First Take SA

Trade union Solidarity has won a landmark case against the South African Police Service in the Johannesburg Labour Court. In the case that lasted two years - the court declared the affirmative action policy of the SAPS invalid and unconstitutional. It's not clear if the police management intends appealing the judgment
We earlier spoke to the Deputy General Secretary of trade union Solidarity Johan Kruger and I started by asking him for his reaction..

MNET says axed Idols SA judge Gareth Cliff did not have a contract with the channel for this year's season of the show. Cliff has brought an urgent application in the High Court in Johannesburg seeking to be reinstated as a judge. He was fired after supposedly supporting a racist tweet.

The Mineral Resources Department says there's a health and safety inspection team on the Rustenburg platinum mining belt to ensure that workers operate in a safe enviroment. This follows the death of four mine workers at Impala Platinum Mine's Number 14 shaft after a fire on Friday. The National Union of Mineworkers alleges that the mining company had known about the likelihood of a fire in the shaft before sending employees underground. We earlier spoke to the spokesperson for the Department of Mineral Resources, Martin Madlala and I started by asking him what exactly the department is concerned about regarding this particular incident.

In 2014 we brought you the case of Alex Mohlakoane from Limpopo who attended an NQF LEVEL 7 Labour Intensive Construction course in 2010. The course was facilitated by the Construction Industry Education and Training Services (CIETS) now known as Izwe Training and Development. He paid almost R8 000 for the 3-day course, but it turned out that the organisation was not registered to offer courses at that level. Now six year later, the matter has been resolved with the help of Speak Out.

Five children have suffocated to death, after being trapped inside a disused freezer outside their home at Kakamas in the Northern Cape. Police, say the bodies of the children were discovered last night by their grandmother. The five, all said to be cousins are aged between 3 and 7.

Higher Education and Training minister Blade Nzimande has called on university students to stop participating in violent protests and return to class as soon as possible. Nzimande was speaking following a meeting with Vice-Chancellors in Kempton Park this afternoon. He says the issue of the students who are classified as the missing middle, every case will be reviewed on its own merit for now while a model for a pilot project set to start next year is being established.

President Jacob Zuma says he is optimistic that his attendance of the World Economic Forum will help restore investor confidence. The President has arrived at the Swiss Alps resort of Davos for the annual event. The South African government has launched a major charm offensive to convince global investors, bankers and CEO's of multinational companies that the country will overcome current socio-economic challenges

Vice-chancellors of seven Gauteng-based universities have expressed concern over the recent spate of disruptions and violent protests. The vice-chancellors have been briefing the media at the University of Johannesburg's Auckland Park campus. They have appealed to all stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of universities as the new academic year commences.

The City of Cape Town has asked energy regulator NERSA to keep electricity tariff increases as low as possible. This as public hearings into Eskom's request for a 16.6% tariff hike continues in Cape Town. City Director of Electricity, Leslie Rencontre, says a huge increase will have a negative impact on the local economy and consumers.

Tšepiso Makwetla talks to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimanda following a meeting with student representatives on the #FeesMustFall campaign.