By Vusuthando Percyvil Dube On Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) policy into law. The BELA Bill, as it was originally named, amends the South African Schools Act of 1996. These reforms include making Grade R compulsory for all children and delegating responsibility for school
By Ragheema Mclean The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has voiced its support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to delay the implementation of two contentious clauses in the newly enacted Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. Signed into law on Friday, the BELA Act introduces significant changes to the South
By Lee-Yandra Paulsen A challenge to the regulations governing the R370-a-month Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on 29 and 30 October. In 2023, #PayTheGrants and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) filed an application challenging these regulations, arguing that they exclude
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is not concerned about Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s non-attendance at the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law, on Friday. He was speaking during a conversation with some journalists and editors at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The president signed the
By Vusuthando Percyvil Dube Malusi Booi, the former member of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, was arrested on Monday at his home in the Eastern Cape, as part of a significant investigation into fraud, money laundering, and racketeering involving nine co-accused. The developments were revealed during a bail
By Rachel Mohamed In the latest edition of Hong Kong in a Hurry, VOC’s PM Drive show host and Kung Fu Master Junaid Chafeker (M.J. Li) offered the public a glimpse into Hong Kong culture, particularly within the Muslim community. The SA ChinWoo Kungfu Youth Team and M.J. Li Kungfu
By Rachel Mohamed Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) is constitutional before he signs it into law. He asked the president to confirm that the mother tongue education clauses were correct. According to Makaneta, it is imperative
By Lee-Yandra Paulsen Earlier this month, Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, praised the Government of National Unity (GNU), claiming it was thriving, unlike other parties. He pointed to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) losing Floyd Shivambu to the MK party as an example of such challenges. However,
By Vusuthando Percyvil Dube On a recent ruling emanating from a case involving the ten Members of Parliament (MPs) linked to the MK party, Judge Katharine Savage dismissed their application against the party’s decision to terminate their memberships. The MPs, namely Thamsanqa Khuzwayo, Isaac Menyatso, Citron Motshegoe, Augustina Qwetha,
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.
