First Take SA

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

Jacob Zuma has now Jacob Zuma has now officially signed all the tax legislation from 2015 into law. The president has given a go ahead to the implementation of the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act meaning that all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on the 1st of March 2016. Meanwhile, The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU has expressed its views on the matter and say this is an outrageous and blatant act of provocation by the ANC led government that will have dire and lasting consequences on the relationship between government and the workers. The president has given a go ahead to the implementation of the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act meaning that all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on the 1st of March 2016. Meanwhile, The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU has expressed its views on the matter and say this is an outrageous and blatant act of provocation by the ANC led government that will have dire and lasting consequences on the relationship between government and the workers.. The president has given a go ahead to the implementation of the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act meaning that all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on the 1st of March 2016. Meanwhile, The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU has expressed its views on the matter and say this is an outrageous and blatant act of provocation by the ANC led government that will have dire and lasting consequences on the relationship between government and the workers.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says government will be paying specific attention to maths and science this year. The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the state-of-the-art Chief Albert Luthulu Primary in Daveyton in Ekurhuleni on the East Rand. The multi-million rand school was officially opened by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi. As millions of learners began the new school year today, Motshekga has appealed to them as well as the teachers to give their all in class.

The number of road users that lost their lives on the country's roads from the first of December to 11 January 2016 is standing at 1,755. An increase of 11 percent from last year's statistics, where there were 1,253 crashes on our roads. This amounts to 220 more deaths this year. Minister of Transport, Dipuo Piters says the fatalities could have been more if traffic officials didn't intensify their presence on the roads. PM Live anchor Tšepiso Makwetla speaks to Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga.

There has been a seven percent increase of foreigners entering South Africa over the festive season despite the new strict visa regulations introduced by the Home Affairs Department. High volumes were recorded of people coming from countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, UK, Germany, United States and Namibia. Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, elaborates.

UNISA, Tshwane University of Technology and University of Pretoria workers who are protesting over the abolishment of outsourcing, permanent employment and 10-thousand rand salaries, were injured after police shot at them with rubber bullets as they arrived at University of Pretoria's main campus. Protesters had also planned to march to the Union Buildings but the march was disrupted when the police used stunt grenades to disperse them.

Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies has confirmed that all outstanding issues threatening the renewal of agricultural trade benefits between South Africa and the United States have been resolved. Davies has told a news conference in Pretoria the salmonella issue has been concluded and the South African market is now open for 65-thousand tons of US poultry imports. He says the US has signed all documents and he is now awaiting a formal announcement from President Barack Obama. The deal was in danger of being suspended after South Africa missed a December 31 deadline to conclude outstanding issues. US ambassador Patrick Gaspard intervened this week, and had urgent talks with three cabinet ministers.

There is a fresh social media storm over ENCA newsreader Andrew Barnes and freelance journalist Carien du Plessis. Barnes criticised Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga's pronunciation on air while du Plessis posted on twitter that a popular restaurant in Rustenburg will be a choice hang out for for tenderpreneurs and pantypreneurs at this weekend's ANC 104th birthday bash. The two have been accused of being white supremacists. Barnes has apologised online and on air and has since been taken off air pending a disciplinary enquiry. Du Plessis has apologised but thev ANC has since banned her from all party events.

A number of organisations and individuals continue to raise their concerns with regard to the Tweets that have been characterised as racial. The ANC has laid charges of crimen injuria against a number of South Africans who have made racist or controversial remarks on social media platforms. They include economist Chris Hart and former estate agent Penny Sparrow, as well as fitness enthusiast Justin van Vuuren. Sparrow has been suspended by the DA as a party member and Hart by the Standard Bank, his employer. The ANC laid the charges at the Hillbrow police station in Johannesburg. Meanwhile the DA has also laid charges against Sparrow.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department says it has not received any notification about a strike action by it police officers. But municipal workers union SAMWU says metro police management were briefed about the strike action a meeting held at JMPD headquarters in Martindale west of Johannesburg this morning.