The City of Cape Town has revised its proposed ‘Invested in Hope’ Budget for the 2025/26 financial year following mounting public pressure and criticism over proposed increases in municipal bills. One of the most contentious elements was the initial decision to link property values to utility fees, sparking fears of
Following the verdict that Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn have each been sentenced to life in prison over the disappearance of Smith’s young daughter, Joslin, Shaheda Omar, the Director of the Teddy Bear Clinic, told VOC News the sentence serves multiple purposes, including public assurance. “The sentences
Economist Raymond Parsons said the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee made the right decision by resuming its interest rate-easing cycle. On Thursday, the committee announced a 25-basis point reduction in interest rates. As a result, the prime lending rate drops to 10.75 percent and the repo rate
The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to announce its latest decision on the repo rate today. The rate currently stands at 7.5%, following a pause in March after three consecutive cuts. Speaking on VOC’s NewBeat show, Professor Waldo Krugell, an Economics Professor at North-West University, shared
Gun Free South Africa said widespread theft and corruption are key factors behind firearms ending up in the wrong hands, fuelling the country’s deadly gun violence crisis. This follows the release of alarming crime statistics last week, which revealed that gun violence remains the leading cause of killings in South
With the blessed days of Hajj 1446 on the horizon and Eid al-Adha to follow, the Voice of the Cape’s (VOC) Qurbani Project continues to gain momentum, bringing much-needed relief to some of the Cape’s most vulnerable communities. Launched a month ago, the initiative has already seen overwhelming support, with
As the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets on Thursday (29 May), trade unions are intensifying pressure on the bank to implement a significant interest rate cut, warning that persistently high rates are crippling both workers and the broader economy. The country’s repo rate currently stands at
By Kouthar Sambo Recent reports indicate that the Joshlin Smith trial is expected to conclude this week. This follows the conviction and sentencing of the missing girl’s mother, Kelly Smith, along with her two co-accused, who were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. Speaking on VOC’s PM Drive show,
Qatari sources have confirmed that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have reached a draft ceasefire agreement in Doha. The proposed deal includes a 60-day truce, the release of 10 living Israeli captives, and the repatriation of the remains of several others. In return, the
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.
