African Policing Union - SAPU.

The Mangaung African Cultural Festival - MACUFE - is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this year. This year's event is expected to provide spirited performances from 29 September to 7 October in the Free State capital of Bloemfontein. The theme is "Macufe's Proud Pan-African Cultural Affair". Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Marketing Manager and Organiser of the Macufe Events S'thembele Khala

A lack of skilled professionals and maintenance has emerged as among the major issues facing most of South Africa's infrastructure sectors. This is according to the South African Institution of Civil Engineering third Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa. SAICE says the overall grade of the state of country's infrastructure in 2017 is D-plus, meaning South Africa is at risk of failure. Sectors such as healthcare and education also face the same risk, with sanitation being the worst performer. Tespiso makwetla spoke to Malcolm Pautz, 2015 president of SAICE and convenor of the SAICE 2017 Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa.

The Umgeni Water Board has met with Futuregrowth to address allegations that the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, interfered adversely in the operation of Umgeni Water. The meeting follows allegations by City Press newspaper that Mokonyane had seized power at Umgeni and dissolved the board in what was suspected to be an effort to influence tender processes. Futuregrowth, a division of Old Mutual, has since threatened to withdraw its funding in the water board following the allegations. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Thami Hlongwa, Chief Executive of Umgeni Water Board

Gauteng Premiere David Makhura told thousands of Cosatu protesters that the province will end labour brokers before end of the year. Makhura accepted a memorundum from Cosatu as part of the labour federation nationwide march against state capture and corruption. Scores of people participated in the union federation's anti-state capture march today. The federation says it wants corruption in business, government and other sectors of society to end. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter Tshepo Mongoai

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has won an urgent interim interdict in the Pretoria High Court against the Bank of Baroda. The instution has frozen R1.75 billion in the Gupta-owned Optimum and Koornfontein coal mines' rehabilitation trust fund accounts. This, follows the dismissal of the Guptas' application to stop the bank from closing their accounts last week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to OUTA Chief Operating Officer, Ben Theron

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says the closure of Oakbay bank accounts may lead to a jobs bloodbath. Gupta-linked companies recently lost a court bid to stop the Bank of Baroda from closing their remaining accounts in South Africa. Speaking during a post national executive committee meeting at its Headquarters in Johannesburg today, the NUM leadership says the closure of the accounts means the company has no facility to pay salaries to workers at Shiva Uranium, Optimum coal and Koornfontein. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to NUM president Piet Matosa...

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The Federation of Unions of South Africa - FEDUSA is considering pulling out its members from the state-owned Public Investment Corporation. The PIC oversees nearly 2 trillion rand in assets on behalf of government employees. Fedusa, the country's second-biggest labour federation, says it remains concerned about lack of good governance at the PIC. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Fedusa general-secretary Dennis George

The minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba has asked state departments to review all work done by KPMG to ensure audit processes have not been compromised. This follows a KPMG statement a week ago in which it retracted findings about a so-called rogue unit at SARS and admitting to doing unethical work for the Gupta family. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Sygnia Group's Chief Executive Office, Magda Wierzycka...