South Africa is often celebrated as the Rainbow Nation, a place where different races, cultures, and religions coexist. Yet beneath this celebrated diversity, religious intolerance, prejudice, and social division remain present in many communities. This raises important questions: are we truly as diverse as we claim to be? And if
The National Youth Unemployment Movement (NYUM) has called on policymakers to balance wage increases with strategies that promote job creation and economic growth. This comes after Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, announced an increase to the national minimum wage, raising it from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour, effective
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has expanded its student accommodation capacity ahead of the 2026 academic year, adding over 5,000 new bed spaces. The expansion increases on-campus housing to more than 16,000 beds, marking one of the largest growths in student accommodation at a South African public university
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) has increased by R1.44, raising the minimum pay per ordinary hour from R28.79 to R30.23, after Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth gazetted the increase earlier this week. Effective from 1 March, the R1.44 adjustment amounts to a 5% overall increase, in line with
The Mowbray Cemetery cleanup event is set to take place this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 4pm. The event has been earmarked for community engagement while encouraging the public to take ownership of the maqbarah by actively participating in its cleanup. Speaking to VOC News, Faizel Sayed,
Cape Town motorists may soon face stricter enforcement on the roads, as the City considers rolling out AI-powered traffic cameras to detect seatbelt and cellphone offences. Speaking to VOC News, Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said the technology, which has already been piloted on Phillip Kokozana Drive, is capable of
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not seek re-election at the party’s upcoming federal congress, marking a significant leadership shift for South Africa’s official opposition. His decision follows months of internal pressure and heightened tensions within the party, including a recent and very public fallout with
In South Africa, poverty is not only an economic condition but is also often experienced as a social stigma. For many people living in low-income communities, being poor can translate into discrimination, criminalisation, and unequal access to opportunities. From policing practices and service delivery to employment and education, poverty frequently
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says intensified security operations in the Western Cape have highlighted both progress and deep-rooted challenges within the province’s correctional system. Addressing the media on Monday, National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, outlined the outcomes of the 2025–2026 festive season security
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.
