First Take SA

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. Edward Mokhoanatse, president of the Agency for New Agenda does not agree.

Nigeria has renewed MTN's operating spectrum in that country and extended its operating licence for just under 95 million dollars. MTN's licence and spectrum were issued in 2001 and due to expire in February next year, but has now been extended to 2021, if it pays the money by December to secure it. Reports suggest that while MTN has failed to get a waiver for the 76 billion rand fine, concessions may be made.

The questions asked by the full bench of judges at the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), have been indicative of the direction the Oscar Pistorius case will take. This is according to Gauteng legal commentator Brenda Wartle. Wartle says the judges focussed on aspects such as the accused's intent to kill. Meanwhile, the NPA has expressed satisfaction with its appeal against Oscar Pistorius's culpable homicide conviction. The Supreme Court of Appeal today reserved judgment as the state applied to have the former paralympian found guilty of murder in the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Communicating with your service provider if you are unable to meet your financial obligations is vital if you want to avoid dire consequences. This is a lesson that Moshibudi Mothapo from Polokwane learnt the hard way after being involved in a car accident.

The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, says free tertiary education is only for the poor. He told Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education today that those who can afford will have to pay. The committee had asked about his department's plans to address the matter of student fees at universities. Nzimande assured MPs that government was trying to source the extra 37 billion rand needed to provide free tertiary education to those who would otherwise be left out. The Minister also reiterated the call for those students who have not returned to class to go back and prepare for examinations.

Flitting between the 50s and contemporary South Africa, A New Song, is an elegy, a lament and a triumphant new work by playwright, director and poet, Napo Masheane. Set in a middle class Johannesburg suburb, we are introduced to nine women who formally eke out their existence as domestic workers, juggling the struggle, intemperate madams and motherhood.

Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande confirms that an agreement has been reached that tuition fee increases will be capped at 6 percent.

Protesting Wits students have overturned the car of a fellow student who drove through their blockade and beat the driver up. Police rescued him from the protesters. The student's condition is not clear at present. Protesting students are wielding rocks and sticks on Empire Road in Parktown in Johannesburg - which has been closed - causing major traffic disruptions. The university's Executive Council failed to meet the students at noon today regarding the ten point five percent hike in tuition fees that has been suspended pending a decision in November.

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande is to meet with vice chancellors from various institutions to tackle the issue of fee hikes. It comes after country-wide protests at institutions of higher learning over fee increases. He will also be meeting with university council chairs, students and workers. At a media briefing in Pretoria this afternoon, the minister appealed to students to give efforts aimed at resolving their grievances a chance. Meanwhile Wits University students have vowed to continue with their protests until their demands are met. This after the university's Executive Council failed to meet the students at noon today on the proposed 10.5 percent hike in tuition fees. However, the council did announce that it is to waive the deposit students are required to pay when enrolling at the institution.