Lee-Yandra Paulsen

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is warning unemployed and substitute teachers to be on high alert as fraudsters continue to target job seekers with fake teaching posts on WhatsApp. According to WCED Director of Communication Bronagh Hammond, the scam first emerged in October last year and has resurfaced with a worrying increase in recent months. Hammond stated that scammers impersonate school principals and education officials by using their photographs […]

A woman from Gqeberha has completed the remarkable task of handwriting all 6,000-plus verses of the Holy Qur’an, despite not being a Qur’an memoriser or Islamic scholar. Nurunisa Ahmed, formerly Karbelkar, is also an entrepreneur and says her journey was driven by a deep personal connection to the Qur’an and a determination to make time for the project despite her busy schedule. Speaking on VOC’s NewsBeat, Ahmed said the accomplishment […]

The Save Our Sea Point Residents’ Association (SOSRA) is challenging the City of Cape Town’s approval of a five-storey apartment development on St John’s Road, arguing that the project does not comply with the City’s own planning regulations. The matter was heard in the Western Cape High Court, where SOSRA is seeking to have the approved building plans reviewed and set aside. At the centre of the dispute is the […]

Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga stated that the newly established National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide must strengthen efforts to combat the scourge and ensure government commitments translate into meaningful action. Chikunga briefed the media following the council’s inaugural meeting, stating that it will coordinate efforts between government, civil society, business and other sectors. It will also monitor the implementation of the National Strategic […]

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia stated that South Africa recorded a decline in several serious crimes between April and June, including murder, carjacking, residential and business robberies, and cash-in-transit heists. However, he warned that crimes affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups remain a major concern. Briefing the media on the latest quarterly crime statistics, Cachalia said organised crime continues to pose a significant threat to public safety despite improvements […]

Parliament has taken a step towards restoring the Central Drug Authority by appointing a joint sub-committee to review and process nominations for vacancies on the board. The Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the National Council of Provinces’ Select Committee on Social Services established the joint body following months of delays in appointing new members. The previous board’s term ended in March, leaving the authority without a functional governing structure. […]