With most Capetonians on holiday, a public demonstration to protest the mounting conflict in Syria drew a small crowd but the message was still clear – stop the war in Syria. About 500 people made their way from Keizergracht to Parliament for the solidarity march, aimed at keeping Syria on the local news agenda. The protest is a response to the devastating war in Aleppo, which has escalated in recent […]
By Nawaal Adams The rich cultural tapestry of the Cape will be brought to life at the Castle of Good Hope in a cultural festival fit for the festive season. The Castle is set to host the Cape Cuisine Style and Cultural Festival, taking place from the 27 December to the 31 December. VOC is media partner for the event. With the influx of tourists to the Cape, the event […]
Delta Airlines has removed a Muslim American social media star from a New York-bound plane in London together with a friend after speaking Arabic on the aircraft. In a statement after Delta Flight 1 landed in New York, Delta said the man, Adam Saleh, and the other passenger were removed because they "sought to disrupt the cabin with provocative behaviour, including shouting". The airline said its information was based on […]
Evacuations from the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo have resumed despite heavy snowfall after being stalled for a day, according to aid officials and pro-government media reports. Obstacles hindering evacuations from eastern Aleppo and from two villages besieged by opposition fighters outside the city had been overcome on Wednesday, clearing a path for Syria's army to take full control of the devastated city. The operation would be completed within hours, […]
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played a significant role in retaking Aleppo from rebel fighters, a report by an Iranian opposition group says. “The forces that occupied Aleppo were actually the IRGC and foreign mercenaries under their command," said Shahin Gobadi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in a video conference widely circulated on Wednesday. Gobadi identified the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, the […]
The United Nations Security Council will vote on a draft resolution that would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." Egypt circulated the draft on Wednesday evening and the 15-member council is due to vote on Thursday, diplomats said. They said it was unclear how the United States, which has protected Israel from UN action, would vote. The White House […]
Palestinian prisoner Ammar Ibrahim Hamour suspended his hunger strike on Wednesday after at least 30 days without food as the prisoner awaits a court session scheduled on Dec. 28, according to the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs. Head of the committee Issa Qaraqe said in a statement that Hamour decided to suspend his hunger strike after Israeli authorities promised not to renew his administrative detention order -- an Israeli policy […]
Five suspects are expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrates Court in Cape Town on Thursday for the murder of a 22-year-old man. In a statement issued by the police‚ the man died after he was stabbed by the five on December 19 in Crossroads. Officers were on patrol when they were called to the scene. “On their arrival‚ police found the victim on the ground with several stab wounds […]
President Jacob Zuma said he will not sacrifice himself to "monopoly capital" by resigning. Addressing the African National Youth League’s (ANCYL) economic freedom lecture in Durban on Wednesday‚ Zuma recalled a time that he was watching the news - something he said he hardly does - when he saw a foreign chamber demanding that he step down. “You know‚ I listen to the news at times‚ at times I don't. […]
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.
