First Take SA

The meeting between Limpopo MEC's and community structures in the Vhembe district, has agreed to create an environment for further engagements with the concerned traditional leaders and community representatives in Vuwani. 23 schools have been torched by protesting residents who don't want their area to be incorporated into the new municipality.

The probe into suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega's fitness to hold office has been adjourned to tomorrow morning. Legal teams at the board of inquiry are in dispute over the terms of reference. Evidence leaders have asked the board to widen the terms to call witnesses who didn't testify before the Marikana commission into the deaths of 44 people at Marikana. Phiyega's legal counsel however opposes the call. The suspended national police commissioner has not been at work since October last year.

A six-month-old girl has been rescued from the debris of a building that collapsed four days ago in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The Kenyan Red Cross has since reunited the baby with her father. She has no physical injuries. The six-storey residence came down in heavy rain on Friday, killing at least 23 people. Dozens of others are still thought to be buried under the rubble, but hopes of finding more alive are fading.

Learning and teaching have been disrupted at about 50 schools in the volatile Vuwani area in Limpopo. Four schools, a post office and a tribal office have been set alight by the protesting residents. Commuters have been left stranded as a shutdown of services is continuing in the area. Residents are protesting against the Municipal Demarcation Board's decision to include Vuwani in the new municipality to be established in Vhembe

Wits University says that flags are flying at half-mast after nine students died in an accident in Limpopo. The students were killed after a minibus taxi crashed on the N1 near the Nyl Plaza toll. University management has conveyed its condolences to the families of the deceased. The students were travelling back to Johannesburg from a church summit in Limpopo. Wits Vice Chancellor, Adam Habib…

There is a vibrant mood in the small town of Giyani in Limpopo where the national Freedom Day will be celebrated. President Jacob Zuma will deliver the key note address. Mass mobilisation campaigns to get thousands of people to come and be part of the main celebrations are under way in the area. Some residents who spoke to the SABC in Giyani, say they are happy that the national event is being celebrated there. They say the day is important as it marks the country's freedom from apartheid. Witness Tiva visited the area and sent us this report

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Sizwe Mabizela says the institution cannot summarily suspend or expel students whose names were posted on Facebook as alleged sex crime suspects without giving them a fair hearing. Mabizela has urged victims of sex crimes to report them. He has been briefing the media at the university in Grahamstown following a week of protest over rape allegations.

Mineral Resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane has assured the mining industry that he is willing to extend the 30-day over the Draft Mining Charter if it becomes necessary. This in an attempt to quell a stand-off that has been brewing after mining companies opposed a proposal by government that companies need to have at least 26 percent black ownership. The organisation has now taken to court in order to get clarity on the interpretation of this statement because of the changing dynamics of share ownership.

Activists who raised the alarm on the so-called arms deal have described as deeply disappointing a report by the Seriti Commission. President Jacob Zuma released a summary of the report earlier today which states that the Commission found no evidence of corruption or bribery during the multi billion rand acquisition process. The commission was appointed in 2011 and concluded its work by handing the report to Zuma late last year. Zuma says because there is no evidence of wrongdoing the report contained no recommendations.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has defended his government's support of a deal between the European Union and Turkey to tackle the migrant crisis saying migrant flows to Greece have decreased markedly in recent months.Turkey and the EU last month sealed an accord which aims to end the chaotic arrival of migrants and refugees, most fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, after more than a million reached Europe last year.The European Commission has increased it's financial support to refugees in Turkey to over 3 billion rand. The money will go towards making provisions for food, health care and accomodation amongst others.