Aneeqa Du Plessis, Author at Voice of the Cape

Hujaaj returning to Mother City after performing pilgrimage

By Rachel Mohamed Cape Town International Airport was filled with emotion and excitement as family and friends gathered to welcome loved ones returning from the sacred journey of Hajj for the 1446 season. Over 100 hujaaj arrived back in the Mother City, uplifted and in high spirits. This year’s pilgrimage was widely regarded as a success, with two million pilgrims completing the journey. Mohammed Groenewald, Chair of the South African […]

12 June 2025

Local

Death toll rises to 57 in Eastern Cape floods

The death toll from the recent flooding in the Eastern Cape has risen to 57. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa warned that the number may increase as recovery efforts continue. He described the situation in areas like Mthatha as devastating and urged citizens to refrain from building on floodplains, noting that climate change will worsen the impact of such disasters. Hlabisa called for decisive national action to […]

12 June 2025

Local

Parliament set to decide on the national budget

By Rachel Mohamed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana addressed Parliament today, appealing to the National Assembly for support on the fiscal framework and revenue proposals linked to the 2025 budget he presented last month. His budget recommendations have previously faced hurdles, with a prior budget vote annulled by the courts. Speaking on VOC, political economist Patrick Bond emphasized the need for society to interrogate whether interest rates will remain excessively high […]

11 June 2025

Local

Unemployment in South Africa affects mostly young people

By Rachel Mohamed Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that nearly two million young people have already benefited from the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. Last week, the government launched a new phase of the programme, aimed at creating further opportunities for the country's youth. Speaking on VOC, Clotilde Angelucci, Acting Project Lead at Youth Capital, reflected on the Presidential Youth Employment […]

11 June 2025

International News

Analyst criticises media bias in the capture of the Madleen Flotilla

By Rachel Mohamed Recent reports confirm that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among three individuals released from Israeli custody earlier this morning. The release follows the detention of the Madleen, a charity vessel carrying 12 activists, including Thunberg, who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid by sea to the Gaza Strip. Speaking on VOC, Mariam Jooma Carikci from the Media Review Network criticised the media’s choice of language, arguing […]

10 June 2025

Local

NAPTOSA denounces assault against teachers

By Rachel Mohamed A recent report has revealed that since the beginning of this year, 50 teachers have been assaulted by students in the Western Cape — sparking outrage across the province, particularly from the trade union NAPTOSA. Speaking across VOC's airwaves, Basil Manuel, Executive Director of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), highlighted the role of socio-economic factors and school environments in contributing to such incidents. […]

10 June 2025

International News

Trump Administration Imposes Expanded Travel Ban Affecting 12 Countries

By Rachel Mohamed United States President Donald Trump has enacted a new travel ban restricting entry from 12 countries, echoing his controversial 2017 ban but with a broader and more diverse list of nations. Speaking to VOC, international relations expert Dr. Oscar van Heerden criticised the move, saying it reflects the administration’s broader stance on immigration. “They’ve implemented a widespread ban on refugees and asylum seekers, particularly targeting people […]

9 June 2025

International News

Trump Expands Travel Ban, Clashes with Musk

By Rachel Mohamed U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning nationals from 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—citing concerns about terrorism. The order, effective today, June 9, 2025, forms part of a broader crackdown on immigration. Meanwhile, domestic tensions are escalating as Trump publicly clashes with tech billionaire Elon Musk. Speaking on VOC's airwaves, Professor John J. Stremlau, Honorary […]

9 June 2025

Local

President Cyril Ramaphosa mourns passing of former Zambian leader Edgar Lungu

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu and the people of Zambia following Lungu's passing in Pretoria at the age of 68. The Patriotic Front reported that Lungu had been undergoing medical treatment in South Africa for several weeks due to an undisclosed illness. Lungu served as Zambia's president from 2015 until losing the 2021 election to the current president, Hakainde […]

6 June 2025

Aneeqa Du Plessis

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