First Take SA

The Inkatha Freedom Party, IFP has raised concerns over temporary leadership in South Africa's police service following the suspension of National Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has been appointed acting national commissioner. Masemola was placed on precautionary suspension over alleged violations of public finance rules. The IFP says it respects due process but warns that key posts in the security cluster being held in acting capacities creates instability. We spoke to IFP Chief Whip, Nhlanhla Hadebe and Specialist Investigator, Mike Bolhuis

Former NPA head Shamila Batohi has formally declined to give further evidence at the Nkabinde Enquiry in Pretoria. She calls the decision "considered and informed" after "significant thought and reflection". The inquiry is probing the fitness of suspended South Gauteng DPP Andrew Chauke to hold office. Batohi walked out in December citing the need to consult lawyers during cross-examination, a request the inquiry later refused. We spoke to MK Party MP, Mzwanele Manyi.

A look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of Africa Is Open For Business and Africa Bounces Back

As South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of violence, a growing movement is calling for a shift in how we address the root causes. The Heartlines Fathers Matter campaign is urging men—and society at large—to recognise the critical role fathers and male role models play in shaping the emotional development of children and preventing violence before it begins. For Themba Dlamini, this message is deeply personal. After surviving a violent hijacking, he was struck not only by the brutality of the incident, but by how young the perpetrators were—raising a haunting question: where were their fathers? Through his work, he argues that violence often begins long before it manifests physically, rooted in unresolved emotions, absent guidance, and a lack of positive role models. We spoke to Themba Dlamini, a Pastor, father of four, a columnist and author of Village Boy: A Memoir of Fatherlessness.

In a significant ruling, the Constitutional Court of South Africa has upheld a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal, confirming that directives issued by the South African Human Rights Commission are not legally binding. While the Commission retains its powers to investigate complaints and make findings on human rights violations, the judgment makes it clear that it cannot enforce compliance through its directives. The ruling raises important questions about the powers of Chapter 9 institutions and what this means for accountability and human rights protection in South Africa. To unpack this for us we spoke to legal expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala