First Take SA

SISANDA Myataza is a relentless young woman who has been performing for audiences since Age 7. This great great grandaughter of choral composer BB Myataza. is now embarking on a trip to the UK to record an EP and share her south African heritage in an international space. Today, she joins us in today to talk about her cultural exchange plans....

South Sudan's former Vice President Reich Machar has called for president Salva Kiir to resign in July when his term comes to an end. Machar has been in the bush since 2013 when violence erupted. Kiir had accused Machar of planning a coup - a charge Machar has denied. His call comes as the African Union heads of state summit decided on a new peace process that will include all of the continent's regional blocks. South Africa will also be part of the mediation efforts. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was already part of the mediation efforts within the ruling SPLM party. More than a million people have been displaced by the civil war. Deputy Political Editor Mahlatse Gallens spoke to Reich Machar and joins us in the studio...

[LISTEN] The South African National Defence Force, Head of Communication Siphiwe Dlamini has denied reports that the Sudanese army reportedly held hundreds of South African peacekeepers hostage to guarantee the safe return of President Omar al-Bashir.

Judge Hans Fabricius has ruled that the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, be prohibited from leaving South Africa, and that the Department of Home Affairs should ensure that the order is sent to every port of entry and exit in country. This pending the final ruling by the High Court in Pretoria tomorrow, on the application by Southern African Litigation Centre to have the South African government arrest Al-Bashir. Lawyer from the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC), Caroline James & Professor Charles Villa-Vicencio, senior research fellow in the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation ...

At a recent Security Summit on Cyber Crime, it was revealed that South Africa is the most attacked country on the African continent. Although the problem is acute in the country, it is not widely reported. One of the major ways is the theft of personal identities. This costs in excess of three-billion-rand per annum. Director of the Centre for Cyber Security at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Basie Von Solms...

Cosatu remains adamant that next month's Special National Congress will continue whether or not the eight affiliates sympathetic to NUMSA attend. Cosatu briefed the media yesterday following its court victory on Tuesday against NUMSA's bid to participate in the Congress. The labour federation's President S'dumo Dlamini also took swipe at former Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi accusing him of working towards establishing an alternative federation to Cosatu for the last three years

Cosatu remains adamant that next month's Special National Congress will continue whether or not the eight affiliates sympathetic to NUMSA attend. Cosatu briefed the media yesterday following its court victory on Tuesday against NUMSA's bid to participate in the Congress. The labour federation's President S'dumo Dlamini also took swipe at former Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi accusing him of working towards establishing an alternative federation to Cosatu for the last three years...

Oscar Pistorius is set to be released from prison on parole in August after serving 10 months for culpable homicide in the killing of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The Paralympic track star is currently serving a five year prison sentence after being convicted in October last year. Meanwhile, The Supreme Court of Appealsays it's most likely that a full bench will hear the State's arguments appealing against the murder acquittal of Oscar Pistorius in November. Our Talking Point, what do you make of these developments?

The Correctional Services Department has confirmed that Oscar Pistorious who was jailed for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp has been recommended for release on parole. Pistorious will be released on 21 August 2015 after serving only ten months of his five year prison term. The recommendation to release him on parole was made last week by officials at Kgosi Mampuru II last week. Meanwhile the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein says once various legal procedures involving the State and Pistorius's defence team have taken place, it could hear the appeal in November. The State will appeal against Judge Thokozile Masipa's decision to convict Pistorius of culpable homicide but acquit him of murder for shooting dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says if Africa can secure funding for its infrastructure roll out - its growth rate could surpass that of China and India. Brown says he is pleased that there is political will from the continent's leaders to invest in the much needed infrastructure. Brown was speaking after meeting President Jacob Zuma on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town earlier today. Currently the continent has an infrastructure gap of 100 billion dollars a year.