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
Amid inclement weather conditions across the Metropole, the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) has been on standby for mop-up operations, providing relief for those affected by the weather. GOTG’s Ali Sablay told VOC News that mass evacuations of about 400 residents are underway in the Breede Valley. “The
All public schools in the Western Cape will be closed on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, following severe weather warnings and growing concerns over the safety of learners and teachers. The decision was announced by the Western Cape Education Department after consultations with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South
One person has died and another was injured on Monday after uprooted trees fell onto vehicles in separate incidents across Cape Town, as severe weather conditions continue to cause widespread disruption. The fatal incident occurred in Kenilworth, while a second motorist was injured in Parow under similar circumstances. Emergency services
Several prominent Irish footballers, along with celebrities, have launched a campaign urging the Republic of Ireland to boycott an upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Israel. The campaign group Irish Sport for Palestine has submitted an open letter to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), alleging that Israel has committed
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.
