OPINION by Kareem Maliki One might say there is nothing new in the Bo-Kaap residents protests: at the end of the day, all of us are used to seeing South Africans always protesting somewhere about something. However, there is something important about the struggle of Bo-Kaap community that must not go unnoticed: Muslims of Cape Town are awakening and are ready to stand for their rights. As much as we […]
By Loushe Jordaan For South Africa, Freedom Day on 27 April marks the liberation of the country and its people from a long period of colonialism, white minority rule and Apartheid. But 24 years post democracy, the wounds of apartheid are still raw, as South Africa grapples with many socio-economic challenges such as crime, racism, poverty and inequality. Increased debate around land reform and racism in South Africa has raised […]
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein on Friday. The country held its first democratic election on this day in 1994. Since then, the day and month are used to mark the country's liberation. This year's celebrations recognise the roles Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu played in the struggle for freedom. The government says freedom can only be realised through radical socio-economic transformation. The Presidency said the […]
ANC MP Makhosi Khoza warned that party members who vote against President Jacob Zuma today faced severe consequences - but says it will be worth it. In a statement issued yesterday morning, and before National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced her decision in favour of a secret ballot, Khoza said: "As a loyal ANC member, there is nothing simple about supporting tomorrow's vote of no confidence. Retribution will be swift […]
The family of the late anti-apartheid activist and lawyer Dullah Omar have formally written to the National Executive of the ANC to have his name removed from the ANC Cape Town Metro Region in the Western Cape. The Omar family has spoken out against the crisis within the ruling party, which it believes undermines the hard-won democracy fought for by the anti-apartheid movement. The family’s concern follows in the wake […]
The ANC has called for the regulation of private financing of political parties, financial transparency of political parties and "enhanced public funding for activities that promote and support democracy". In a statement ANC Treasurer General Zweli Mkhize said there was an over-reliance by political parties on private donations. "…the secrecy that clouds political party financing has, in recent times, fuelled perceptions that anonymous donations from masked sources subvert democratic processes, […]
The High Court in Johannesburg has handed down a ruling on religion in public schools, saying that schools can’t promote one religion. The case was brought by the Organisation for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD) against six schools. "Religious observances may be conducted at state or state-aided institutions, provided that: (a) Those observances follow rules made by the appropriate public authorities; (b) They are conducted on an equitable basis; and […]
President Jacob Zuma is only surviving this long because leaders within the ANC have opted to take collective responsibility for his actions instead of taking the moral high road, former treasurer Mathews Phosa says. Speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote address at an exhibition titled “Promises and Lies: The ANC, Exile and the Project of Freedom” at the University of Johannesburg on Thursday, Phosa said Zuma’s political survival was […]
OPINION by Imraan Buccus This April 27th sees South Africa at a crossroads. The vehicles gathering at the intersection want to drive the country in entirely opposite directions. Quite how we arrived at his point is not difficult to unravel. Where once the ANC had a singular vision and mission, led by a unifying president and a national executive committee which held the welfare of the nation in trust, we […]
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.
