Cape Town’s chemical toilets violate human rights and other stories

Featured stories

Teachers, students and parents demand toilets and libraries for schools

\xe2\x80\x9cOur school has four pit-toilets, two for the boys and two for the girls\xe2\x80\x9d, Yonela Jumba says. \xe2\x80\x9cThese toilets are also used by the teachers.\xe2\x80\x9d

Koketso Moeti

Ses\xe2\x80\x99khona and ANC councillor accused of hijacking City disaster relief

Some Lwandle residents have accused Ses\xe2\x80\x99khona and ANC city councillor JJ Maxheke of keeping food and other disaster relief material supplied by the City of Cape Town for Ses\xe2\x80\x99khona members.

Pharie Sefali and Alide Dasnois

HRC: Cape Town\xe2\x80\x99s chemical toilets violate human rights

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has found that the City of Cape Town's roll out of chemical toilets unfairly discriminates against \xe2\x80\x9cblack African\xe2\x80\x9d people, and violates the rights to basic sanitation and dignity of informal settlement residents.

Daneel Knoetze

Judges Matter: the process is broken, so let\xe2\x80\x99s fix it

South Africa needs greater public participation in the appointment of judges, say members of the Judges Matter coalition formed last month.

Michelle Korte

Judges Matter: transforming the judiciary

Twenty-two civil society organisations have launched a coalition to lobby for transformation in the judiciary.

Michelle Korte

Lwandle inquiry

\xe2\x80\x9cPolice were firing and I ran for cover\xe2\x80\x9d

An eye-witness to the eviction of hundreds of Nomzamo residents in June described the \xe2\x80\x9cchaotic\xe2\x80\x9d scene to the ministerial inquiry this morning.

Barbara Maregele

Lwandle inquiry begins

The ministerial inquiry into the eviction of hundreds of informal settlement residents in Nomzamo near Lwandle Strand began today.

Barbara Maregele

Reports

Flush toilet audit begins in Khayelitsha

This week the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) began a second social audit of janitorial services in Khayelitsha. This time the organisation is looking at flush toilets.

Thembela Ntongana and Zintle Swana

GroundUp team expands

New appointments have been made at GroundUp.

GroundUp

Refugees lose security jobs

Over 100 refugees and asylum seekers have lost their jobs in Cape Town\xe2\x80\x99s security industry, following enforcement of a 2002 regulation.

Tariro Washinyira

De Lille lashes out at HRC and SJC over sanitation report

Today, Mayor Patricia De Lille responded in a special edition of Cape Town This Week to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) report on sanitation provision in Khayelitsha that was published yesterday.

Michelle Korte

Poo carriers found not guilty

Hundreds of Ses'khona members sang victory songs today as their leaders walked out of the Cape Town Magistrate court free.

Pharie Sefali

Will MyCiti change transport for Khayelitsha?

After the launch of the MyCiti bus route from Khayelitsha to the city centre last Saturday, GroundUp journalist Pharie Sefali took the bus in during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Pharie Sefali

Death with dignity not only a debate for developed countries

Desmond Tutu's support for assisted dying made headlines across the world this week, and brought the debate into the mainstream in South Africa.

Daneel Knoetze

How a Steenberg woman is helping victims of domestic violence

For the past 17 years Moriedah Dien has been a volunteer at the Steenberg police station Victim Support Room, assisting anyone who has experienced crime. Now she wants to establish a proper safe house for women who are victims of domestic violence.

Yazeed Kamaldien

Growing vegetables in the oddest place

Thabani Marhanjana is growing a vegetable garden in an unusal place - on the roof of a two-story building in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

COSATU says Metrorail blocked their members from travelling to protest

On Saturday, 12 July, COSATU held a demonstration at Cape Town Station to demand improved train service and that Metrorail lower fares to the same as before the recent ticket price increase.

Joy Shan

Opinion

How the Seriti Commission is failing

The Seriti Commission's approach is undermining the public's right to know, explains Kholiswa Tyiki, a journalist and researcher with Right2Know.

Kholiswa Tyiki

Why the sun will continue to burn in Langa

Last Wednesday, Langa erupted into massive protest that locked down the area with no way in or out of the township. To many, it seemed like the anger came from nowhere \xe2\x80\x93 yet frustration has been simmering here for months if not years.

Jared Sacks

Do wage increases lead to greater inequality?

Recent articles in GroundUp by Gilad Isaacs on the conclusions to be drawn from the long platinum strike have prompted a vigorous debate about the nature of inequality in South Africa. Here economist Mike Schussler argues that demands for higher wages will lead to more inequality, not less.

Mike Schussler

Over-population is not the problem

\xe2\x80\x9cThe misery of people here is very great, with beggars innumerable and increasing every day….pigs and calves live better than they.\xe2\x80\x9d That rhyming comment could apply to the legions of the poor in many parts of the world today. And South Africa is no exception.

Terry Bell

Activist Beat

The week in political activism

This week we explore local protests against Israel\xe2\x80\x99s bombing of the Gaza strip, a human rights awareness clinic, and a month-long campaign to expose rape culture.

Michelle Korte

Arts

Support local music: Get these excellent new albums

The past two weeks have been an exciting time for all music lovers, with album releases of many genres making their way onto local airwaves. You can support local artists and listen to their fresh new sounds by buying their work. Below are five exceptional albums you definitely need to get your hands on!

Zethu Gqola

Framed: a film to explore the West\xe2\x80\x99s fascination with Africa

About ten years ago, an anthropologist from South Africa and a documentarian from the United States began to set in motion a film that would explore what they see as the West\xe2\x80\x99s obsession with \xe2\x80\x9crescuing\xe2\x80\x9d Africa.

Joy Shan

Sport

Khayelitsha youths punching above their weight

In a sandy part of Khayelitsha called Enkanini, it is a big surprise to find between the shacks one with blue paint on its outside declaring: African Youth Boxing Club. The club was established in 2011 by Thembani Gqeku. The boxers he trains are aged seven to 16.

Siyabonga Kalipa