First Take SA

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says increasing the level of confidence in democracy and touching the lives of South Africans with increased service delivery will help stop his party's worrying electoral decline. The ANC has been experiencing serious electoral decline over the years after having dipped to 46 percent in the 2021 local elections, and to 40 percent in the 2024 national polls. With more parties and independents having shown interest in the forthcoming local elections, there is a fear that things could be worse for traditional political parties with the ANC being the hardest hit. Our Politics Reporter Ntebo Mokobo asked the ANC president what are the reasons for his party's dwindling electoral support.

South Africa is marking three years since a devastating blaze at the Usindiso Building in Johannesburg killed 77 people. The fire ripped through the five-storey hijacked property in the Marshalltown district, displacing hundreds of inner-city residents. An attorney and Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, SERI, Nomzamo Zondo says 12 of the deceased victims still remain unidentified following the tragedy.

African Traditional Medicine Day has been marked in Mpumalanga on Sunday. The commemoration looked at research and development efforts to advance traditional medicine. This year's theme centres on using traditional medicine to help achieve universal health coverage in the African region. National Health Departmental Spokesperson, Foster Mohale elaborates.

As Women's Month draws to a close, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Tandi Mahambehlala will host a dialogue in Tshwane on young women in the built environment. The discussion under the theme "Building Pathways, Opening Doors and Shaping the Cities of Tomorrow" will focus on leadership, transformation and access to opportunities. The Department says it wants women meaningfully represented across the sector, with a target of at least 40% of procurement spend going to women-owned enterprises.We spoke to Tsekiso Machike, spokesperson for the Department of Human Settlements, on whether those commitments are creating real opportunities.

A 37-year-old man arrested by the Hawks at OR Tambo International Airport is due in the Specialized Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge today. He faces charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to the R635 million Tembisa Hospital tender scandal. The Hawks allege hospital officials colluded with service providers to split contracts below R500,000 to bypass formal tender processes. Investigations into others allegedly involved in the case are continuing. We spoke to Public Servants Association (PSA) Organising and Marketing Officer in Pretoria Organiser, Madimetja Mautla.