First Take SA

The Competition Commission has conducted search and seizure operations at the premises of nine fresh produce agents in Gauteng today. The agents are alleged to be involved in price fixing conduct. They are said to have disadvantaged smaller suppliers by charging prices way below the market price. The agents are also accused of determining when prices should increase and preserving certain grades of fruit and vegetables for particular buyers. Tsepiso Makwetla speaks to Sipho Ngwema Head of Communications at the Commission.

On speak out this week we look at Stock Market College which is NOT accredited. The College says it is in the process of registering with the relevant bodies

The South African Revenue Service says it will support a probe by the Tax Ombudsman into its tax refunds system. Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas granted the office of the Tax Ombudsman permission to investigate whether it has been withholding refunds to boost tax revenue artificially. This follows numerous complaints from individual taxpayers and companies about delayed refunds. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to chief executive in the office of the tax ombud Advocate Eric Mkhawane.

The Gauteng government is mulling the idea of bringing in soldiers to assist in facilities caring for the vulnerable members of society. NEHAWU members at these facilities are on strike for better wages. Six months old Singalaka Sonamazi died yesterday after being moved from a child care centre last week to another centre due to the nationwide strike. Gauteng Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, says they're waiting for the post mortem report before taking further action. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to NEHAWU spokesperson Khaya Xaba

Comedian Tumi Morake is set to grace the stage at the Baxter Concert the 31st of March and and the 1st of April 2017. She is embarking on her first official South African tour and entertaining audiences across the country. She spoke to Tsepiso Makweta ....

The United Nations estimates that over eighty percent of global waste-water remains untreated and pollutes the environment. Proponents for water re-use believe this water can be recycled to benefit millions of people without access to clean water globally. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director of the UN World Water Assessment Programme....

A video of a racial incident between a female and a male at a Spur restaurant at the Glen in South of Johannesburg has gone viral and caused an outrage on social media. In the video, a white male is seen standing by a table where a black woman was dining with several kids. He tells her that she needs to discipline her child after an alleged physical altercation between their children.The heated exchange gets out of control, to a point where the two end up hurling insults at each other in front of the children. Several times in the video the man is seen trying to physically assault the woman and further tries to intimidate her by heaving the table she's sitting at. Spur Texamo has since released a statement saying the man has been banned from any of it's chains nationally. We're now on the line to the woman in the video Lebohang Mabuya

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, Casac, says it is deeply disturbed by the burglary at the office of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. This follows the break-in at the Office of the Chief Justice in Midrand at the weekend. Fifteen computers containing sensitive information about the country's judges were stolen. CASAC says the burglary raises suspicions about political motive. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to council's executive secretary Lawson Naidoo...

Mpumalanga authorities have expressed shock at the death of 14-year-old Siphamandla Choma who was left paralyzed after he was assaulted by his principal at Manyano Primary School, in Middelburg. His death was confirmed by the Health Department this morning. Choma had been admitted to a Middelburg hospital for observation. The department has since suspended the principal. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke Choma family lawyer Eddie Mabaso who says the principal could be held liable for Siphamandla's death, if a causal link is found...

The South African National Roads Agency, SANRAL, says it welcomes the Pretoria High Court judgment for the non-payment of e-tolls. The court has ruled against an Alberton-based company which reportedly owes SANRAL, over 400-thousand rand in e-toll fees. Sanral says the judgment sets a precedent for those who do not pay e-toll debt to be prosecuted. However, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), says the judgment has nothing to do with the legality of the tolling system and is not precedent setting in any way. Tsepiso spoke to OUTA chairperson Wayne Duvenage