Oyisa George

South Africa has recorded 26 politically motivated killings this year, raising concerns about political violence and the safety of candidates and voters ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Speaking to VOC News, University of the Western Cape School of Government professor Lisa Thompson says political killings have become a recurring feature of local government elections, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the figures remain especially concerning. “Local government has become a […]

The R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund is facing renewed scrutiny over slow disbursements and concerns about the state’s ability to properly verify businesses applying for financial support. Speaking to VOC News, analyst Sandile Swana says only R83.9 million in applications had been approved, with R57 million actually disbursed to about 930 spaza shop owners. Swana says the figures raise questions about the implementation of the fund, particularly given the […]

Allegations that some police officers are working with or receiving payments from criminal gangs are raising serious concerns about the ability of law enforcement to tackle organised crime and protect communities. Speaking to VOC News, security strategist and retired Interpol Ambassador Andy Mashaile says there are police officers who abuse their positions and use state resources to further criminal interests. Mashaile says one example is “moonlighting”, where officers allegedly provide […]

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has gazetted the first two sets of regulations under the BELA Act, with the public given until 5 September to submit written comments. The regulations deal with school admissions and capacity and are aimed at guiding the implementation of changes introduced by the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which has been in force since 24 December 2024. The Department of Basic Education says the regulations […]

Former Eskom contractor Michael Lomas has been convicted on 34 counts of corruption after entering into a plea and sentence agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) over his role in the R1.4 billion Kusile Power Station corruption case. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the conviction marks another significant step in holding those implicated in state capture-era corruption accountable. “This conviction demonstrates that even complex […]

The Western Cape High Court has dismissed an application seeking access to the Mowbray Cemetery Board’s bank statements, ruling that the records should remain confidential while allowing the court to inspect them solely to determine whether sufficient funds are available to facilitate the upcoming election of a new governing body. Speaking to VOC News, legal expert Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf said the judgment is narrower in scope than many may believe […]