Government and the head of Pollsmoor’s remand facility are being taken to court on Monday in an attempt to compel to them to address the “appalling” conditions at the centre. Sonke Gender Justice, represented by Lawyers for Human Rights in the Western Cape High Court, believes detainees are “routinely, and on a continuing basis, deprived of basic amenities to which they are entitled to by law”. These include exercise, nutrition, […]
ANC NEC member Tony Yengeni says the party needs to learn from the example of Cuba to stop comrades "turning on each other" for positions. "In today's ANC, the leaders put themselves first, and the masses second," he told around 1 000 people at a memorial for late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Khayelitsha on Wednesday. Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and ANC […]
Parliament in Bratislava has approved a bill that effectively prevents Islam from being registered as a state religion in the near future. Sponsored by the Slovak National Party (SNS), which is a member in Prime Minister Robert Fico's coalition, the legislation was passed Wednesday, Reuters reported. The law was approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament, comprising both ruling and opposition parties. The new law more than doubles the required […]
Protesters, angered by Australia's refugee policy, have disrupted parliament for a second day by abseiling down the building and erecting a banner that read "close the bloody camps now". In the early hours of Thursday the group also poured red dye - representing blood - into a fountain in front of the building, the national broadcaster ABC reported. The incident came after a protest on Wednesday during which the group […]
Colombia's Congress has approved a revised peace deal with the FARC rebel group, paving the way to end a conflict that has lasted more than 50 years. The lower house voted 130-0 on Wednesday to approve the text adopted a day earlier by the Senate. President Juan Manuel Santos said the vote provided "landmark backing" for a deal he personally pushed for. Santos, this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, shepherded […]
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith says that crime does not necessarily increase over the festive season in the Mother City, but rather, it is the nature of crime that changes. “I don’t think it’s a fair thing to say that crime increases in the festive season. Crime just changes. Certain types of crime become more prominent while others reduce. It is problematic with more young people […]
The Office of Health Standards Compliance has launched a national complaints management call centre in Pretoria aimed at resolving health related complaints. Chairperson of the OHSC Lizo Mazwai and Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba officiated at the launch. Makgoba says the call centre aims to bring about accountability and restore the dignity of health users in private and public health facilities as demanded by the Constitution. “Some of us, our dignity […]
After surviving an unparalleled attack on his leadership of the ANC, a defiant President Jacob Zuma has told the party's national executive committee (NEC) that stepping down would be like handing himself over to the enemy and he would never do it. Zuma addressed the NEC following a grueling three-day battle over his future, initiated by Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom. The meeting, scheduled to end on Sunday, was extended to […]
Nearly half of the population in war-torn Central African Republic - more than two million people - need humanitarian aid despite progress in stabilizing the country since it plunged into chaos in 2013, a United Nations official said on Monday. The country has been plagued by conflict since March 2013, when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, triggering reprisals by Christian militias. Despite a February election seen as a step […]
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.
