Kouthar Sambo, Author at Voice of the Cape

Hamas: “The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached critical stages due to the expansion and deepening of famine”

"The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached critical stages due to the expansion and deepening of famine, posing a serious threat to the lives of over 2.25 million citizens - half of them children - alongside ongoing brutal massacres." This is according to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The statement comes after the Israeli occupation forces weaponised starvation to "break Palestinians' will." "We warn against continued international inaction […]

31 May 2025

Cape Town

The Joshlin Smith trial is expected to conclude this week

By Kouthar Sambo Recent reports indicate that the Joshlin Smith trial is expected to conclude this week. This follows the conviction and sentencing of the missing girl’s mother, Kelly Smith, along with her two co-accused, who were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. Speaking on VOC’s PM Drive show, Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation for Abused Children, Dr Shaheda Omar, said no sentence can bring back the little […]

28 May 2025

Featured

Hamas and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reaches a draft ceasefire agreement in Doha

Qatari sources have confirmed that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have reached a draft ceasefire agreement in Doha. The proposed deal includes a 60-day truce, the release of 10 living Israeli captives, and the repatriation of the remains of several others. In return, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners will take place over two phases. Speaking on VOC's PM Drive show, Prof. Ahmed Jazbhay from […]

28 May 2025

Cape Town

South African Expat Killed in Suspected Domestic Violence Incident in the U.S.

By Kouthar Sambo The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has confirmed the arrest of 32-year-old Alexander Towne following a domestic-related homicide at a residence in Chantilly, Virginia, USA. Towne was taken into custody on the evening of Saturday, 24 May 2025, after allegedly assaulting and killing his wife, South African national Kim-lee White, also 32. A police official stated that Towne himself called law enforcement to report the incident. “Before […]

28 May 2025

Featured

A draft ceasefire agreement has been reached between Hamas and U.S. Special Envoy

"The blatant intrusion by extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir, so-called National Security Minister of the Zionist occupation government, accompanied by large groups of settler mobs into the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, performing provocative Talmudic rituals therein, represents a flagrant violation of the sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa for the entire Islamic Ummah, and a desperate attempt by the occupation to enforce the complete Judaization of the Mosque." This is according […]

27 May 2025

Cape Town

Government Boosts Early Childhood Development with R10 Billion Budget Increase

By Kouthar Sambo The Western Cape’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector welcomes the retention of R10 billion in new funding. This increase will raise the daily ECD subsidy from R17 to R24 per child and expand access to services for 700,000 additional children under five years old. Speaking on VOC's Sunday Live show, Chairperson of South African Congress for ECD Western Cape and Principal of Vision Kidz.com Educare in Colorado […]

25 May 2025

Cape Town

The Western Cape government proposes three mixed-use housing options for the Tafelberg site

By Kouthar Sambo The Western Cape government has proposed three mixed-use housing options for the Tafelberg site in Sea Point, blending market, affordable, and social units. With planning in the early stages and public consultations due in June 2026, housing activists say this could mark progress toward spatial justice in Cape Town. Speaking on VOC's PM Drive show, the Head of Political Organising and Campaigns for housing organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi, […]

25 May 2025

Featured

Hamas welcomes the joint statement issued by 80 UN member states, confirming that the Gaza Strip is facing the worst humanitarian crisis

"We welcome the joint statement issued by 80 UN member states, which confirmed that the Gaza Strip is facing the worst humanitarian crisis since the beginning of the Zionist aggression in October 2023, and called for the protection of Palestinian civilians under international humanitarian law." This is according to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The statement follows the move, which signals international rejection of the ongoing aggression against Palestinians in […]

23 May 2025

Cape Town

Economic analyst: “When the proposed VAT hike got rejected, he came back saying there was no other way, convincing the public that taxes had to be raised for him to balance the books”

By Kouthar Sambo Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented the national budget on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, without implementing an increase to value-added tax (VAT). However, early reports indicate that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has expressed its readiness to take on the responsibility of closing the revenue gap in the national budget. According to Godongwana, this revenue-raising mandate could enable SARS to generate an additional R20 to R50 billion […]

23 May 2025

Kouthar

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