First Take SA

ANC NEC Member Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the National Health Insurance (NHI), is not about closing down all private hospitals and practices but making healthcare universally accessible to all South Africans. Dr Motsoaledi was presenting the NHI white paper to ANC delegates in the Education and Health Commission, at the party's national policy conference, currently underway at Nasrec, South of Joburg. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to ANC NEC member, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi...

The African National Congress has termed the Radical Economic Transformation policy as a tool to change the face of poverty. The party says the second phase of RET will go a long way in creating an inclusive economy. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the ANC Treasury General, Dr Zweli Mkhize...

As the land debate rages on at the ANC national Policy Conference it seems a number of structures within the party are on opposing ends on the matter . With the Women's league calling for a referendum on the land issues while the Youth league calls for expropriation of land without compensation. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to ANCYL President Collen Maine

The ANC says it needs to be careful, when trying to address issues around white monopoly capital, not to replace it with black monopoly capital. This is what the ruling party has been discussing over the past couple of days, regarding the ANC's documents on strategy and tactics in Nasrec south of Johannesburg. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Chairperson of the party's Strategy and Tactics portfolio, Nathi Mthethwa, who says white monopoly capital doesn't exist in South Africa, is a fallacy

The Board of Passenger Rail Agency, PRASA says to today's court ruling on the controversial locomotives tender to replace the country's ageing fleet, effectively renders the contract illegal. The High Court in Johannesburg has set aside the contract worth billions of rand awarded to Swifambo Rail Leasing by PRASA in 2013. PRASA had asked the court to review and cancel the contract after both the Auditor General and the Public Protector found there had been fraud, corruption and gross irregularities in the transaction. The rail agency also wanted Swifambo to pay back the money and to take back the trains, which were found to be too tall for the local railway system. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to PRASA Board member William Steenkamp

President Jacob Zuma has urged delegates attending the ANC 5th National Policy Conference to find ways to implement all policies that will be adopted at the end of the week-long gathering. He was speaking at the governing party's fund raising gala dinner last night. The ANC begins its National Policy Conference in Nasrec outside Soweto later this morning. The first two days of the gathering will be dedicated to a serious discussion on the challenges facing the party. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the ANC NEC MEMBER & National head of ANC campaigns, Nomvula Mokonyane about some of the policy discussion documents and ANC President, Jacob Zuma's opening address

SABC senior producer of RSG Current Affairs Suna Venter has died. Venter's body was discovered on Thursday morning at her flat in Fairlands. Venter made headlines last year when she was suspended from the public broadcaster, along with a number of colleagues who would later be known as the SABC 8. Elvis Presslin spoke to Angie Kapelianis, National Radio Current Affairs Editor at SABC News...

The Johannesburg High Court has ordered that public schools should cater for the needs of learners from all religious backgrounds. The Organisation for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD) challenged the Christian focused culture of six public schools, saying they violate the National Policy on Religion. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

AngloGold Ashanti is planning to retrench over 8 000 mine workers as part of its restructuring process. In a statement the mining company says operational costs and mines that have reached the end of their economic lives are the reasons for this process. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Senior Vice President for Investor Relations at AngloGold Ashanti, Stewart Bailey...

The 2017 tax season will open for individuals on 1 July. The deadline for non-provisional and provisional taxpayers submitting their tax returns manually through the post or at a SARS branch drop box is 27 September 2017. Meanwhile, the deadline for non-provisional taxpayers submitting their returns via eFiling or electronic filing at a SARS branch is 24 November 2017. The deadline for provisional taxpayers using eFiling is 31 January 2018. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to CEO of the Tax Ombud Advocate Eric Mkhawane