Oyisa George

The Western Cape Education department is introducing new measures from the 2026 school year to strengthen getting early learning. The Foundation Phase pupils will continue getting extra weekly time for reading and mathematics. “Given the positive feedback from our schools, the national Department of Basic Education recommended the implementation of the additional time in all provinces as an interim measure in 2023 and 2024, which the Western Cape extended until […]

With South Africa now in the midst of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, gender-based violence (GBV) organisations say the crisis remains deeply rooted in families and continues to affect people of all ages. Philisa Abafazi Bethu executive director Lucinda Evans told VOC News that recent statistics show nearly 13,000 women reported violence over three months—and that doesn’t include unreported cases among men, women, or older persons. “Gender-based violence is […]

Gift of the Givers has been stretched across the province after a wave of fires broke out in several communities over the past 24 hours. The first alert came late Saturday afternoon from Klapmuts, where community leaders reported a fire that claimed one life. Shortly after, teams were dispatched to Gugulethu, where another blaze left about 80 residents homeless. On Saturday night, strong winds fuelled a major fire in Nomzamo, […]

Cape Town remains the deadliest metro in the country, recording the highest levels of contact crime between July and September. Newly released SAPS statistics show that four of the five police stations with the most contact crimes nationally are located in Cape Town. “Mfuleni is number one, both at the national and provincial level. Mfuleni is leading, followed by Nyanga, Delft and Kraaifontein,” said Crime Registrar Thulare Sekhukhune. During the […]

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has announced a nationwide vaccination drive against foot-and-mouth disease, with millions of doses set to roll out from early next year, starting in the hardest-hit provinces. The Western Cape recently reported a controlled outbreak in the Cape Winelands, which officials say is under control. KwaZulu-Natal remains the epicentre, with 180 of the 274 unresolved outbreaks nationwide. Despite 931,200 animals being vaccinated with government-procured vaccines over the […]

The City of Cape Town is taking legal action after a group allegedly tried to remove the appointed security company at the new MyCiTi Spine Road depots and replace it with their preferred contractor. According to the City, the group arrived on Monday and forced the security team off the site, warning that they would disrupt operations or damage the facility if their demands were not met. This comes after […]

The basic education department is calling on schools to immediately dismiss any educator listed on the National Register for Sex Offenders. This reminder comes as the country marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. To strengthen protections for learners, the DBE has issued firm, non-negotiable instructions to all Provincial Education Departments, which employ educators, requiring the immediate termination of anyone who […]

NSFAS is planning to stop institutions from charging students above the funding cap, tackling an issue that has left many bursary students burdened with unnecessary debt. Acting CEO Waseem Carrim told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday that the organisation plans to take over landlord payments directly and launch a national audit of all student accommodation. “Students should not graduate carrying debt that prevents them from entering the […]

The Stabilisation and Governance Support Team at the College of Cape Town has already produced preliminary findings, revealing deep-rooted governance and operational issues. Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, shared the update during a media briefing on Tuesday. “The team’s mandate is to assess the challenges, mediate where necessary, and recommend firm corrective action,” Manamela said, noting that governance, administration, and operational weaknesses must be addressed at their core. He […]