First Take SA

Civil society organization Defend Our Democracy is urging South Africans to take action ahead of the upcoming voter registration weekend, calling on citizens to register and update their details in preparation for local government elections. The organization says declining trust in local government and politicians should not lead to voter apathy, but rather motivate citizens to use their vote to demand accountability and better service delivery. We spoke to Wade Manning, Acting Executive Director at Defend Our Democracy

Deputy President Paul Mashatile convened a special meeting yesterday with traditional leaders and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration to review border and immigration management. The meeting reaffirmed government's commitment to the five-pillar plan aimed at strengthening border security, curbing irregular migration and enforcing immigration laws. Traditional leaders pledged to support registration drives and community policing efforts in borderland areas. For more on the outcomes of the meeting we spoke to CONTRALESA President, Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena.

The Presidency says President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering the DA's request to remove Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen from cabinet. The DA wants Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Willie Aucamp to take over agriculture, with Western Cape MEC David Maynier moving into Aucamp's portfolio. AfriForum has welcomed Steenhuisen's proposed shortened term and says Aucamp must now focus on the foot-and-mouth crisis, including farmer-led vaccine access and rebuilding local vaccine capacity. For reaction we spoke to Lambert de Klerk, Manager of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum

The Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB is holding a public hearing today at the Southern Sun Hotel, OR Tambo Airport in Kempton Park to examine the use of indigenous languages in South Africa's legal profession. The Legal Practice Council is the main respondent after PanSALB subpoenaed it over English-only admission exams for attorneys, conveyancers and notaries. The Board says the practice undermines the constitutional requirement for multilingualism and equal status of all official languages. We spoke to PanSALB Board Chairperson, Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst.

Organised labour at Nedlac, including Fedusa, has voiced serious concern over rising anti-migrant sentiment and tensions around illegal immigration in South Africa. While recognizing deep frustrations over unemployment, poverty and crumbling services, unions insist migrants are being unfairly blamed for long-standing structural economic failures. They are warning against vigilantism and the exploitation of undocumented workers by unscrupulous employers. Fedusa Deputy General Secretary, Ashley Benjamin joined us to unpack their position.