By Tauhierah Salie Solomon Alhamdulilah! The highly anticipated announcement, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed early on Saturday that one million pilgrims will be honoured with Hajj this year 1443/2022. The Covid-19 pandemic and fear of its spread resulted in just a few thousand being allowed to perform the pilgrimage last year and a privileged 1 000 in 2020. According to the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC), […]
INTERNATIONAL n the Arab world, Ramadan is a time of year when blockbuster TV shows featuring the region's biggest stars make their debuts. With enough episodes to last the entire month, families usually sit down to watch the programmes after the breaking of the fast at sunset. While normally, the subject matter revolves around the usual entertainment cliches of love, family disputes and historical drama, this year one show in particular is […]
INTERNATIONAL The US-based insurance company Geico has cancelled a scheduled speech by Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour at their offices, following a backlash from pro-Israel and Jewish groups who decried her criticism of Israel as antisemitic. Geico had scheduled Sarsour to speak on 5 April at an internal event celebrating Middle East and North African Heritage Month - the official celebration recognised by the US government is Arab American Heritage Month, which occurs every April. […]
INTERNATIONAL Ahmad has been selling naem, a Ramadan delicacy, for years. He makes the sweet bread himself, mixing water, flour and grape molasses, a concoction that proves popular every year with the public in Damascus. But business is flagging, and the prices of the ingredients he uses are at an all-time high. “This holy month I’m usually working all the time, but business is not like it was in previous years, even […]
INTERNATIONAL One Palestinian was killed and 13 more wounded on Saturday morning as a large Israeli force raided the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The raid began at around 9:30am local time when Israeli special forces entered the camp and headed to the family home of Raad Hazem, a 28-year-old who carried out a shooting at a bar in Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing three Israelis. Reinforcements followed, and Israeli troops raided […]
LOCAL Capetonians have reacted with anger over the latest alleged assassination of a woman in Manenberg. Primrose Park Primary School Secretary, Zuraya Barden, was fatally shot by unknown gunmen in Kunene road upon arrival at work yesterday morning. According to reports, her grandson was left unharmed in the backseat. The 61-year-old is understood to have been a witness in a criminal trial. Police confirmed a murder investigation is underway, but […]
LOCAL The Western Cape Department of Social Development is embarking on pro-active programs to combat Gender Based Violence in the province. Through its draft 2022/2023 Gender-Based Violence Implementation Plan, the department seeks to tackle GBV reduction methods alongside psychosocial care for GBV survivors. MEC for Social Development Sharna Fernandez says the department will also be identifying, profiling and supporting youth at risk of criminal behaviour. The plan will be providing […]
LOCAL The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is holding a hearing at Knysna on the Garden Route following a number of complaints by communities of alleged brutality from law enforcement officials and security companies. The hearing stems from recent incidents in Knysna. The provincial hearing is a platform for the complainants and those making presentations to share their experiences before the SAHRC will make recommendations. In September 2020, the […]
LOCAL President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. The statement follows the unrest in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg. Residents are calling on law enforcement to be pro-active against crime and illegal immigration. Zimbabwean national Elvis Nyathi was killed earlier this week after Diepsloot protestors accused him of being in the country illegally. President Ramaphosa has voiced his opposition to […]
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.
