By Oyisa George A Cape Town woman has told VOC News that she was forcibly pushed to the ground by a Home Affairs official at the Tyger Valley branch, despite having a valid appointment. Kaashiefa Koli said she booked her slot through the official DHA website and did not pay any third party. “I diligently tried every day until December, and eventually secured an available slot for 22 January,” she […]
By Sedick Crombie Introduction The renowned Spanish-American philosopher, poet, and novelist George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (1). This quotation has never been more relevant than in the context of current global geopolitical developments. The world probably never envisaged that we would once again find ourselves at a crossroads, as developments in the early and mid-20th century had already made this planet […]
By Media Analyst Sedick Crombie Besides the legal and geopolitical contexts and analyses that many analysts make in relation to the Venezuelan situation—and which are mostly spot on—there are also many other contexts that play a significant role. Legal: that this invasion and the capturing of a foreign president are against international law; that it constitutes kidnapping; and that no foreign country reserves the right to do what the US […]
The Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape reports that all fires in the Montagu region have been extinguished, with one fire line still active near De Doorns. According to spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto, the Montagu fire has been contained after more than a week of intense firefighting. She warns that smouldering tree stumps and hotspots will require extensive mop-up operations before the area can be declared completely safe.“The fire […]
By Rachel Mohamed The abrupt postponement of the investigations and prosecutions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) until the week of the 26th of November has raised queries on the logistics of the commission as well as the future of the historic cases under its purview. Speaking to VOC News, Lionel Adendorf, the spokesperson for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, explained the events leading up to the commission's creation. […]
By Rachel Mohamed The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services continue to battle an active blaze in the Kogmanskloof mountains above Montagu and Ashton. The fire, which began on Thursday in the veld above Zolani, spread into Cape Nature-managed land and along the mountain ridge. Speaking to VOC News, the municipality’s spokesperson, Jo-Anne Otto, stated that the fire was ignited on the Ashton side and was a combination of both […]
The African Diaspora Forum in South Africa has urged government officials, civil society, and migrant communities to quickly convene a Migrant Indaba. The Indaba aims to address the complex migration laws by developing joint strategies for better migration management, integration, and resource use. According to Bongani Mkwananzi, secretary of the Africa Diaspora Forum, migrants can and should be partners in finding solutions in addition to being beneficiaries of policy. “South […]
By Rachel Mohamed Weeks after collapsing while testifying at the Madlanga Commission, SAPS Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo has returned to the witness box. Khumalo, whose illness is unknown, previously detailed the work of the Political Killings Task Team. His return comes amid reports of an alleged hit on businessman Brown Mogotsi, which is linked to police corruption investigations. Chris de Kock, an independent crime and violence analyst, […]
The Western Cape government has implemented a performance-based standards policy, which allows eligible heavy vehicles to carry larger payloads while improving safety and reducing road wear. Applications will be accepted online beginning November 1. According to Isaac Sileku, the Western Cape's MEC for Mobility, the new policy replaces rigid size and weight limits with an emphasis on vehicle performance metrics. "This initiative is central to the Western Cape Government's commitment […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
