The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is urging Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries to check their application status ahead of the May payments. The R370 grant payouts are expected to be processed in batches between 24 and 30 May. Beneficiaries can verify their status through the SASSA
South Africa’s unemployment crisis has worsened, with 8.1 million people now without work, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The agency reports that the official unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 31.4% in the previous quarter. Stats SA says this follows a
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that a crash involving the official vehicle of Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on the N1 near Bela-Bela in Limpopo on Saturday, 09 May 2026, left a mother and baby dead. Police said the state vehicle, driven by a member of the
The South African Football Association (SAFA) is preparing to begin the search for a new Bafana Bafana head coach as current coach Hugo Broos approaches the end of his tenure. Broos, who has spent five years with the national team, is expected to step down after the upcoming FIFA World
The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations as stock levels across the province continue to drop following disruptions caused by Monday’s Level 8 weather warning. Several donation clinics were cancelled or temporarily closed due to severe weather conditions, school closures, and access challenges,
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will urgently seek a review of the Section 89 independent panel report following last week’s Constitutional Court ruling that Parliament acted unlawfully when it rejected the report in 2022 over the Phala Phala scandal. The independent panel found that Ramaphosa may have violated his oath
The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the U.S. continues to make “unreasonable demands”, noting that Iran’s response to the U.S. proposal, which was sent to Pakistan yesterday, “was not excessive”. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Iran’s reaction to Washington’s peace initiative as “totally unacceptable”. Speaking to VOC News,
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa is working closely with the World Health Organization to trace contacts linked to the hantavirus outbreak connected to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The outbreak has claimed three lives, including a Dutch woman who died after arriving at OR Tambo International Airport. A
The confirmed storm-related death toll in the Western Cape has risen to six, while nearly 6,000 people have been left vulnerable as severe weather continues to batter the province with widespread flooding, evacuations, and infrastructure damage. Authorities say nearly 2,000 homes have been flooded or destroyed in informal settlements, including
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.
