First Take SA

As the race for the 2026 local elections heats up, newly formed Born To Win Party leader Boy Mamabolo is hitting the streets of Polokwane, campaigning door-to-door to win over voters. Gender-based violence and femicide top his agenda, with Mamabolo saying safer communities and protection for women will be a priority if his party gets into government. 

Former acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane says charges against him, provisionally withdrawn by IDAC, were concocted. Phahlane claims the move was an attempt to push him out after he refused to hand over control of SAPS to Robert McBride and Paul O'Sullivan.Meanwhile Forensic Investigator, Paul O'Sullivan has denied allegations against him by Phahlane.

Mozambican human rights champion Professor Adriano Nuvungo has issued an urgent open letter to President Daniel Chapo challenging a controversial funding pact with the United States. The deal allegedly ties critical international health subsidies to the mandatory sharing of citizens' private medical data and biological samples. Nuvungo warns that trading personal medical details without public consultation or parliamentary oversight violates fundamental constitutional rights. The presidency is now facing mounting pressure to reveal all hidden clauses and guarantee strict safeguards for the privacy and dignity of all Mozambicans. Tracey Boomgaard spoke to Professor Adriano Nuvungo about what the funding pact entails.

The Department of Basic Education is moving to tighten rules around teachers communicating with learners on WhatsApp and other social platforms. The move follows a string of cases, including a Gauteng teacher suspended after alleged inappropriate chats with a 17-year-old learner and 469 sexual misconduct cases recorded since 2018. The Federation of Governing Bodies, FEDSAS says schools need clear cut-off times and proper, traceable communication channels instead of private chats. We spoke to FEDSAS legal adviser, Riaan van den Berg.

The MK Party is calling for urgent government intervention as South Africans brace for a record fuel price increase. The party says rising fuel costs will push up the price of basic goods and transport, hitting the poor hardest. It wants Treasury to consider cutting the fuel levy and other relief measures. We spoke to  MK Party MP, Visvin Reddy.