Government

Maggots, bodies and stench: what Khayelitsha residents say about their toilets

Last Thursday the Social Justice Coalition handed over 500 submissions, written by Khayelitsha residents, on the municipal budget to the City of Cape Town. GroundUp examined a sample of them to find out what residents are asking for.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 29 April 2015

Waiting for a Home Affairs document: seven years and counting

A 32-year-old Burundian refugee, Furaha (not her real name) has been waiting since 2008 for her refugee identity document.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 29 April 2015

Old Mutual drags its heels on Khayelitsha housing development

Old Mutual has not kept a promise to build more than 500 low cost houses and a shopping centre in Khayelitsha, though this was a condition of a 2008 deal with the City of Cape Town.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 28 April 2015

Khayelitsha residents hand over 600 submissions on City’s draft budget

About 150 Social Justice Coalition (SJC) members, supported by Ndifuna Ukwazi, formed a queue behind a toilet outside the Civic Centre and chanted struggle songs on Thursday, as they waited for their individual submissions on the City of Cape Town's draft budget for the 2015/2016 financial year to be collected.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 April 2015

Call for parliament to sign anti-xenophobia pledge

About 100 people marched against xenophobia in Cape Town yesterday. The protest was organised by several civil society organisation including PASSOP and Sonke Gender Justice.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 23 April 2015

Marikana residents try to occupy new land

Residents of the informal settlement in Philippi East (named Marikana by residents, after the massacre in Marikana, the platinum mining town) attempted to erect shacks next to the Stock Road Train Station yesterday, but were prevented from doing so by police. Nevertheless residents have promised to try again.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 23 April 2015

Taxi drivers burn vehicles and attack reporters in Nyanga

At least three Golden Arrow buses and a delivery vehicle were set alight in Nyanga, apparently by taxi drivers who are demanding that the City Metro Police return their cars that were impounded yesterday.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 21 April 2015

Will Phiyega survive? Parliament refuses to approve SAPS budget

Craig Oosthuizen describes the dramatic events in Parliament over the past two days that have put Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega's position under severe pressure.

Craig Oosthuizen

Opinion | 16 April 2015

No running water and toilets for Kayamandi hostel residents

A large grey plastic bucket stands nearby one of several doorways in a derelict hostel in Kayamandi near Stellenbosch where Mhlangabezi Jobela has lived for more than 20 years.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 April 2015

South Africa’s questionable silence about human rights violations in Swaziland

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), campaigning groups and labour supporting members of the European parliament this month launched protests about the continued harassment and jailing of trade unionists and democracy campaigners in Swaziland. ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow has noted that, in Swaziland, “Violations against the fundamental rights of workers have become systemic.”

Terry Bell

Opinion | 13 April 2015

How 1Life agent ripped off pensioners

Nearly six months ago Helena Davids was coerced into taking out additional life cover by an agent representing the 1Life company.

Barbara Maregele

News | 13 April 2015

Land Affairs Director General could face jail

A Land Claims Court judge could opt to jail the Director-General of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mdu Shabane, for contempt of court. Such a decision, however, may still be too late for Zabalaza Mshengu, who turned 101 in January, and has waited 14 years for his claim to land as a labour tenant to be processed. The case also raises uncomfortable questions about how far government will go to push judicial tolerance in order to avoid implementing constitutional rights.

Donna Hornby

Opinion | 13 April 2015

Right to protest is under sustained attack

Equal Education’s recently concluded sleep-in protests in three cities have shown how disturbingly difficult it has become to hold legal protests, even for organisations fortunate enough to have access to resources and legal expertise.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 10 April 2015

Looting in Khayelitsha: EFF blamed but denies involvement

There was chaos in Khayelitsha on Wednesday with battles between police and residents occupying land, and shops being looted. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Khayelitsha have distanced themselves from the looting, but residents say it was led by people wearing EFF T-shirts and berets.

Text by Nombulelo Damba. Photos by Masixole Feni.

Feature | 9 April 2015

Long wait for Motsepe money

Khayelitsha residents who applied for funds from the Khayelitsha Motsepe Foundation in 2013 might have to wait months for the money, says the head of the Motsepe Foundation in the Western Cape, Steve Mashalane.

Nombulelo Damba

Feature | 8 April 2015

We’re being targeted, say homeless

Homeless people in Observatory, Woodstock and Bellville have complained about a wave of law enforcement operations against them in the last two months.

Ian Broughton

Feature | 8 April 2015