UCT and transformation: Part one

Is the University of Cape Town (UCT) transforming? What does transformation mean? In a series of articles GroundUp provides the key facts and arguments on the main points of contention facing South Africa’s oldest tertiary institution.

GroundUp Staff

Feature | 9 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

Sanitation: SJC’s analysis is faulty

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has asked the Mayor for a plan to deal with sanitation in informal settlements. We have a plan – one that has already been and continues to be implemented as part of this administration’s commitment to making this a city that delivers services to all our residents. Perhaps that is why so many people flock here from other parts of the country every year. After all, no one packs up their family and leaves their hometown for a worse life!

Ian Neilson

Opinion | 8 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

Workers at Groote Schuur allege illegal pay deductions

A manager at cleaning company Pronto Kleen has been charged with fraud after allegedly inflating employees’ working hours and claiming the extra money for herself.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 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

Khayelitsha residents occupy children’s playgrounds

Anger and frustration was written on the faces of All Stars football players when a group of TR Informal Settlement residents allegedly led by Economic Freedom Fighters took over their playgrounds on Tuesday morning.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 7 April 2015

Cash-strapped touch rugby team needs funds for World Cup

Just three weeks ahead of the World Cup in Australia, members of the national men’s touch rugby team are still scrambling to raise enough money to fund their trip. Most of the players are from the Bo-Kaap.

Barbara Maregele

News | 7 April 2015

Sex at the specs: Sex workers protest in Sea Point

On 2 April activists and sex workers held a protest at the Perceiving Freedom sculpture in Seapoint to commemorate the 2003 Sizzlers Massacre and raise awareness of the need to decriminalise sex work.

Abigail McDougall

News | 7 April 2015

COSATU: the end draws nigh

The fact that Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has refused to accept his dismissal from the federation should have come as no surprise to readers. This column has pointed out for months now that the central executive committee (CEC) of Cosatu has no constitutional authority to finally dismiss, suspend or expel any office bearer or affiliate; that only a national congress may do.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 7 April 2015

Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards to be held on 4 April

The Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards seek to recognise Zimbabweans who have excelled in making a positive contribution to the Cape Town community in various ways, including sports, the media, academic prowess, business acumen and in the entertainment world. The awards will be announced at the Cape Town International Conference Centre on 4 April 2015.

Tariro Washinyira

Brief | 3 April 2015

Countrywide protests by education activists over delayed government plans

Excitement and frustration were evident outside Parliament when students and Equal Education (EE) members slept overnight on the pavement in protest at the delayed release of the provincial implementation plans for Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 2 April 2015

Race transcends class in this country: a response to Seekings and Nattrass

In their article Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass decry that “the racialization of pain serves to reduce injustices and indiginities to race, foreclosing serious consideration of other forms of injustice and indignity”. I don’t know about Seekings and Nattrass but to me as a black person racism is a primary form of injustice and indignity.

Xolela Mangcu

Opinion | 2 April 2015

Disabled man says Kimberley municipality let him down

Kimberley resident Frans Bernd has needed to use a wheelchair since his leg was amputated in 1991. He thought his dream of owning a house would come true when the municipality told him in 2014 to move to a site where houses and services would be available. But the dream has turned into a nightmare.

Douglas Mthukwane

News | 2 April 2015

Zimbabwean man stranded in prison for 20 days and counting

A Zimbabwean man, Simbarashe Mariga, has been in Pollsmoor prison for more than 20 days without appearing in court.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 2 April 2015

The daily failures of a typical South African school

“You breathe in oxygen through your left lung and breathe out carbon dioxide through your right lung.” That’s what a life-science teacher taught her class at a Cape Town school where I worked for several weeks last year as part of my teacher training.

A teacher

Opinion | 1 April 2015