First Take SA

Murder figures have shown a slight decrease, while the so called trio crimes - car hijackings, robberies at residential properties and robberies at non residential premises are still on an upward trend. Police management, accompanied by Minister, Nathi Nhleko, briefed Parliament's Police committee on crime statistics for the period between 1 April 2016 to the 1st of December the same year. In line with a Cabinet decision last year, crime statistics are being released quarterly. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr Johan Burger, a Consultant with the Institute for Security Studies...

The social security agency (SASSA) spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi says they have entered into negotiations with Cash Paymaster Services to renew its contract to distribute welfare grants. The Constitutional Court declared Sassa's contract with CPS invalid in 2014 but subsequently suspended its ruling for the duration of the contract to prevent the grant payment system being disrupted. The contract runs out at the end of the month. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SASSA spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi

Political Analyst and leader of Right to Know campaign Dr Dale Mckingley says the political fallout will be substantial should the social security agency fail to pay social grant beneficiaries at the end of the month. SASSA says it has entered into negotiations with Cash Paymaster Services to renew its contract to distribute welfare grants. The Constitutional Court declared Sassa's contract with CPS invalid in 2014 but subsequently suspended its ruling for the duration of the contract to prevent the grant payment system being disrupted. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Dr Dale Mckingley

The Competition commission says Unilever has to pay a fine of 10% of its annual turnover. This after the commission found Unilever and Sime Darby had entered in a sale agreement not to compete with each other. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Commissioner at the Competition Commission, Tembinkosi Bonakele

The All Saints Hospital in eNgcobo, in the Eastern Cape, has been forced to discharge patients and send others to nearby health care centeres, as it has been without water for five days. The water shortage comes as truck drivers in the town have prevented a water tanker from reaching the hospital. The truckers are demanding that a local supplier be used for water. Tsepiso Makweta spoke to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Sizwe Kupelo

Western Cape has approximately 121 days of useable water left. This after dam levels across the Western Cape fall to an average of 31%. Speaking during a press briefing, Cape Town's Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille, outlined its medium to long term water resource planning to mitigate the water crisis. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Priya Reddy, Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa wants the Minister of Social Department, Bathabile Dlamini, to appear before the Committee to give clarity on issues related to the Cash Paymaster Services, CPS' contract. Social grants agency SASSA has admitted to Scopa that there is no plan in place for an alternative entity to pay social grants on the first of April. The Constitutional Court declared SASSA's contract with CPS unconstitutional and invalid in 2013. SASSA was given four years to find another service provider. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SCOPA Chairperson Themba Godi...

The National Assembly has passed the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill. The bill was sent back to National Assembly before the end of last year after president Jacob Zuma questioned its constitutionality. This came after he received two objections to the FICA bill. Among those who petitioned the president not to sign it into law was the Progressive Professional Forum led by Mzwanele Manyi. The bill seeks to clamp down on tax avoidance, corruption and money laundering. It will give banks the power to scrutinise any suspicious transactions of their clients. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Finance Standing Committee chairperson Yunus Carrim

Rail Agency Prasa's acting CEO, Collins Letsoalo, has rejected media allegations that he gave himself a 350 per cent salary increase. Weekend papers published damning reports saying that Letsoalo hiked his salary, uses a chauffeur driven car and has a company cell phone with unlimited calls. The acting CEO told the media in Pretoria today that he will weigh his legal options and seek either a defamation suit or approach the press ombudsman. Letsoalo says he worked for PRASA for four months without a salary last year. Tsepiso makwetla spoke to spokesperson for the Minister of Transport, Ishmael Mnis

The high court in Pretoria has ruled that all fines before the court where, traffic authorities failed to abide by the letter of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act be cancelled. This applies to millions of traffic fines issued in Johannesburg and Pretoria since 2008. Tsepiso makwetla spoke to Fines4U's Cornelia van Niekerk who brought the case before the courts.