First Take SA

Relief organisation 'Gift of the Givers', together with SAfm, will next week embark on a drought relief effort in Northern Cape. Several areas in the province have been identified to recieve food parcels. The food parcel programme will kick off in Okiep, a tiny town that was once the centre of the South African copper mining industry.

At least 100 shacks are on fire in the Msawawa informal settlement near Kya Sands, north of Johannesburg. Emergency officials say no injuries or fatalies have been reported yet.

The University of the Western Cape says a decision will be made later today on whether exams should continue tomorrow. This after the exams were cancelled today following student protests inside university premises. Five students have since been arrested on charges of grievous bodily harm. One person was injured during the protest. Students have apparently also caused extensive damage to university property.

After its world premiere in May 2014, Madiba the African Opera returns on stage for its second run on the 27 November 2015 at the State Theatre, Pretoria. In partnership with the South African State Theatre through their MzansiFela Festival, powered by the Department of Arts and Culture's Mzansi Golden Economy; the producers, Opera South Africa, promises a bigger and better production this time around. We spoke to the show's Director, Unathi Mtirara...

Eight former police officers convicted of murdering Mozambican taxi driver, Mido Macia have been sentenced to 15 years behind bars in the High Court in Pretoria. Handing down sentence Judge Bert Bam described the police officers' actions as both barbaric and inexcusable.

Parliament's Police committee has recommended an inquiry be instituted against suspended National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega. This is for her role in the press statement by senior police management in support of her. The committee is releasing its draft report after an inquiry on whether SAPS management were truthful in their dealings with them. It is the first time since 1994 that Parliament has conducted such an inquiry. SAPS management released a statement in August - shortly after the Farlam commission's recommendations were made public - in which they pledged support to Phiyega. Committee chairperson, Francois Beukman...

In 2003 Mary Shaw from Potterville outside Cape town bought 75 Telkom shares at a cost of R28 each through a company called Computershare.
But when she recently enquired about them she was told that they had vanished from her portfolio.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says he's satisfied that the demographics of the national rugby team are inclusive. He was briefing the media in Sandton, north of Johannesburg about issues surrounding the recent Rugby World Cup. Several interest groups have expressed concern about a lack of transformation in the sport. However, Mbalula says that all the Springbok players are selected on merit.

Disciplinary measures should be taken against Health Professions Council of South Africa senior management found guilty of mismanagement and poor governance. Those are some of the recommendations by the Ministerial Task Team which investigated complaints of irregularities taking place at the council. The task team has recommended that CEO, Dr Buyiswa Matshamba, COO, Tshepo Boikanyo and general manager for legal service be suspended. The task team was established in March this year following letters of complaints from 30 whistle blowers. Health Minister, DR Aaron Motsoaledi revealed the findings of the report in Pretoria today

The newly formed South African Public Service Union (Sapsu) has reportedly latched onto issues which have been long neglected in public sector bargaining as a launch pad and is set to take part in the upcoming round of wage talks. SAPSU says the formation of a progressive,non-aligned union for public service workers was conceptualized by the workers who decided to distance themselves ,their membership from public sector unions who were in alliance with political parties in governance.