First Take SA

Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane has suspended the implementation of a controversial mining charter pending a judgement in an urgent interdict application by the Chamber of Mines. The Chamber applied for an urgent high court injunction to prevent the implementation of the revised charter, which increases the minimum threshold for black ownership of mining companies. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to senior executive for employment relations at the Chamber of Mine Dr Elize Strydom

Economists have expressed doubt about a short-term action plan unveiled by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba to boost confidence in the economy. Gigaba announced a 14-point blueprint for economic recovery at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange today. He says the action plan will be co-ordinated by the President and will be implemented by various ministers to ensure that all targets are achieved on set time-frames. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Economist at Nedbank Group, Busisiwe Radebe...

State security forces in Rwanda have killed at least 37 suspected petty offenders and forcibly disappeared four others since April 2016, according to a new Human Rights Watch report. Most victims were accused of stealing items such as bananas, a cow, or a motorcycle. Others were suspected of smuggling marijuana, illegally crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo, or of using illegal fishing nets. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Ida Sawyer, Senior Researcher in the Africa Division at Human Rights, who is presently based in Belgium...

The Constitutional Court has ruled that local authorities must provide accommodation for evicted people although they have to do this within available resources. It says the City of Cape Town has a duty to provide accommodation for a group of workers evicted from a bricks manufacturing farm in Wolwerivier. The Court further ruled that the accommodation offered by the City was suitable. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Phephelaphi Dube who is the Director at the Centre for Constitutional Rights

The South African Broadcasting Corporation is embarking on a review process of its 2004 Editorial Policies. The SABC has invited the public to participate in the process to reformulate editorial policies at the public broadcaster. The policies will address issues such as language, religious programming, news and current affairs. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Interim Board Member Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubule...

Warring Soweto taxi associations - WATA and NANDUWE - say they are already losing out financially. Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi has ordered that the taxi ranks and routes used by both associations be closed. The move follows relentless violent attacks between the two associations over routes. The attacks have left several people dead. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Hamilton Miya, from the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association, WATA ...

ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says public sector corruption threatens the sovereignty and the economy of the country. Ramaphosa was addressing delegates at the SACP 14th National Congress currently underway in Boksburg, on the east Rand. The ANC is embroiled in a fiercely-contested leadership race ahead of its national elective congress in December. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Mcebisi Ndletyana, Professor of Politics at the University of Johannesburg...

Anglo Gold Ashanti chairperson Sipho Pityana says the mining sector will continue to lose jobs, as the country's macroeconomic policies make it impossible for the sector to sustain jobs. Pityana was speaking at the Gordon Institute of Business Science seminar last night. He's comments come after Anglo Gold Ashanti announced that it plans to shed over 8000 jobs. In 2015, government, mining companies and labour unions adopted a ten point plan in an attempt to curb job losses in the mining sector- but what has happened since. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) deputy president, Joseph Montisetsi and Mamokgethi Molopyane a mining and labour analyst.

Religious leaders and institutions must be registered and pay tax like any other business in South Africa. And that foreign nationals wishing to open churches in South Africa should undergo a strict vetting process. These are some of the recommendations contained in the final report of the CRL Rights Commission following its investigation into the commercialisation of churches in South Africa. The investigation was a result of unconventional methods by some church leaders where congregants were made to eat grass, snakes and sprayed with pesticides among others. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Prophet Mboro, of The Incredible Happenings Ministries...

One of the first black women in South Africa to disclose her HIV status; Prudence Nobantu Mabele has died. Mabele was a leading advocate for people living with HIV & AIDS, a respected gender activist. She was the founder and Executive Director of the Positive Women's Network and Deputy Chair of the South African National AIDS Council. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Yvette Raphael, friend and colleague to Prudence Mabele...