South Sudan is "on the brink of an all-out ethnic civil war which could destabilise the entire region", the head of a team of UN human rights investigators told the UN Human Rights Council, describing a shattered country where children as young as two have been raped. In her speech to the council, Yasmin Sooka, who heads the three-member UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, urged immediate deployment […]
Tens of Palestinian children in the besieged Gaza Strip Wednesday protested in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in solidarity with the people of eastern Aleppo who have faced government bombardment and massacres since forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad launched a devastating military offensive to retake the rebel-held area in Syria. “From Palestinian children to Aleppo, stop the bleeding,” one sign read at the protest, […]
The Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs released a statement Wednesday warning of the imminent death of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Farah, who have been on strike for 81 and 82 days respectively, while three other Palestinian prisoners have also continued their hunger strikes for various reasons. A report released by the committee noted that Palestinian doctor Rafiq Masalha said following medical tests that Shadid suffers from […]
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is available to take on the position of president of the ANC in 2017 should he garner enough support to do so. "It would be very humbling to get into a key position like that, to lead," said Ramaphosa. "I am available to stand," he said. He made the comments on Wednesday on radio station Power FM. In November, Cosatu endorsed the deputy president […]
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will on Thursday brief media on the outcomes of its applications for funding. Applications closed on November 30. The process which students who received funding would need to follow next year would also be outlined, the NSFAS said in a statement. Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana said on November 16 that not enough prospective students were applying for funding, which was worrying. […]
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Stellenbosch student Robyn Pearce, the family's lawyer William Booth said on Wednesday. He said the man, believed to be a labourer who worked at the apartment building where Pearce's body was found, was arrested shortly after 20:00. The man is presently being held at Sea Point police station. Booth said the suspect may appear in court on Monday. Pearce's […]
The average water level of Western Cape dams is less than 50% of capacity, local government MEC Anton Bredell confirmed on Wednesday. Dams in the province are currently at an average of 49.81%, compared to last year's 58.39%. The Cape Town combined system dams are currently at 50.65%, compared to 60.36% during the same period last year. The Berg River catchment is at 59.22% compared to last year's 56.94%; the […]
The tragedy in Eastern Aleppo has necessitated an increase in emergency humanitarian assistance for the expected outpouring of refugees from that totally devastated region. The deliberate targeting of hospitals and civilians with a virtual total blockade on the delivery of food, medicines, water, baby food and medical equipment has added to an already catastrophic situation in the entire country. South African humanitarian agency Gift of the Givers is preparing supplies […]
By Shafiq Morton Giving the ceremonial dars, or lesson, at the 93rd consecutive Mawlud un-Nabi celebration at the Azzawia in Cape Town, Shaykh Seraj Hendricks said that after ‘Ilm ut-Tawhid, the knowledge of God’s oneness, the famous 11th century colossus Imam Hamid Abu Ghazali had listed ‘Ilm un-Nubuwwah, the knowledge of prophethood, in his Ihya. This was above the Seerah, or the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, which mapped out […]
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.
