By Dr. Salim Parker His room was immaculately clean. He shared it with a few others, as was customary in Azizyah, a suburb of Makkah. Hajj was about a week away. His roommates went to bed at unearthly hours very, very late at night. They probably had only two to
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) reports that the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations are progressing smoothly, with no major incidents reported across the country. This year marks a record, with 766,000 full-time candidates registered, the highest number since the NSC examinations began in 1996. The exams commenced on
Magistrates across South Africa are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently review their salaries, a matter that has been delayed for nearly two decades. Demonstrating outside Parliament, magistrates voiced frustrations over what they describe as unfair pay disparities between themselves and high court judges, coupled with heavy workloads, staff
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) continues to face mounting criticism over delays in payments, poor service delivery, and accessibility issues that leave many vulnerable workers without the critical financial relief they need. A recent VOC News poll found that 90% of respondents have experienced, or know someone who has experienced,
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has raised alarm over a surge in misinformation circulating on social media regarding social grant payments. This follows the spread of a message claiming that the agency would issue double payments to beneficiaries this month. SASSA has dismissed the claims as false, urging
South Africans are increasingly concerned about the rise of intrusive gambling, alcohol, and cannabis advertising and its impact on vulnerable communities. These industries spend millions annually on marketing campaigns that dominate public spaces, social media platforms, and even television and radio, often reaching young audiences and communities already grappling with
Over the weekend, two separate deadly shootings in Lavender Hill and Steenberg claimed two lives and left others wounded, leaving the communities reeling. On Friday evening, Steenberg police responded to a shooting incident in Grens Way, where the body of a 53-year-old man was found inside a bedroom with multiple
South Africa has been removed from the infamous greylist following over two years of rigorous examination by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Speaking to VOC News, economist Ulrich Joubert says the cost of borrowing in international financial markets will be less in the coming months and years. “This is
Several countries have reinforced policies around the banning or restrictions of hijabs in public spaces. France has been known for banning full-face veiling in 2011, while a government college in Karnataka barred Muslim students from entering the campus wearing hijabs in January 2022. These restrictions have also extended to Portugal
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.
