Retired Anglican archbishop and anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu celebrated his 85th birthday on Friday by presiding over Eucharist at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town. He paid a moving tribute to the cathedral before laying his head on the communion table and weeping briefly. "I have reached the stage in life when I am closer to the departure than arrivals hall," said Tutu, who was discharged from hospital late last […]
The Constitutional Court says it would not be in the interests of justice to hear the NPA's request for leave to appeal the reinstatement of corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma at this stage. Court papers show an order dated September 28 dismissing a request for leave to appeal the High Court in Pretoria's April ruling, that was filed by National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams. The court ruled […]
The University of the Witwatersrand has postponed its planned general assembly on Friday. “We will postpone the general assembly until consensus is reached and the conditions for such an assembly are met,” the university said in a statement. Head of communications Shirona Patel said there is a risk that the safety and security of those attending the assembly cannot be guaranteed. A congregation of the general assembly is called when […]
A South African pro-Palestinian activist detained in Israel has been released and will arrive home on Friday. Leigh-Anne Naidoo was taken into custody along with 12 international activists, who formed part of an all-women crew aboard a vessel attempting to break the humanitarian blockade on Gaza. The delegation was arrested by the Israeli Defence Force when their boat, the Zaytouna Oliva, was intercepted in international waters on Wednesday, a few […]
At least two barrel bombs have hit the largest hospital in the rebel-held eastern side of Syria's Aleppo city, according to the medical organisation that supports it. The facility, known as M10, had already been hit by heavy bombardment on Wednesday along with the second-largest hospital in the area in what Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, denounced as "war crimes". Referring to Saturday's attack, Adham Sahloul, of the Syrian American […]
Hungarians on Sunday began voting on a referendum over European Union plans to relocate refugees and migrants among member states. The right-wing government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has fiercely opposed the EU plan, which seeks to share 160,000 asylum seekers around the 28-member bloc via mandatory quotas. Under the scheme, Hungary would receive less than 1,300 people, but it has not accepted a single person allocated so far. In […]
A deadly stampede broke out after Ethiopian police reportedly fired tear gas to break up an ethnic Oromo protest with several people killed south of the capital, Addis Ababa. There were conflicting death toll reports following the stampede on Sunday. An AFP photographer at the scene said he saw 15-20 unmoving bodies, some of whom were clearly dead. "As a result of the chaos, lives were lost and several of […]
Three early morning fires in Cape Town destroyed 48 homes and left 135 people displaced. Fire and Rescue services spokesperson Liezl Moodie on Sunday said firefighters responded to a blaze in Sam Njokozela Avenue, Bloekombos shortly after 02:30. "Three houses and six wood and iron structures were destroyed, affecting 15 people. No injuries were reported," she said. Just under an hour later, firefighters responded to a fire in Voortrekker Road, […]
It is vital that university classes resume because if the academic year is not completed it will negatively impact admissions for next year and new graduates entering the workplace. That’s the message from university representatives and opposition parties after a meeting on Saturday night. The Democratic Alliance (DA)‚ United Democratic Movement‚ Congress of the People‚ Inkatha Freedom Party‚ and the African Christian Democratic Party held talks on the current education […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
