First Take SA

Civil society, political parties and religious groups have joined forces in a bid to safeguard South Africa's democracy by forming the Freedom Movement. Opposition parties including the DA and the UDM, labour movement Fedusa and Solidarity met in Soweto earlier today to map out their way forward. They have organised a gathering at Freedom Park to call for the President's removal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane ...

Pastor Tim Omotoso who has been accused of raping young women at this church, Jesus Dominion International Ministry has been arrested in Port Elizabeth. At the church, the members are singing songs in defense of their leader, Pastor Omotoso. According to our colleagues in Port Elizabeth, the angry congregants are swearing and threatening the media contingent outside the building. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC reporter, Olwethu Matsipane and SABC TV Current Affairs shows, Cutting Edge producer, Ntsiki Nohiya.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Vuwani says the Municipal Demarcation Board's decision to include parts of the area into the new Lim345 Municipality in Limpopo's Vhembe District, is final. The committee briefed the media on the matter in Polokwane on Thursday. Spokesperson for Pro-Makhado Demarcation Task Team Nsovo Sambo says the visit will yield no positive results. Pro-Makhado Demarcation Task Team is community body opposing Vuwani's move into the new municipality, called LIM 345. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Nsovo Sambo

Tributes continue to pour in for former Pan Africanist Congress leader Philip Kgosana who died last night at the age of 80. President Jacob Zuma has extended his condolences to his family. In the 1960's, Kgosana led more than 30-thousand anti-Pass Laws protestors from Langa, Cape Town in a march to the apartheid parliament. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Bani Kgosana who is Philip Kgosana's son

The South African Medical Association's (SAMA) KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Branch is planning to embark on a protest action, this in an effort to raise awareness in what they call the the poor state of public health-care in the Kwa Zulu-Natal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the SAMA's KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Branch Chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba says there's no guarantee that the country will not be downgraded. However, Gigaba says a downgrade by ratings agency Moody's would have a devastating impact on the economy, especially the poor. The minister will travel to the United States to meet with Moody's and investors as part of his first international trip at the helm of Treasury. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Chief Economist at Econometrix, Dr Azar Jammine

The ANC Youth League Regional Task Team in the Greater Johannesburg Region says The DA's Herman Mashaba is responsible for last night's bloodshed at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) summit held in Midrand. However Mashaba says he is laying criminal charges against ANC members following the violence. Two people were injured after they were allegedly hit by a brick during last night's meeting. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the DA's Director of Mayoral communications Tony Taverna as well as Regional Convener ANC Youth League in Greater Johannesburg region Tefo Raphadu...

Four universities are at risk of losing their accreditation of Bachelors of Laws - LLB - if the quality of their programmes does not improve. This after the Council on Higher Education issued the universities with a notice of withdrawal of the accreditation status. This means that students may not continue to be afforded to study law at the universities. The four universities, are the North West University, Walter Sisulu, Unisa and the University of Free State. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Caroline Nicholson, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State.

The United Democratic Movement, UDM, has called for a national convention to seek solutions to the crisis confronting South Africa and to look beyond marching for the removal of President Jacob Zuma. The UDM says the National Summit, should ultimately culminate in a National Convention, where leaders of political parties and civil society can exchange ideas on how to take South Africa forward. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to UDM leader, General Bantu Holomisa...

The Hawks are searching for a Prophet Timothy Omotoso who is the founder of the Jesus Dominion International Church. Omotoso allegedly sexually abused young women in the church. The crimes allegedly took place in various provinces in the country such as Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape. Sakina speaks to Special Assignment producer Lee McCabe