Articles for Mary-Anne Gontsana

Court case exposes violence in Wild Coast mining dispute

Four men accused of assaulting residents of the Amadiba coastal area were released on R2,000 bail each yesterday at the Mbizana Magistrates’ Court.

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News | 12 January 2016

State accused of letting Tormin damage West Coast

Activists have accused government officials of turning a blind eye to a pattern of environmental violations at the Tormin dune mine on the West Coast – including a “catastrophic” cliff collapse – after state departments failed to act on a string of letters, objections and a formal appeal.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 11 December 2015

West Coast mine boss must go, say staff

A gyrocopter overflying the embattled MSR Tormin mine near the remote West Coast town of Vredendal was shot at last month, according to a witness who reported the alleged incident to the local police.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 6 November 2015

Pensioners march for R5,000 per month

Hundreds of pensioners marched from the Company’s Garden to Parliament on Tuesday to demand a “decent living wage” of R5,000 from the current R1,410 state pension.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 30 September 2015

Strike at West Coast sand mine turns nasty

Workers at Australian-owned Tormin mine on the west coast are still on strike after a protest two weeks ago in which a police officer and a worker were injured, and 27 people were arrested.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 September 2015

Free pet sterilisation campaign in Khayelitsha

In the canine sterilisation ward of the South African Mass Sterilisation Trust (SA.MAST) in Khayelitsha, several dogs lie in cages, unconscious, with their tongues out. Others are brought in on stretchers, after being successfully sterilised.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 17 September 2015

“If my baby is dead, why don’t they just tell me?”

After recovering from a difficult labour, Nolitha Kamana went to look for her baby in the hospital wards, only to find the child in the mortuary. Her story is one of scores collected by the Treatment Action Campaign highlighting problems in maternity and obstetrics units in Cape Town. GroundUp's Mary-Anne Gontsana spoke to some of the women.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 9 September 2015

Barcelona residents angered by piles of rubbish

Rubbish is piling up in front of people’s homes in Barcelona informal settlement near Gugulethu and the airport in Cape Town. Residents showed their displeasure this morning by dumping rubbish on the N2.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 2 September 2015

Mothers march for quality care

Several hundred mothers, pregnant women, men and activists marched to the provincial legislature and parliament on Thursday to highlight problems accessing quality maternal and obstetric care in the Western Cape.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 27 August 2015

Khayelitsha Commission: it’s up to the Minister now, says Zille

Until national police minister Nathi Nhleko signs the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry recommendations, 90 percent of them cannot be implemented, according to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 August 2015

We will not be silent on crime, say Khayelitsha organisations

Around 200 people from several social justice organisations took part in a march to parliament on Tuesday, for safety, equality and justice.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 August 2015

Poor chemistry between City and community over sanitation contract

The Khayelitsha Green Point White Hall was packed on Saturday as residents came to air their grievances at a community hearing on sanitation and housing issues in the area. The community hearing was based on the findings of a social audit conducted with support from the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) between 4 and 14 August.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 August 2015

Slaughterhouse proposed for Nyanga, following SPCA complaint

Nyanga meat sellers might be in line to receive a formal animal slaughter site after the City of Cape Town finalised a pre-feasibility study into this site for informal meat traders.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 19 August 2015

Shacks demolished following miscommunication

About 20 Mfuleni residents were forced to demolish their shacks that they had erected after occupying open land in the township.

Mary-Anne Gontsana and Masixole Feni

Brief | 18 August 2015

Trending hairstyles in the township

From the German cut to the razor cut and from dreadlocks to braids, men and women in Cape Town’s townships have plenty of imagination when it comes to trending hairstyles.

Photos by Masixole FeniText by Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 14 August 2015

Phiyega must go, say activists

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) and Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) have called for the resignation or dismissal of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, saying she has failed the people of Khayelitsha and poor people in South Africa as a whole.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 August 2015