Lee-Yandra Paulsen

South Africa’s overcrowded prison system has come under renewed scrutiny, with several political parties calling for the deportation of convicted foreign nationals as part of the solution. With more than 26,000 foreign inmates in correctional facilities, the state is spending millions daily to accommodate them, adding strain to an already burdened system. Advocates of repatriation argue that sending foreign offenders back to their home countries could help reduce costs, ease […]

Parents and guardians at Edgemead Primary School have raised concerns after reports that a Grade 6 learner may have compiled a list naming classmates as potential targets. The list, discovered on 13 March, has caused alarm among parents and students, prompting urgent discussions about the safety and wellbeing of children at the school. VOC News contacted the school for comment. Edgemead Primary School principal Gregory Stockell declined to comment, stating, […]

The Langa Scorpions Wheelchair Basketball Club, based at the Langa Sports Complex, is creating opportunities for athletes with disabilities across the Western Cape. Founded by Lukhanyo Mdunyelwa, the club has grown rapidly, with more than 30 registered players and internal tournaments designed to prepare athletes for national competition. Mdunyelwa says the idea for the club was born out of a deeply personal moment. “The Langa Scorpions wheelchair basketball club was […]

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) demands immediate justice for three Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) whistleblowers, urging their full reinstatement or fair compensation after their unfair dismissal for exposing R370 million in irregular spending. OUTA stresses the need for disciplinary action against those responsible, warning that ignoring accountability endangers public funds and deters future whistleblowers. OUTA’s senior project manager, Rudie Heyneke, described the case as significant. “These three […]

South Africa discards over 10 million tonnes of food each year, at a cost of roughly R62 billion, while one in five households struggles with hunger. Dr. Lize Barclay, Senior Lecturer in Futures Studies and Systems Thinking at Stellenbosch Business School, says this highlights a systemic problem that touches every stage of the food system from production to consumption. Barclay explains, “It is a massive systemic issue. It goes from […]

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that the current Muslim Cemetery Board is unlawful and must be reconstituted through a special general meeting. The court also prohibited the construction and operation of a mortuary facility on the cemetery grounds, finding it inconsistent with the site’s purpose as a burial place. The judgment, stemming from an application by Dr Tolgah Bassier, includes a final interdict preventing the Board from “constructing, […]

The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is calling for the immediate implementation of the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023–2030. The organisation warns that without swift action, mental healthcare services, particularly for children, will remain insufficient and unevenly distributed across the country. Dr. Mahlatse Thosago, a member of SASOP, highlighted the urgency of the matter: “We’ve got four years left before the framework is fully implemented. […]