Voice of the Cape, Author at Voice of the Cape

VOC correspondent: Syrian’s call for normality

As the Muslim Judicial Council’s journey to Syria comes to a close, VOC’s correspondent, Yaseen Kippie provides the latest on the delegations interaction with Syrian civilians, who continue to call for an end to six-year war. The delegation is travelling to the Turkish-Syrian border to deliver humanitarian aid with the Turkish IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. The delegation this week arrived in Turkey where they were informed about the current issues […]

24 February 2017

News

Rights groups, MJC condemn anti-migrant protest

This week, residents of Pretoria were placed on high alert with the outbreak of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals and the subsequent announcement of an anti-migrant protest. The protest, which was organised by a group called Mamelodi Concerned Residents, is said to be an attempt to call attention to a surge in violent and criminal activity, reportedly at the hands of foreign nationals. On Saturday, homes belonging to Nigerian nationals […]

24 February 2017

Local

EFF calls for amendment to Property Clause

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Parliament has tabled a motion to amend the Property Clause in the Constitution. The motion, which is expected to be debated in the National Assembly next Tuesday, has been brought by EFF Chief Whip, Floyd Shivambu. In the proposed motion, Shivambu says the EFF acknowledges that the Property Clause is at the centre of the current crisis on the land question. He says this […]

24 February 2017

Local

Unrest in Tshwane as protesters take to the streets

Roads have been blocked and shops have been looted in Atteridgeville ahead of an anti-immigrant protest in Pretoria. President Jacob Zuma has strongly condemned the violent tensions which have recently broken out between South Africans and immigrants in parts of Gauteng. His office announced on Friday that he would champion the fight against crime in order to promote safe and stable communities in the country. "The situation has become more […]

24 February 2017

International News

Militants kill 15 Niger soldiers in patrol ambush

Militants ambushed an army patrol in Niger on Thursday, killing 15 soldiers and wounding 19, the Defense Ministry said, occurring in an area near the border with Mali where militants have been seeking to expand their reach. "A search operation is underway to neutralize the terrorists," the ministry statement said of the attack just outside the town of Tiloa. Militants and allied criminal gangs have long exploited the areas around […]

24 February 2017

International News

Syria talks hit snag before opening ceremony in Geneva

UN-led negotiations on the war in Syria got off to a delayed start following disputes over the participation of the Syrian opposition delegation. Opposition representatives nearly missed the opening ceremony of the talks on Thursday after threatening not to attend over disagreements on the make-up and format of the session. But in a last-minute turnaround, they arrived late and as one large delegation. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura formally began […]

24 February 2017

International News

Somali president calls on al Shabaab to surrender

Somalia's new president was inaugurated on Wednesday, promising his people that the era of al Shabaab and other Islamist militant groups was over. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a dual U.S.-Somali citizen, called on al Shabaab's thousands of fighters to surrender, promising them "a good life" if they did. "To those who work with al Qaeda, al Shabaab and IS (Islamic State), your time is finished," he said at the inauguration ceremony, […]

23 February 2017

International News

Two Germans kidnapped in central Nigeria

Two German archaeologists were kidnapped in central Nigeria on Wednesday, a police official said, near the road that will run between the capital Abuja and its temporary airport from next month. Abuja's main airport will be closed for repairs for six weeks from March 8, with flight rerouted to the city of Kaduna some 100 miles (160 km) to the north. That set-up has raised security concerns. Abuja-bound passengers will […]

23 February 2017

International News

Rebels seek ‘direct negotiations’ with Assad government

Syria's main opposition group has called for face-to-face discussions with government representatives, as a new round of talks in Geneva begins one year after meetings in the Swiss city fell apart. "We ask for direct negotiations ... It would save time and be proof of seriousness instead of negotiating in [separate] rooms," Salem al-Meslet, spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) umbrella group, told the AFP news agency. The talks […]

23 February 2017

VOC

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