Oyisa George

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 […]

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 […]