The access to food availability for poor and working-class communities has come into the spotlight since the start of government’s lockdown, aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa. The financial burden of people not being able to work during this period, added to the existing state of joblessness, has plunged people further into poverty. Since the lockdown came into effect on 27 March and with its […]
A video depicting an elderly Strandfontein woman being harassed for money by her drug-addicted grandson has caused outrage on social media, highlighting the often-unspoken scourge of elderly abuse. The video shows a frail woman known as Mrs Koelman in a state of fear and distress as the young man begs her for R10. While the video was taken a while ago, community members say the Western Cape Department of Social […]
Social Development Minister Susan Shabangu said she is unhappy with the R10 transaction charge Grindrod Bank is currently charging grant beneficiaries and is working on finding a new arrangement. Shabangu was in Parliament on Wednesday to account for her department's annual performance and budget plans. Addressing issues around the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), Shabangu said the department was challenging Grindrod's new charges to cover the costs of their […]
Social Development Minister, Susan Shabangu, explained to Parliament why she suspended a process to get a new tender to take over grant payments. She refused to sign off on Sassa's Annual Performance Plan, and wrote to the Constitutional Court to tell them about her decision. Shabangu said that acting Sassa CEO Pearl Bhengu, who was considered close to the previous minister, Bathabile Dlamini, had asked to go back to KZN. […]
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has called on parents dealing with substance abuse within the home, especially with their children, to seek assistance from social workers. The department was commenting on the case of Tafelsig father, Sedick Abrahams, charged with murder after stabbing his 21 year old son to death at their home in January this year. The son, Clint Abrahams, a drug addict, had apparently threatened […]
Authorities are investigating a so called 'sex list' being circulated on social media. The list containing the names of 31 of children, believed to be from Atlantis, went viral on social media with the victims accused of being promiscuous. Western Cape department of social development spokesperson, Sihle Ngobese, says they are in the process of finding all the affected children. “DSD social workers will work with their colleagues from the […]
The shocking discovery that a 5 year old girl from Diep River was allegedly sexual exploited for money and food has prompted child protection social workers to place her into temporary safe care. The Western Cape Department of Social Development said the girl was allegedly being abused and forced to perform sex-acts on older men for money and food. It’s alleged that the child’s mother exposed the little girl to […]
The Mitchells Plain Crisis Forum has called for calm at court on Wednesday as a 49 year old man accused of the rape of 5 year old girl is due to make his first appearance. The man was taken into police custody on Sunday, after the girl reported him to police. Residents were alerted to the alleged rape of the girl in the bushes near Kapteinsklip station. The City of […]
By Abubaker Abrahams Bonteheuwel residents are seething following the arrest of a 53-year-old man accused of raping a six-year-old girl and then giving her R5 as payment. According to reports, the perpetrator is allegedly known to the family and is in police custody. The suspect appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court on Thursday, but the matter was postponed. The alleged rape occurred in the man’s house, where the child […]
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.
