S&P Global Ratings has raised South Africa’s credit rating for the first time since 2005, citing improvements in the country’s economic growth and fiscal trajectory. The upgrade moves the nation’s rating up by one notch to BB, placing it just two notches into “junk” status. The agency maintained a positive
Cape Town continues to grapple with a surge in gang-related shootings, with residents reporting violence erupting even in broad daylight. Families in several hotspot areas say they are living in constant fear, as more than 50 people, including women and children, were killed in the Western Cape between October and
The Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape reports that all fires in the Montagu region have been extinguished, with one fire line still active near De Doorns. According to spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto, the Montagu fire has been contained after more than a week of intense firefighting. She warns
After extended deliberations involving the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG), civil society groups, and the South African government, officials have decided to grant temporary refuge to some of the 160 Palestinians who had been stranded at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, 13 November 2025. Gift of the
Wynberg Girls’ High School in Cape Town was evacuated on Friday morning following a second bomb threat in just over a week. Matric learners were temporarily moved to an alternative venue to continue writing their final exams. Speaking to VOC News, the school confirmed that the situation remained calm and
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has finally released the long-awaited Western Cape Police Ombudsman report into alleged gang infiltration within SAPS. This comes after sustained pressure from civil society and the public, following Winde’s initial refusal to make the three-year-old report public. The controversy stems from a 2022 ruling by
The humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers (GOTG) expresses gratitude to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) Director General, Zane Dangor, and Minister Ronald Lamola for welcoming Palestinian refugees who landed in Johannesburg this morning with warmth. “This is in keeping with South Africa’s policy of standing with
A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Stellenbosch University has unveiled a new technique that uses fossilised dinosaur eggshells to determine the age of rocks containing ancient fossils. This innovative method allows scientists to directly date fossil sites, even in areas lacking volcanic layers or other datable minerals, offering new
The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) has called on the government to take stronger action against ghost workers and payment irregularities across national and provincial departments. In the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana noted that approximately 9,000 high-risk cases had been flagged for further verification. FOSA leader
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.
