Oyisa George

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 […]

Lieutenant General Sizakhele William Dyantyi has been appointed as the new Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape. The announcement was made by Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, who said the appointment followed a “rigorous, transparent and consultative process” aimed at finding a leader capable of responding to the province’s complex crime challenges. Dyantyi takes over at a time when the Western […]

The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUFAS) says it will continue engaging with Golden Arrow Bus Services over concerns around changes to disciplinary policies affecting drivers. Speaking to VOC News, NUFAS official responsible for Golden Arrow, Elias Mjikwa, said the union’s peaceful march on Tuesday was organised to raise concerns about what it calls unilateral changes to the company’s drive cam policies. Mjikwa says the drive cams […]

The Western Cape has become the first province in South Africa to receive international accreditation for its forensic toxicology unit, a milestone expected to strengthen criminal investigations and improve confidence in forensic evidence used by the courts. The accreditation recognises the unit's compliance with internationally accepted standards for quality, accuracy and reliability in forensic toxicology testing. Speaking to VOC News, Western Cape MEC for Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said […]

As South Africa prepares for the final voter registration weekend ahead of the November local government elections, political analyst Professor Lisa Thompson says declining voter turnout reflects growing public disillusionment with local government rather than a weakening democracy. Speaking to VOC News, Thompson, from the University of the Western Cape's Department of Political Studies, said lower participation is a trend seen in many established democracies. "We must remind ourselves that […]

The Constitutional Court's decision to temporarily halt Parliament's impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa has been described as a move that protects due process while allowing legal questions surrounding the case to be resolved first. Speaking to VOC News, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), Lawson Naidoo said the majority of judges agreed that the President could suffer "irreparable harm" if the […]

Housing activists say they are considering appealing a Western Cape High Court ruling ordering 161 people living at the Transnet-owned Culemborg site in Cape Town to vacate the property by 30 September, warning that any eviction must prioritise the dignity and wellbeing of affected families. The court's decision has reignited concerns about Cape Town's housing crisis, with activists arguing that relocating residents to emergency shelters would not provide a sustainable […]

South African consumers have been given some relief after the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) decided to leave the repo rate unchanged at 7%, despite ongoing concerns over global inflation and geopolitical tensions. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced on Thursday that four members voted to keep the rate unchanged, while two supported a 25-basis-point increase. SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the committee believes the current monetary policy stance remains […]