Fighting has entered a third day as allied forces continued their advance on Mosul on Wednesday, an offensive that in recent days was slowed by explosives and booby traps encountered on the way to retake ISIL's last major stronghold in Iraq. Iraqi commanders said that progress was being made as their forces pushed from two main fronts against ISIL, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant […]
Given the fact that the recent assertions tabled by the South African Ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, were in conflict with the official stance of the South African government, stakeholders are now asking why the government has not headed the calls to have Ngombane recalled. Upon the return of the South African participant on the Women’s Boat to Gaza, Leigh-Ann Naidoo, Ngombane speaking at a press conference to welcome the Wits […]
As South Africans recover from what many describe as the “jaw-dropping” comments made by the South African ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, upon the return of the South African participant on the Women’s Boat to Gaza, Leigh-Ann Naidoo, activists have renewed the plea for the recall of Ngombane. Following the unsuccessful journey to break the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, Naidoo was greeted at O.R Tambo International […]
Cape Town’s most colourful and diverse community has lost its slave name and is now officially named Bo-Kaap. After a lengthy process to officially change the name from its former Schotschekloof, community members have successfully cemented the heritage of the ‘Malay Quarter’. Last week, community members were elated when the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa approved the application of the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers’ Association (BKCRA) to rename […]
The National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa has become a founding member of the newly established Awqaf International Organisation (AIO). The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the third Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES 2016) held last week at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. CEO and Founder of Awqaf SA, Zeinoul Abdien Cajee said while Awqaf originated in Dubai, all Awqaf bodies act independently. Speaking to VOC Drivetime, […]
Arak, daru, sharaab, alcohol. The names may vary by language, but the essence is the same. Depending on which side of fence you sit, these words may conjure up the romance of a Hafiz poem or the sternness of a lecture at the mosque condemning their evils. Some in Muslim societies view drinking alcohol as a terrible sin and a symbol of evil. Others feel it is merely a fun […]
Fifty-five years ago today, hundreds of Algerians were massacred by French police and had their bodies thrown in the Seine River. What: Paris Massacre When: 17 October 1961 Where: Paris, France What Happened? On 5 October 1961, a curfew from was imposed from 20:30 to 05.30 on Paris for “Algerian Muslim workers”, “French Muslims” and “French Muslims of Algeria”. The French Federation of the Algerian National Liberation Front called on Algerians in Paris […]
National Assembly secretary Masibulele Xaso personally delivered the “state capture” report to the public protector’s office on Monday. Xaso hand-delivered the report in Pretoria, where the new Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, took over from Thuli Madonsela. Xaso said he received confirmation that it had been received. “Due to the time constraints, because we said we would send it to the public protector on Monday, it made sense for it to […]
President Jacob Zuma is currently in a weakened state with only a “scorched earth” strategy remaining open to him, said economist Peter Attard Montalto of Nomura in a company note on Monday. According to Montalto, the situation in South Africa is “ultimately unpredictable”, following events last week when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was charged with fraud and theft, the delayed release of the public protector's report on state capture, which is subject […]
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.
