Aneeqa Du Plessis, Author at Voice of the Cape

A prayer memorial walk is being held to honour Joshlin Smith

Community members in Diazville, Saldanha, in the Western Cape are holding a prayer memorial walk today to commemorate the first anniversary of Joslin Smith’s disappearance. Smith was six years old when she went missing while in the care of her mother’s boyfriend. Her mother, Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, and his friend, Steveno van Rhyn, face charges of kidnapping and child trafficking. The trio is scheduled to […]

19 February 2025

Local

Citizens comments on the Budget-Speech 2025

By Rachel Mohamed As South Africa faces challenges related to public sector wages, fiscal sustainability, and economic priorities, the upcoming Budget Speech is attracting significant attention. Citizens are eagerly awaiting Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's delivery of the budget speech today. VOC News spoke to South Africans to gather their views on what they expect from the upcoming budget speech. Yusuf Abramjee, the founder of Tax Justice SA, urged Finance Minister […]

19 February 2025

Local

Unemployment rate drops to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024

Statistics South Africa's (Stats SA) quarterly labour force survey for the fourth quarter of 2024 indicates a slight decrease in the unemployment rate, which has dropped to 31.9 percent from 32.1 percent in the previous quarter. Employment rose by 132,000, bringing the total number of employed persons to 17.1 million. However, the number of discouraged job seekers increased by 111,000, and youth unemployment remains notably high at 44.6 percent. Statistician-General […]

18 February 2025

Local

The Yusufeyyah Masjid held a public meeting addressing concerns around the Constantia Cemetery

By Rachel Mohamed Dozens of residents gathered at the Yusufeyyah Masjid in Wynberg for a public meeting hosted by the Muslim Cemetery Society of Wynberg on Sunday. The meeting provided an update on the status of Constantia Cemetery and addressed community concerns about the resting places of their loved ones, particularly focusing on the lower section of the cemetery near Strawberry Lane. Mustaq Brey, one of the longest-standing executive members, […]

17 February 2025

Local

Giwusa Slams Government Over Cost-of-Living Crisis

By Rachel Mohamed The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa) has criticized the government’s management of the cost-of-living crisis. According to the latest Household Affordability Index, citizens allocate over 57% of their salaries to transport and electricity costs. Giwusa attributes this issue to Eskom’s transition from a public service model to a profit-driven institution. Speaking on VOC’s Breakfast Show, Mametlwe Sebei, the president of Giwusa, held the […]

13 February 2025

Local

LILLAH FOUNDATION APPEALS FOR ASSISTANCE TO RESTORE AL HABIB MASJID IN GAZA CITY

By Rachel Mohamed The Lillah Foundation has appealed to the public for assistance in raising funds to restore the Al Habib Mohammed Masjid—the only mosque in Gaza City that has not been destroyed amid the ongoing attacks against Palestinians. Speaking on VOC Breakfast, Nasieba Jamie, a founding member of the Lillah Foundation, expressed gratitude to Allah (God) and the community for their support of this important cause. She emphasized the […]

13 February 2025

International News

Calls mounting for Defence Minister Angie Motshekga’s resignation

By Rachel Mohamed Several political parties are calling for Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to resign. On Monday, February 10, 2025, Parliament held a special session to discuss the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Action SA has joined the calls for Motshekga's resignation. Speaking on VOC’s News Beat show, Action SA MP Athol Trollip stated that the South African National Defence Force […]

12 February 2025

Local

Commuters at Philippi East taxi rank voice their frustration over the delays in taxi service

VOC News spoke to commuters on Tuesday morning at the Philippi East taxi rank, where they were anxiously waiting for minibus taxis to arrive after waiting for hours. Many expressed frustrations, blaming Metrorail for cancelling the morning peak train services. “I have been standing here for two hours, and I start work at 8 o’clock,” one commuter said. A high school student mentioned that they had been waiting […]

11 February 2025

Local

Cape Town’s 20.2% employment growth outpaces other major metros

The report titled "The Striking Disparities in Employment Across South Africa" reveals that Cape Town experienced the highest job growth in the country, with a 20.2 percent increase in jobs from 2014 to 2023. This growth was primarily driven by sectors such as retail, call centers, finance, and security. Since early 2022, over 300,000 jobs have been added in the city. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis attributes this success to stable governance […]

11 February 2025

Aneeqa Du Plessis

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