First Take SA

Passanger Rail Agency Board Chairperson Popo Molefe says he will legally challenge Transport Minister Dipuo Peters's decision to dissolve the Prasa Board. Molefe says he wants to demonstrate that South Africa is a constitutional democracy. Peters sent a letter to Parliament's Transport Committee today, informing it of her decision to dissolve the board. This followed hearings at which committee members criticised the board over a range of issues. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to former PRASA board Chairperson, Popo Molefe

The minister of Transport Dipuo Peters, has dissolved the PRASA board. This after calls by the portfolio committee on transport that the current board be done away with. On Tuesday, the PRASA board and former acting CEO, Collins Letsoalo appeared before the committee where they had a heated exchange over his alleged 350 per cent salary increase. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport, Dikeledi Magadzi

The Constitutional Court has issued notice to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), requesting for details on when exactly the agency realised it would not be able pay welfare grants by itself when Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract expires. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Tim Sukazi, who is Sassa Transition Program, Legal and Legislative Framework Leader....

The National Assembly has adopted parliament's Ad Hoc Committee report into the SABC board's fitness to hold office. All parties involved adopted the report, except for the UDM who raised an objection due to Hlaudi Motsoeneng not being given an opportunity to make submissions before the committee. During the debate DA MP Mike Waters called on President Jacob Zuma to fire Muthambi. Waters says Muthambi and ex SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng were at the centre of the degeneration of the SABC and abused their power. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Vincent Smith, chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee

The deaths of 14 people believed to be illegal miners in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, have once again put the spotlight on illegal mining activities and the dangers posed by disused mines. The discovery of the 14 bodies in the past few days come after five-year-old Richard Thole fell into an open mine shaft at Jerusalem informal settlement near Witfield in Boksburg, over a week ago. His body is yet to be recovered. Meanwhile, NGO, the Benchmarks Foundation, says the only way to tackle illegal mining is to crack down on the buyers. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Hassen Lorgat of the Benchmarks Foundation ...

The EFF has rejected President Jacob Zuma's intention to appoint Justice Raymond Zondo to the position of the Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. In a letter to the President, leader Julius Malema says the decison to nominate Zondo to replace former Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke is anti-women's empowerment. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Leader of the EFF Julius Malema

Parliament's standing committee on public accounts says Sassa has not been cleared of wrongdoing, despite reports that a new deal has been clinched with Cash Paymaster Services to continue paying out social grants. Committee chair Themba Godi says Scopa will continue with a meeting on Tuesday to probe the matter, whether Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini attends or not. The Constitutional Court has ruled that the existing contract between Sassa and CPS is improper. Scopa has summoned Dlamini to appear before the committee tomorrow. Godi spoke to Tsepiso Makwetla

The South African Human Rights Commission has requested an urgent meeting with Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and SASSA CEO Thokozani Magwaza. The commission says it requires a detailed brief from the two parties on the plan of action to ensure that social grant recipients receive their grants in April. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke the Human Rights Commission Spokesperson, Gail Smith....

The South African Post Office has offered SASSA a solution to disbursing grants from 1 April. Speaking to Tsepiso Makwetla during #PMLive Post Office CEO Mark Barnes says they have a system that allows them to send electronic vouchers to beneficiaries across the country. SASSA's current contract with Cash Paymaster Services, which was declared invalid by the Constitutional court expires at the end of the month. This has since left seventeen million South Afircans unsure if they will receive their grants next month.

All focus will be on FNB Stadium this weekend as Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates lock horns tomorrow afternoon. Both teams will go into the match following draws. Pirates drew 1-ALL with Polokwane City in their last match, while Chiefs also played to a 1-ALL draw with Ajax Cape Town in their last fixture. Some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction over the cost of the tickets to the highly anticipated match. One ticket has increased from R40 to R70. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Kaizer Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung