First Take SA

Episodes

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  SASSA urges social grant beneficiaries to ignore escalating social media panic regarding routine compliance assessments 02.10.2026 12m

  The South African Social Security Agency, SASSA is urging social grant beneficiaries to ignore escalating social media panic regarding routine compliance assessments. SASSA Head of Communications, Dr. Paseka Letsatsi, confirms that being selected for a mandatory status review does not equate to an automatic suspension or rejection of funds. The agency says these ongoing audits are standard verification tools designed to confirm changing financial eligibility and filter out systemic fraud. For more Dr. Paseka Letsatsi elaborates 
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  Gauteng Legislature's transport committee demands immediate behavioural changes from motorists as South Africa officially begins Transport Month 02.10.2026 5m

  The Gauteng Legislature's transport committee is demanding immediate behavioural changes from motorists as South Africa officially begins Transport Month. Committee Chairperson Greg Schneemann flags reckless behaviour, drunk driving, speeding and surging road rage as major factors compromising safety ahead of the high-pressure festive season. The legislative body says while fixing road infrastructure remains a key priority, aggressive law enforcement is vital to curbing rising fatalities.  We spoke to Honourable Schneemann  to elaborate further on his sentiments
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  Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya's court case intensifies 02.10.2026 3m

  The state's first witness in the bail application of suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya told the Randburg Magistrates court that whatsapp messages confirm that Sibiya did in-fact communicate with a 16 year-old girl and asked her to send him explicit images and videos of herself. Sibiya was arrested last week on charges of rape, human trafficking and the alleged sexual grooming of a sixteen-year-old girl. A new charge of contravening the Firearms control Act has also been added to his charge sheet. Sashin Naidoo reports.
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  A focus on Eastern and Western Cape ANC court matters 02.10.2026 12m

  ANC NEC member Andile Lungisa's legal team has told the Johannesburg High Court that ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula did not have the power to remove Lungisa from the party's proportional representation candidate list. Lungisa is challenging his exclusion from the list ahead of the November 4 local government elections where he says he was the number one candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay. Zara Groenewald reports. We also spoke to ANC NEC member  Andile Lungisa and ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni.
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  A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana 02.10.2026 5m

   A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back
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  ActionSA welcomes Public Protector's finding against former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi. 02.10.2026 5m

  ActionSA has welcomed the Public Protector's finding against former Ekurhuleni City Manager Imogen Mashazi. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka found Mashazi guilty of improper conduct for appointing an unqualified official as Deputy Metro Police Chief. Mashazi appointed Ndumiso Gcwabe in 2022 despite him lacking the required degree qualification. ActionSA says the finding vindicates its stance at the Madlanga Commission on corruption in the city. We spoke to  ActionSA Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Tumelo Tshabalala.
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  Ramaphosa Announces Major Measures to Curb GBVF 01.10.2026 5m

  President Cyril Ramaphosa has given municipalities sixty days to carry out women's safety audits in all high-risk areas, following the discovery of eleven women's bodies in Ekurhuleni. He says broken streetlights, hijacked buildings, overgrown spaces and unsafe routes must be identified and fixed urgently. The President has also ordered police and the NPA to recover unresolved rape and murder cases and clear forensic backlogs, with public progress reports every quarter. Cabinet will also receive a plan within sixty days to curb alcohol-related violence. For Reaction Elvis Presslin spoke to Gender activist, Nontyatyambo Makapela... 
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  COSATU Urges Urgent Passing Of R10 Billion Fuel Relief Bill 01.10.2026 6m

  COSATU is lobbying Parliament for the immediate passing of the Second Special Appropriation Bill to unlock ten billion rands in emergency fuel relief. The federation wants the funds directed straight to the Central Energy Fund's Equalisation Fund to cushion consumers against volatile international oil markets. For spoke to COSATU's Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew Parks.
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  DENOSA welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation on the recent killings of women 01.10.2026 11m

  The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, DENOSA, has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation on the recent killings of women and government's renewed efforts to tackle Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. Among the measures announced is a four-point action plan that includes stronger law enforcement interventions, community safety audits, and intensified efforts to address systemic weaknesses in the criminal justice system. To discuss the President's address and what more needs to be done to protect women and vulnerable members of society. We spoke to Khutlang Lethena, DENOSA National Gender Chairperson.
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  Rhodes University Flags Concern Over Disruption To Student Services 01.10.2026 6m

  Rhodes University says it is deeply concerned about the continued disruption of essential services on campus amid ongoing student protests. The university's leadership has accused the Student Representative Council of preventing staff responsible for critical services from accessing residences and campus facilities. These services include the provision of food, cleaning, and water, which the university says are vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of students. To discuss the situation, We spoke to Olwetu Gwanya, Communications and Media Relations Manager at Rhodes University.
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  SALGA Says Municipalities Must Act Urgently To End GBV Crisis 01.10.2026 7m

  The South African Local Government Association, SALGA says ending gender-based violence and femicide requires urgent action from municipalities. SALGA was responding to President Cyril Ramaphosa's address announcing interventions to confront the escalating crisis. The Association says it supports the directive for all municipalities to conduct women's safety audits within clear timeframes. We spoke to Nozibele Makanda, SALGA Portfolio Head for Health, Community Services and Inclusivity.
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  Tragedy In Marondera As High Profile Aviation Crash Leaves No Survivours 01.10.2026 5m

