Voice of the Cape, Author at Voice of the Cape

Curfew imposed after deadly ethnic fighting in central Nigeria

The government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on parts of central Nigeria, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, after clashes killed at least 14 in the region. Conflict over grazing land and water, chiefly between semi-nomadic Muslim herders and Christian farmers, has piled pressure on authorities already facing an Islamist insurgency in its northeast and rebels in the oil-rich south. Gunmen shot dead at least 14 villagers and destroyed property […]

22 February 2017

International News

Hong Kong’s former leader sentenced to 20 months

Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for misconduct. Tsang led Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012 and is the most senior official in the territory ever to stand trial for corruption. He was found guilty last week of misconduct in public office, in a case related to a luxury flat in China. In sentencing, Judge Andrew Chan said: "Never in my judicial […]

22 February 2017

International News

North Korea embassy official wanted over Kim killing

Malaysian police have identified a senior official in the North Korean embassy as a suspect in the killing of Kim Jong-nam, and said another was linked to the North Korean state airline, Air Koryo. Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Wednesday that both suspects are still in Malaysia and have been called in for questioning, adding that the North Korean diplomat held the rank of second secretary at the […]

22 February 2017

News

Gang’s use of girl as a human shield shocks residents

In yet another gang related incident, residents of Leonsdale, in Elsies River, were forced to run for cover as violence erupted, only this time stray bullets were not the concern. Over the weekend, a young girl, Zhekira Jansen, was not in the firing line of stray bullets, but was used as a human shield by a gang member. The 11-year-old was at Leonsdale Supermarket & Butchery on Sunday when rival […]

21 February 2017

News

VOC correspondent provides an update on MJC’s Syria journey

As the impact of the conflict in Syria continues to spill over into neighbouring countries, a delegation from the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), accompanied by a VOC correspondent, 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 faced by Syrian civilians, both within Syria and within Turkey. […]

21 February 2017

International News

Shahid Afridi calls time on international cricket

Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi on Sunday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing to an end his sometimes controversial 21-year career. The 36-year-old all-rounder was currently active in the International Twenty20 format after having quit Test cricket in 2010 and One-Day Internationals in 2015. While saying goodbye from international cricket, Afridi, who is nicknamed 'Boom Boom', added that he will continue playing domestic cricket for at least another two years. […]

21 February 2017

Local

SA to honour more than 600 dead in WWI ship sinking

It was a cataclysmic loss among many during World War I. On the foggy early morning of February 21, 1917, in the channel between Britain and France, a British steamship accidentally rammed the smaller SS Mendi, sinking the vessel in about 20 minutes and killing more than 600 southern African troops on board, the vast majority of them black. The deaths in the service of Britain's colonial empire elicit conflicted […]

21 February 2017

Local

Zuma-Gordhan battle takes centre stage in SA budget

A year after President Jacob Zuma began feuding with his Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over control of the nation’s purse strings, the conflict appears to be coming to a head. When he presents his annual budget in Parliament on Wednesday, Gordhan will seek to keep state spending in check and fend off a junk credit rating. Zuma, meanwhile, wants to spend billions of rand on new nuclear plants and embark […]

21 February 2017

Local

Fees Commission to resume its public hearings

The Fees Commission says it is on track to meet its extended deadline of June 30. The Commission resumed public hearings after a week-long break. Academics, researchers and private sector organizations are expected to make their submissions. The commission established by President Jacob Zuma, is probing the feasibility of free higher education. It's been under pressure to speed up its work. Some student groups have also raised reservations about the […]

21 February 2017

VOC

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