The long wait for a trading permit
At least 40 Zimbabwean informal traders fear they may lose their livelihoods after delays in getting informal trading permits from Fezeka City Council offices in Gugulethu.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 25 November 2014
Dead man left to “cook” in sun for hours
Mahlubandile Mdingi lay dead for seven hours on a street corner in Bardale extension, Mfuleni, before the health department’s pathology services took his body away.
Johnnie Isaac and GroundUp staff
News | 25 November 2014
Abuse allegations against Philippi farmer
Thirteen workers from a farm in Philippi have accused their employer of contract breaches, unfair dismissal and abuse. But farm owner Edgar Meyer denies the allegations, and says that the proper dismissal process was followed.
Thembela Ntongana
News | 24 November 2014
Amidst acrimony, Somerset West soup kitchen to be replaced by transport hub
The Helderberg Street People’s Centre (HSPC), a soup kitchen for the poor in Somerset West, has been given notice by the City to quit its premises by 31 January 2015.
Katy Scott
News | 24 November 2014
Trade union supported political parties: lessons to be learned
Learning from the mistakes of others, and being aware of the basis of those mistakes, helps us not to repeat the same errors. This is something to which those individuals, groups and unions now agitating to move South Africa onto a new political trajectory via a trade union supported political party would do well to pay heed.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 24 November 2014
Court orders City to conduct census of Marikana
On Thursday, residents of Marikana informal settlement’s Rolihlahla Park section welcomed a Western Cape High Court postponement of an eviction hearing. The court ordered that the City of Cape Town compile an audit of the households living on the erf in question to determine who will need emergency temporary accommodation if an eviction order is granted.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 21 November 2014
Zimbabweans can now stay longer for the festive season
On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced that Zimbabweans intending to travel home for the festive season will be able to do so even if their permits have not been issued.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 21 November 2014
Urban initiates: are the teachings still relevant?
In many African cultures, boys from age 14 must go through the process of initiation, where they are circumcised in order to be recognized as men by the community. But how relevant is the ceremony for today’s urban youth and are the traditions being upheld in the cities?
Pharie Sefali
News | 20 November 2014
Prevention strategies the key to curbing violence against children
“South Africa has no national statistics on violence against children,” says Shanaaz Mathews, director of the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town. In the absence of statistics, the South African Child Gauge looks at community-based studies. The 9th issue was launched in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 20 November 2014