Weekly newsletter 26 - 30 May 2014: Youth gangs and violence in Khayelitsha and other stories

Featured Stories

Young, high and dangerous: youth gangs and violence in Khayelitsha

They fight to kill - with pangas, knives and their bare hands. They don't know why the fighting began but it doesn't seem to matter. Proving your manhood doesn't require a reason.

Words: Pharie Sefali Images: Don Pinnock , Editing: Guy Lamb

City's homeless brace for winter

News: It\xe2\x80\x99s just before 7pm and the dining hall of the Haven Night Shelter in Green Point has filled with people—most waiting to get their first meal for the day.

Barbara Maregele

Some homeless prefer life on the street while shelters pave the way home for others

News: Two cardboard boxes, a tattered blanket, plastic sheets and old newspapers are the only things shielding 53-year-old Geraldine Rhoda and her children from the icy winter chill.

Barbara Maregele

As Khayelitsha inquiry closes, crucial police documents still not submitted

The police have been inefficient In Khayelitsha. This was the concession of police lawyers at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry during its final public hearing yesterday.

Adam Armstrong

Angy Peter Trial

Court hears closing arguments in trial-within-a-trial

News: The “dying declaration” allegedly made to police by Rowan du Preez, who was kidnapped and murdered, should be regarded as hearsay, the defence told the Cape High Court during closing arguments in the case against Angy Peter yesterday morning.

Barbara Maregele

Court hears that evidence submitted by police was incorrect

News: The Angy Peter case resumed on Monday with a brief but significant submission from Nobuntu Sifuba, a member of the Street Committee in the area where Rowan Du Preez lived.

Adam Armstrong

Reports

City to fix filthy Khayelitsha toilets

News: The foul smell of stagnant sewage water and the sight of vandalised toilet seats covered in faeces are part of the daily lives of residents of PJS section in Khayelitsha who live close to the toilets.

Barbara Maregele

Sex workers\xe2\x80\x99 advocacy group demands justice from leading art auction house

News: Stephan Welz of art auction house Strauss & Co has apologised for suggesting that murder charges against artist Zwelethu Mthethwa might boost sales of his work.

Joy Shan

You too can learn the Khoikhoi language

News: Sounds of the Khoikhoi language fill a hall at the Castle of Good Hope where classes to teach South Africa\xe2\x80\x99s first indigenous language are held every weekend.

Yazeed Kamaldien

Striking miners come to Cape Town

News: North West province mineworkers striking for better salaries are lobbying with the power of film to gain support for their cause countrywide.

Yazeed Kamaldien

Anger as municipality forces small farmers to pay to use common land

News: Already hit by drought, small farmers in the Upington area will now have to pay fees to graze their animals on common land.

Selby Nomnganga

Was 13-year-old Tariro murdered?

News: No arrests have yet been made after the death of 13-year-old Tariro Makalakata earlier this month.

Tariro Washinyira

Congregants demonstrate in support of pastor on rape charge

News: Supporters and accusers of a pastor accused of rape demonstrated outside the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court during his bail hearing yesterday.

Johnnie Isaac

Youths farm in the City Bowl

News: A group of young people mainly from townships are growing their own vegetables in the Tyisanabanye organic farming project on the slopes of Signal Hill overlooking the city.

Tariro Washinyira

How South Africa is faring in the provision of free basic services

News: Many poor communities are still not getting adequate access to free basic services. This is despite the government\xe2\x80\x99s set of policies aimed at helping municipalities to provide these services.

Koketso Moeti

Opinion

An 'oasis of excellence' in the arid karoo

Opinion: For all the special pleading by the major teachers\xe2\x80\x99 union, Sadtu and the assertions by basic education minister Angie Motshekga that all is well, our schooling system is in crisis.

Terry Bell

Arts

The DJ and the boob job

News: Cape Town\xe2\x80\x99s Kyle Brinkmann, who goes by the stage name Das Kapital, has been featured at most of SA's biggest music festivals. But it was when he entered a competition to win breast augmentation surgery that he really got everyone's attention.

Zethu Gqola

Sport

Ajax U19 coach says there is no better job

Interview: Former Ajax Cape Town Youth player Maahier Davids chose soccer coaching over playing. The Ajax under 19 coach\xe2\x80\x99s time at Ikamva is paying dividends for the club as his team is winning nearly every tournament they play. Siyabonga Kalipa spoke to him.

Siyabonga Kalipa

Philippi hosts exciting boxing tournament

News: Umanyano Boxing club hosted boxers from across Cape Town this past weekend when it held the Elite Boxing Championships in Vuyiseka High School in Philippi.

Siyabonga Kalipa

Cartoon

SARS/Julius Malema Settlement?

Roberto Millan