Drivetime

Africa Muslim Agency sends mobile clinic to Syria

The African Muslim Agency and the Saed Charity have sent a mobile clinic to assist displaced families and refugees in Syria. Hassan Chononara Regional Director will be leaving for Syria on Sunday and now joins us line. Guest : Hassan Choonara Position : Regional Director, AMA

7 Nov 2017 9AM 7 min

Presidents keepers, what are the legal implications

Ever since the publication and release of the President's Keepers, a Book authored by former SABC journalist Jacques Pauw, the State Security Agency has demanded that the Book be withdrawn. But what are the legal aspects of this development? On line is Professor Shadreck Gutto, former Constitutional law Expert and…

7 Nov 2017 9AM 8 min

Should the Apartheid-SA flag be banned?

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has asked whether it is time to ban the old South African flag after the furore it created around the #BlackMonday marches on October 30, 2017. Drive Time presenter, Shafiq Morton, spoke to Director of Communications at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Luzuko Koti.

7 Nov 2017 2AM 12 min

Civilian deaths in Syria by numbers

The Syrian Network for Human Rights says 923 civilians were killed in October by the Syrian regime, including 398 children and 62 women. Syria is embroiled in a six year civil war that has killed more than 470,000 people and forced an estimated 5 million more to flee across borders…

6 Nov 2017 10AM 16 min

African middle class

The African middle class is of huge interest to business. This was confirmed again recently by well attended seminars in South Africa’s big cities to discuss Africa. The narrow focus of the study is guided by a particular interest and echoes a poorly informed narrative about the structure of societies…

6 Nov 2017 9AM 7 min

NMF on the apartheid flag

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has asked whether it is time to ban the old South African flag after the furore it created around the Black Monday marches on October 30. On line is Luzuko Koti, Director of Communications at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Guest : Luzuko Koti Position: Director ,…

6 Nov 2017 9AM 12 min

Zuma Book recalled

The State Security Agency (SSA) has sent a cease and desist letter to investigative journalist Jacques Pauw and his publisher over revelations in his new book that it claims are in violation of the Intelligence Services . On line is Thandi Smith, Policy Program Co-ordinator, Media Monitoring Africa. Guest :…

3 Nov 2017 10AM 10 min

Palestinians speak out on Balfour Declaration

On November 2, 1917,The Balfour Declaration was declared with the aim to establish a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, but it forced out the Palestinian people. Those who remained in their homeland, and generations since, have been stripped of their rights under Israeli occupation. Abdulla Griftat is…

3 Nov 2017 10AM 8 min

Book Review - Nelson Mandela - Dare Not Linger

MANDLA LANGA was born in 1950 in Durban, South Africa. After being arrested in 1976, he went into exile and lived in Botswana, Mozambique and Angola, as well as Hungary, Zambia and the United Kingdom, where he was the ANC’s Cultural Representative. A writer and journalist, he was the first…

3 Nov 2017 9AM 17 min

Balfour declaration

Thousands of Palestinian students have written letter to British Prime Minister Theresa May decrying the Israeli occupation, on the occasion of the Balfour Declaration centenary. On line is Petro Stefanini, Freelance Researcher at the Palestinian Return Centre in the UK. Guest : Petro Stefanini Position: Researcher, Palestinian Research Centre

2 Nov 2017 11AM 15 min

GDP....How sustainable are they?

Of the world's top 10 countries in real GDP growth rates for 2012, five were indeed African. Libya topped the list, with an astounding 124%, followed by Sierra Leone with 15.2%, Zimbabwe with 13%. Ever since, other fast growing economies include Angola, Chad and the DRC. On line is Lorenzo…

2 Nov 2017 10AM 15 min

Balfour Declaration: A perspective from the ground

As part of our discussion on the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, VOC Journalist Thakira Desai spoke to Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Manuel Hassassian and gets the perspective from the ground from Palestinian youth activist, Ayed Atmawi.

2 Nov 2017 5AM 23 min

100 years of the Balfour Declaration

The Balfour Declaration, a document that promised a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine whilst also promising to protect the rights of the existing indigenous Arab population. This year marks 100 years since that declaration and in this feature, VOC Journalist Thakira Desai spoke to Palestinian political analyst, Dr…

2 Nov 2017 5AM 17 min

No room for celebration in mini-budget report

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba's maiden budget performance in Parliament yesterday did not leave any room for celebration and government's finances and prospects over the next three years do not present a rosy picture. VOC Drive Time spoke to Chief Economist at Econometrix, Dr Azar Jamine, who discussed the importance of…

27 Oct 2017 5AM 14 min

Shaykh Muttaqin Rakiep

The descendent of Tuan Guru will host a symposium reconnecting the families in South Africa with those in Tidore, Indonesia. The symposium takes place this coming Saturday at the Islamia Auditorium at 2pm, which will include the Sultan of Tidore. In studio now is Shaykh Muttaqin Rakiep, a direct descendent…

24 Oct 2017 11AM 24 min

Al Imdaad Foundation on the ground in Coxs Bazaar

Over the past week Al-Imdaad Foundation’s humanitarian workers from Durban, South Africa has been on the ground in Bangladesh for a relief mission to assist Rohingya refugees. VOC Drivetime spoke to Qari Ziyaad Patel for a clearer picture of the current situation

19 Oct 2017 5AM 10 min

VOC News speaks to Yvonne Ridley

Internationally acclaimed journalist and writer Yvonne Ridley is visiting South Africa this week as a guest of Salaamedia. She has been delivering a series of talks in Gauteng focused on human rights, women empowerment and the Muslim World today. Ridley converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban in…

19 Oct 2017 5AM 16 min

VOC News speaks to former ambassador Mohamed Dangor about the TRC process

VOC reporter Thakira Desai recently sat down with the former ambassador to Libya, Saudi Arabia and Syria, Mohamed Dangor, who discussed the two attempts that were made on his life for his running of an underground branch as part of the ANC and the subsequent impact that the Truth and…

19 Oct 2017 4AM 15 min

Africa Union Agenda 2063

Seventy percent of Africa's one billion population are employed in the agriculture sector. To achieve continental growth and social-economic development, and realise the aspirations of the African Unions (AU) Agenda 2063, it is essential to provide the full potential of this sector. On line is Dr Dawn Nagar, Senior Researcher…

18 Oct 2017 4AM 14 min

Truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital claims at least 300 lives

The death toll from Saturday's truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has surged to at least 300 people. This according to the country's information minister. VOC Drive Time spoke to researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, Omar Mahmood.

17 Oct 2017 6AM 11 min