Oyisa George

The growing use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss is raising questions about their potential impact on mental health, with a specialist psychiatrist warning that patients need to be closely monitored. Speaking to VOC News, Dr Gagu Matsebula, a specialist psychiatrist, says GLP-1 medicines have been used for around 20 years to treat type 2 diabetes, but their weight-loss benefits have increasingly brought them into the spotlight. He says the […]

South African households, particularly low-income families, are expected to come under further financial pressure as the latest fuel price increases take effect on Wednesday, with higher transport and food costs adding to the strain. Speaking to VOC News, Advocacy Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, Sibusiso Mboto, says the impact will extend beyond motorists to households relying on paraffin for cooking and other basic needs. “This is […]

Security and policing expert Eldred De Klerk says the City of Cape Town needs to clearly demonstrate how granting municipal police investigative powers would strengthen its existing mandate and improve public safety. Speaking to VOC News, De Klerk says the debate should focus less on political disagreements and more on whether the proposed powers would address the gaps in policing and law enforcement. “The city needs to make its case. […]

The Western Cape E-Hailing Association (WCEA) and Operation Ubuntu are calling for urgent intervention at Cape Town International Airport, amid reports of intimidation and violence involving e-hailing drivers at the airport’s staging area. Operation Ubuntu spokesperson Indiphile Matini says the situation has deteriorated because of what the organisations describe as failures by Uber, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the Western Cape Department of Mobility and SAPS. Matini says legitimate drivers […]

The Mowbray Muslim Cemetery Board election has moved into the counting and verification phase after the online voting process closed on Tuesday afternoon. The election, which is being overseen by an independent panel appointed by the court, saw 53 candidates contesting 11 positions following a lengthy legal dispute over the governance of the cemetery. Speaking to VOC News, chairperson of the independent election panel, Attorney Ighsaan Higgins, says the physical […]

The Supreme Court of Appeal is considering government’s appeal against a High Court judgment that declared several regulations governing the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant unconstitutional and invalid. The case focuses on issues including the online-only application system, the exclusion of potential beneficiaries and whether the grant should be expanded. Speaking to VOC News, Siyanda Baduza, Junior Basic Income Researcher at the Institute for Economic Justice, says the outcome […]

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is urging voters in the Western Cape to familiarise themselves with key election deadlines and special voting arrangements ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections. Speaking to VOC News, IEC Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse says the commission is currently finalising the voters’ roll after the recent objection period. Political parties have until 5pm on Friday to submit their candidate nominations, […]

Three South African students are celebrating a major international achievement after their team won a global space design competition at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Zayaan Abdurahman, Benjamin Honigwachs and Dean Weich were part of Team ZA, which competed against students from around the world to design a spacecraft capable of carrying 3,000 people. Speaking to VOC News, Abdurahman described the moment they were announced as winners as “a […]

South Africa’s food inflation has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade, but rising fuel costs and global tensions could threaten the relief for households. Statistics South Africa says food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation slowed to 0.9% last month, with lower prices for meat and cereal products helping to ease pressure on consumers. Speaking to VOC News, Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa chief economist Wandile Sihlobo […]