First Take SA

On Monday, the Johannesburg Equality Court made a ruling in favour of activist and lecture at the University of the Witwatersrand, Tim Trengove Jones. Jones had brought a case of homophobic hate speech before the court against his neighbour, for making an anti-LGBTI slurs against him. Magistrate P J Stanford, in her ruling indicated that there needs to be a clear deterrent that a behaviour and verbal abuse that culminates in homophobic insult is totally unacceptable. Ike Phaahla spoke to Wits University Lecturer and activist, Tim Trengove- Jones

As per usual on a Friday we end off with music, on our regular slot Open Mic. Today we profile South African artist Andy Soul. Andy has been making quality soulful vocal house music for the past decade. Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Andy about his new single "Rise" which is coming out soon on the 18th of August...

Goldman Sachs is quoted saying it's getting more difficult to ignore the cryptocurrency market. A digital currency, called Bitcoin earlier this week had a price surge of 3525-US Dollars. This as the bitcoin community awaits the next big development called the Lightning Network, a technology that enables instant transactions. Ike Phaahla spoke to Russel Luck, technology attorney at SwiftTechLaw and started off by asking him what is Bitcoin.

The managing attorney of the Gender Equality Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights, Sanja Bornman, says ending impunity will curb gender based violence . She was reacting to Police Minister Fikile Mbalula's defence of police officers, who failed to arrest Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana before his court appearance this afternoon. Ike Phaahla spoke to Sanja Bornman

There are reports that Kenya's main opposition is demanding that its candidate Raila Odinga be declared president, claiming it has evidence that he had won an election. Meanwhile, the heads of foreign observer missions have urged party leaders to be patient and refrain from inflaming tensions. President Uhuru Kenyatta is leading in the provisional results, however, Odinga claims these are a "sham" result of a massive hacking attack on the electronic vote tallying system. Ike Phaahla spoke to our Correspondent in Kenya, Sarah Kimani

Violent protests have erupted in Kenya, this after the opposition leader Raila Odinga alleged fraud saying electoral commission systems were hacked. Odinga rejected early results indicating a strong lead for President Uhuru Kenyatta. The East African country went to the polls yesterday to elect a president. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter in Kenya Aldrin Sampear

The United Nations Women says South Africa has made great strides in achieving gender equality and this is reflected in the number of female parliamentarians it has. However, the UN says despite the country's achievements, there are still challenges that remain, such as limited access to economic opportunities, gender-pay parity and increased violence against women and girls. This, particularly by men who are intimate partners and family members. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Director of UN Women in South Africa, Anne Githuku Shongwe

South Africa should NOT look towards the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be rescued from its anemic economic growth. Misheck Mutize, a lecturer of Finance and Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, specializing in Finance, at the University of Cape Town says while the South African situation is getting more desperate, which calls for desperate measures, the idea to turn to the IMF is a bad idea and must be dismissed.

The freeway between the Geldenhuys interchange and Van Buuren Road along the N3 in Germiston, East of Johannesburg will be closed in both directions for the next 24 to 48 hours, this after the overhead pedestrian bridge collapsed onto passing cars in the early hours of this morning. Five people were injured and no fatalities were reported. Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane says the party will table a motion for Parliament to be dissolved on Friday. The party held a press briefing this morning in Cape Town, to announce their plan of action following Tuesday's failed motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. The opposition party says yesterday's results from the secret vote shows Zuma is hanging onto power by a thread. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Phumzile Van Damme, who is the National Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for the DA and started off by asking her why they want to dissolve parliament.