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

The costs of transferring money to Zimbabwe

The cost of sending money across national borders has been falling rapidly over the last ten years, everywhere in the world, but Sub-Saharan Africa is the most expensive region, and sending money from South Africa to neighbouring countries appears to carry the highest costs of all.

Ben Stanwix and Tariro Washinyira

News | 24 August 2015

No better than sleeping under a tree for 20 years, says ailing woman

Fifty-six-year-old Fikile Mlotshwa (not her real name) from Imbali in Pietermaritzburg has had to bear the winter cold and summer rains in a leaking mud house for over 20 years. She tested HIV positive 10 years ago and she is on ARV medication.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 24 August 2015

Hip hop brings peace to the street

Andile Thetha turned his love for hip hop into a way to spread peace in a community plagued by crime, unemployment and drugs.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 24 August 2015

Khayelitsha residents challenge eviction in court

Lawyers representing residents of Newcastle informal settlement in Khayelitsha are to challenge the City of Cape Town's compliance with eviction orders in court on Wednesday, 26 August.

Barbara Maregele

News | 24 August 2015

South Africa, colonialism, language and China

The whole question of colonialism has come to the fore again, courtesy of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and its vehement objection to the introduction of the Chinese Mandarin dialect to local schools.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 24 August 2015

Taxi rank traders demand lower rents

About 350 traders from the Cape Town station taxi rank marched to the Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA) offices in Cape Town to complain about rents.

Siphesihle Matyila

News | 21 August 2015

Campaigning for clean toilets and good cops: an interview with the SJC’s Axolile Notywala

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has been at the forefront of two campaigns in recent years: improved toilet provision and better policing in Cape Town's townships. GroundUp did an in-depth interview with the organisation's Axolile Notywala.

GroundUp Staff

News | 21 August 2015

High time to decriminalise sex work

This month, international human rights body Amnesty International voted to “pursue a policy to protect the human rights of sex workers.” Its decision has generated much media attention and debate and has been opposed by many well-intentioned people and institutions.

Marlise Richter and Ruvimbo Tenga

Opinion | 21 August 2015

Dismissed trucking company employee fights back

Johannes Chakuvinga lodged complaints of assault and unfair dismissal against Stikland company GSP Trucking in May with the industry bargaining council. Under the impression the company was closing, Chakuvinga was persuaded in July to settle for R5,750. But the company has not closed, and he wants to re-open his complaint.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 20 August 2015

New township hotspot for gays and lesbians

Gays and lesbians in the townships don’t have to travel to town and other suburbs for entertainment. The vibe and the chillaz are brought to them in a full bucket by Bambeke NgeNtanjana Entertainment in their own Kasi (township).

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 August 2015

No room for the homeless

Non-profit organisations in Cape Town say they are doing their best to assist homeless people living on the streets of the city, but there are simply not enough shelters or beds. The City’s street people enumeration project counted 7,383 homeless, of whom 2,521 were sleeping in shelters.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 20 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

Victory for democracy in rural Eastern Cape

Being able to vote for our leaders is what it means to live in a democracy. Yet the Eastern Cape government tried to block a rural Eastern Cape community from electing their leader. Yesterday the community won an important court victory. Wilmien Wicomb of the Legal Resources Centre explains.

Wilmien Wicomb

Analysis | 19 August 2015

Scam exposes township title deed confusion

A housing dispute in Mfuleni demonstrates how the informal process of transferring title deeds for RDP houses can lead to people losing their money and their homes.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Siphesihle Matyila

News | 18 August 2015

When temporary housing isn’t temporary

“They promised us that we would stay for a short period of time. They didn’t keep their promise,” says Amelia Nono, who came to Intersite, a temporary relocation area (TRA) in Langa, nine years ago.

Ashleigh Furlong

Feature | 18 August 2015