  A multi-agency aviation probe is underway in Zimbabwe following a devastating helicopter crash that killed all six people on board in the Marondera Rural district. The private aircraft went down at approximately five o'clock yesterday evening east of Harare, completely destroying the cabin upon impact. Emergency response teams and forensic investigators are on the scene dealing with recovery operations in a remote terrain. High-profile local figures are feared to be among the deceased. We spoke to SABC Zimbabwe Correspondent, Ephert Musekiwa
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  South Africa issues a third formal demarche against US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell over alleged undiplomatic conduct 30.09.2026 3m

  South Africa has issued a third formal demarche against US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell the Third in nine months over alleged undiplomatic conduct. Dirco says both sides remain committed to resolving outstanding issues. Washington however says it has no interest in further diplomatic maneuvering and the ball is in Pretoria's court to repair ties. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says access to South Africa's critical minerals remains a key driver of the friction. Sophie Mokoena reports.
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  Communications Minister Solly Malatsi withdraws the reservation of high-demand spectrum for the Wholesale Open Access Network 30.09.2026 8m

  Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has withdrawn the reservation of high-demand spectrum for the Wholesale Open Access Network, paving the way for ICASA to license this spectrum to operators. The move could have significant implications for competition, investment, network capacity, and digital connectivity in South Africa. To unpack what this means for the telecommunications sector and consumers, we spoke to Nomvuyiso Batyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT).
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  GBVF Sector of the National Dialogue of South Africa convenes a community dialogue in Kempton Park 30.09.2026 6m

  South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of gender-based violence and femicide, with recent killings in Ekurhuleni and other parts of the country once again highlighting the scale of the crisis. In response, the GBVF Sector of the National Dialogue of South Africa is convening a community dialogue in Kempton Park under the theme "From Silence to Safety: Strengthening Community Response to GBVF." The discussion will bring together community members, activists, and stakeholders to explore practical solutions to make communities safer. We spoke to Thembelihle Ntandane, a member of the National Dialogue Steering Committee.
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  South African Law Reform Commission proposes two new bills to radically change how the state handles massive medical negligence claims 30.09.2026 8m

  The South African Law Reform Commission has proposed two new bills to radically change how the state handles massive medical negligence claims. The commission warns that an explosion of lawsuits over the last two decades is heavily draining public funds and crippling healthcare service delivery. The draft laws aim to set up an independent redress commission and enforce pre-litigation rules before patients can take the state to court. If passed, the health and justice departments will gain strict legal frameworks to establish provincial databases and manage payout guidelines. For more, we spoke to Ronel Van Zyl, a Senior State Law Advisor at the South African Law Reform Commission.
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  SAFTU supports Employment Services Amendment Bill regulating labour migration but warns against dividing workers along nationality 30.09.2026 6m

  The South African Federation of Trade Unions, SAFTU, has expressed support for the Employment Services Amendment Bill, saying it supports efforts to regulate labour migration and protect jobs, but warns that workers must not be divided along nationality lines while employers continue to exploit cheap labour. The federation says the focus should be on enforcing labour laws, protecting both South African and migrant workers and addressing the root causes of unemployment through economic growth and job creation. We spoke to SAFTU'S General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
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  President Ramaphosa gives municipalities 60 days to carry out women's safety audits in all high-risk areas speedily 30.09.2026 3m

  President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a four-point plan to effectively deal with the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide in the country. This follows a nationwide outcry after the killing of twelve women in some parts of Ekurhuleni east of Johannesburg in the past two months. Addressing the nation at the Union Buildings last night, Ramaphosa instructed law enforcement agencies to focus on unresolved GBVF cases, reduce forensic backlogs and that municipalities must identify high risk areas to ensure safety of women when they walk and jog among others. Our Politics Reporter Ntebo Mokobo has more. We also spoke to Gender activist, Nontyatyambo Makapela
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  23-year-old woman has become the latest victim in South Africa's relentless scourge of gender-based violence 29.09.2026 5m

  A 23-year-old woman has become the latest victim of gender-based violence in Gauteng. Boitumelo Gift Mashita was brutally murdered in Tembisa yesterday, just as police continue to investigate the discovery of 11 women's bodies in Ekurhuleni. The Tembisa Tracking Team launched a manhunt for her estranged husband, who was wanted as a person of interest in the case. Hours later, he was found dead inside his vehicle in Midrand, with police suspecting he may have ingested a toxic substance. To speak more about what is driving the scourge of gender-based violence.We spoke to  Kwanele Foundation Founder and GBV activist, Sihle Sibisi.
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  Zimbabwe's second-largest city Bulawayo is facing another severe water crisis 29.09.2026 3m

  Zimbabwe's second-largest city Bulawayo is facing another severe water crisis. More than a million residents are under acute water stress as reservoirs deplete, with usable water now reported to be below 50 percent of capacity. The city says years of poor rainfall, a growing population, and ageing infrastructure are putting supply under pressure. Bulawayo has relied on strict water-shedding for over a century to manage shortages, but concerns are mounting about future drought linked to El Niño. We spoke to  city's mayor David Coltart joins us now to discuss what is being done to secure supply in the months ahead.