First Take SA

Municipalities as well as state entities such as Eskom have the responsibility to provide electricity to citizens. But Ephraim Malahlela was not afforded the opportunity to enjoy his right to access electricity. He was sent from pillar to post by Eskom employees in Polokwane when he applied to have electricity installed at his home in Mankweng Village.

Wits Professor Lee Berger says scientists are hoping to try and extract some DNA from the fossils found deep inside a cave at Maropeng north west of Johannesburg. Prof Berger and a host of other scientists have revealed over one and a half thousand fossil fragments of a new type of early human, named 'Homo Naledi'. The small-brained creature is said to have walked upright - but also had long fingers that were suitable for climbing and tool use.

State witness Thapelo Sello says murder accused, Sindisiwe Manqele, seemed remorseful after fatally stabbing her rapper boyfriend, Nkululeko "Flabba" Habedi. Sello was cross examined in the high court sitting in the Randburg Magistrate's Court. Meanwhile, the credibility of the state's second witness came under severe scrutiny as Mpho Motsoari, has admitted to smoking dagga and drinking alcohol a few hours before Habedi was killed.

The rate of forest loss has been halved in the last twenty-five years. But efforts to sustain their survival must continue unabated. That was the message from the release of the 2015 Global Forest resources Assessment Report at World Forestry Congress in Durban. In spite of this somewhat positive news, civil society voices at the 14th World Forestry Congress in Durban are calling for a new definition of forests saying, that plantations simply do not cut it

Some workers reported late for work while others did not go to work at all after 21 busses were torched last night at Marapong in Lephalale in Limpopo. The incident affected a few construction workers at Medupi and miners at EXXARO's Grootgeluk Coal Mine who rely on the torched busses for transport. Some of the unemployed youth and those who were dismissed from the construction project at the Medupi power station, say the burning of busses and other property will highlight their demand for jobs. A satellite police station, a municipal office and part of a library were burnt last night. They say the property was burnt to put pressure on ESKOM to give them jobs at the power station.

Experts say literacy is important because it also results in a more vibrant democracy. This comes as the World marks International Literacy Day. A UN report released last year shows that there are 250 million children in primary schools around the world who cannot read, write or do basic sums. In South Africa, almost 5 million people are illiterate. The Education Department says about 54 percent of the population has not completed an adequate level of education.

In July 2014 Jim Mthethwa from Gauteng submitted a claim for his provident fund pay out after leaving his job at Kelly Industrial. A year later he was yet to receive it. When he initially applied to the Road Freight and Logistics Provident Fund, he was told that he would be paid in 3 to 6 months. But this did not happen. When he followed up on the matter he was told that he had not submitted his documents.

The situation remains tense in Vuwani, Limpopo. This after the Municipal Demarcation Board's handover to the new municipal outer boundary determinations and re-determinations to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), in preparation for the 2016 Local Government Elections. This morning a school property was damaged as the result of the on-going protests in the area. Spokesperson for the six traditional leaders, Chief Livhuwani Matsila says they will be filing court papers to interdict the demarcation board before the end of the week.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater , one of the world's most popular global modern dance companies, returns to South Africa in September after 17 years with 13 performances in Johannesburg at the Teatro at Montecasino from Thursday, 3 September to Sunday, 13 September 2015 and seven shows in Cape Town at Artscape, from 16 to 20 September 2015. Founded in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater artists have performed for an estimated 23 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents.
For more on this tour we are joined in studio by , General Manager of the Teatro, Brian Hill...

The Manzini Magistrate court in Manzini Swaziland, has denied the bail application for Sigwili Ndzimandze. Ndzimandze is one of the drivers of the trucks involved in a crash that caused multiple deaths last Friday. The trucks crashed while transporting maidens to the annual reed dance in Eludzidzini. The government says 11 maidens and two traditional leaders were killed, but opposition groups have put the death toll at between 38 and 65..