Several people have been left homeless after a fire tore through Overcome Heights in the Vrygrond informal settlement on Tuesday morning. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said firefighters responded swiftly to contain the blaze and limit the damage. “Our first crews arrived within 12 minutes of
The Western Cape Department of Mobility is calling on all road users to take personal responsibility for road safety, following a deadly week on the province’s roads. Between last week Tuesday, 29 April and Sunday, 4 May, 16 fatal crashes were recorded, claiming the lives of 18 people a grim
In a victory for prisoner rehabilitation, the Constitutional Court has ruled that inmates may use personal computers in their cells for study purposes if the devices have no internet access and the prisoners are registered students. The ruling has stirred public debate, with critics raising concerns about security. However, education
Elections are a fundamental pillar of democracy, and most countries adopt one of two main systems: constituency representation or proportional representation (PR). Each system comes with its own set of pros and cons, influencing how citizens are represented and how governments are formed. Political analyst and governance expert Hlumelo Xaba
Power utility Eskom says South Africans can expect a winter largely free of load shedding — provided unplanned breakdowns remain under control. However, experts caution that South Africa’s ageing coal fleet remains a fragile component of the power system. In its winter outlook briefing on Monday (5 May), Eskom Chief
By Kouthar Sambo Inflation data from South Africa, published in the April 2025 Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), reveals that food prices continue to rise despite a broader easing of inflation. Speaking on VOC’s PM Drive show, independent economist Ulrich Joubert urged caution
The Western Cape High Court has handed down a landmark sentence to two gang members involved in the 2020 murder of seven-year-old Emaan Solomons, sentencing them to 35 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Emaan was tragically struck by a stray bullet while playing outside her home in
The African National Congress (ANC) has criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA) as “anti-transformative” after the DA approached the courts to challenge recent amendments to the Employment Equity Act. The DA argues that the amendments could enforce race-based employment quotas, which they claim are unconstitutional and harmful to businesses. Speaking to
The Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) is providing free first aid and wound care to homeless individuals as part of a community upliftment initiative. Each week, trained peer field worker Chuma Dyasoni sets up a care table at the Service Dining Rooms in Canterbury Street, where homeless individuals
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.
