Oyisa George

Farm workers and farm dwellers marched to Parliament on Thursday, calling on government to make unused public land available for housing and other social needs. The march followed the National Farm Worker Platform, which brought farm worker organisations, unions and movements together in Cape Town from 6 to 8 October to discuss challenges including food insecurity, farm evictions, insecure employment and pesticide exposure. Women on Farms Project co-director Carmen Louw […]

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will hold in-camera hearings over the next two weeks as it continues investigating criminality, political interference and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says the hearings will focus on evidence that cannot be made public because of ongoing investigations or the confidential nature of the information. “Starting in the week of 5 October 2026, the Commission will sit in-camera to […]

The Housing Assembly is challenging the approval of a proposed hyperscale data centre near Cape Town International Airport, raising concerns over its potential impact on water, electricity and surrounding communities. The Municipal Planning Tribunal approved the application on 14 July, but activists have since lodged an appeal, temporarily halting the approval while the process continues. Housing Assembly activist Kenneth Matlawe said the organisation’s objection was rejected by the tribunal, but […]

South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago has warned that a major cyberattack on a financial institution or payment system could trigger the next global financial crisis. He made the remarks at the third Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection Forum on Africa and geopolitics in Johannesburg. Cybersecurity specialist Anna Collard agrees with the warning, saying concerns over AI-driven cyber risks are shared by international organisations, including the International Monetary Fund […]

Rabies has claimed 16 lives in South Africa this year, with 75% of those who died being under the age of 15. Speaking to VOC News on World Rabies Day, specialist veterinary pathologist at the South African Veterinary Association, Dr Didi Classen, said the deaths were particularly tragic because rabies is preventable when people receive medical attention quickly after exposure. “It sounds like a small number if you compare it […]

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness expects that more mpox cases could be identified as contact tracing continues following two social gatherings linked to a cluster in Cape Town. Speaking to VOC News, the department’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Saadiq Karriem, said 13 of the province’s cases had been identified since mid-August and were linked to the two gatherings. “We were able to pick up a number of […]