First Take SA

The DA says it is in possession of a forensic report that supports allegations by the Police and Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) of corruption in the forensic services, which at that time was headed up by the now Acting National Police Commissioner, General Khomotso Phahlane. The report allegedly contains evidence of procurement irregularities and irregular appointments, among other findings. The DA will now submit this report to IPID and is calling for an investigation into Phahlane's entire career in the police service.

The SABC has learnt that Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane will approach a court to stop police watchdog IPID's investigation into the building of his house and acquisition of luxury cars. The investigation into Phahlane is centred around allegations that he received a stereo system, worth 80-thousand rand, from the same chemical company that supplied the SAPS during Phahlane's time as head of its forensic science laboratory. The Acting Commissioner denies this, saying he has proof of purchase for the music system.

The Grace Bible Church has defended itself against those calling the church homophobic saying they do not discriminate against anyone. The Soweto based church has been responding after Ghanaian pastor - Bishop Dag Heward-Mills - a guest speaker from Lighthouse chapel international- said animals do not have same sex relationships and therefore its regarded as "unnatural" for humans to do so.

The family of a 33-year-old Ford Kuga driver who died when his car caught fire say they will go ahead with a class action lawsuit against Ford. Speaking to the media in Pretoria, Kaveen Jimmy, the brother of the late Reshall Jimmy says Ford should take responsibility and stop making a mockery of his brother's death in the name of saving their brand. About 30 drivers whose Ford Kugas caught fire are set to join the class action, despite the recall of the 1-point-6 model announced yesterday.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)say it's still negotiating with workers who have staged a sit-in underground at Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville on the west rand. About one thousand seven hundred workers have been refusing to come out since yesterday morning.

MOTORISTS are in for a few surprises. Transport Minister Dipuo Peters is working on some drastic measures aimed at reducing road fatalities, particularly over the festive season. Over one-thousand-700 people died on the roads during the recent festive season. Among other things the minister is planning to confiscate drivers licences.

There is 'smear campaign' engineered 'to eliminate the business of the Gupta family and gain obvious political achievement', this according to Gupta family lawyer, Gert van der Merwe. The Gupta family intend to prove their conspiracy claims in court documents due to be filed on the 20th of January, next week. This is in relation to the explosive affidavit submitted by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordan, stating that the family was involved in R6.8 billion worth of suspicious transactions.

More than 40-thousand pupils are yet to be placed in Gauteng schools for the 2017 academic year, two days before schools re-open for the new academic year. This has been attributed to late applications, among other factors. The Gauteng Department of Education had implemented an online application process for grade 1 and grade 8 pupils in the past year.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will today announce the 2016 matric results here in Midrand, Johannesburg at 6 pm. The matric class of 2016 was the third Grade 12 batch to write examinations under the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements- CAPS. Earlier on Producer Ronald Phiri spoke to Nomaan Mulla from Rob Ferreira High School and Hannah Clayton of Rustenburg Girls' High, two top Matric achievers...

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the approval of the 2016 matric results. The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, UMALUSI has approved the results despite some concerns in the performance of learners regarding mathematics. This is the last matric exams written under Curriculum Assesment Policy Statement (CAPS).