City calls for homeless shelters to apply for aid

As the number of homeless people seeking assistance is expected to increase during winter, the City of Cape Town has invited non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and shelters to apply for aid.

Barbara Maregele

Brief | 18 May 2015

Operation Fiela: Sweeping Dignity Aside

Just under a month ago today, South Africa was shocked by the images on the cover of the Sunday Times on 19 April 2015. The images depicted Emmanuel Sithole, a Mozambican man and breadwinner for his family, lying on his back amongst rubbish as he pleaded with three men bearing knives standing above him, moments before they fatally stabbed him in cold blood.

Lara Wallis

Opinion | 18 May 2015

Extraordinary wage inequality among those paid with public money

South Africa is desperately short of nurses and many highly skilled practitioners are now over the age of 50 and nearing retirement. Yet there are estimated to be more than 30,000 South African nurses working abroad, everywhere from Dubai to Dublin.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 18 May 2015

Zambian High Court rejects state’s appeal against activist

The Lusaka High Court formally dismissed the charges against Zambian human rights activist Paul Kasonkomona on Friday.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 May 2015

Gays and lesbians will march in Khayelitsha

This week the third Khumbulani LGBTI Pride is taking place in Khayelitsha and Cape Town city centre. The main event, a march, will be held on Saturday in Khayelitsha. It starts at 9:30am from OR Tambo Hall.

Pharie Sefali

News | 14 May 2015

“What is your business in Council?” - My experience trying to participate in the City of Cape Town’s budget

Every year the mayor calls for residents to participate in the budget process by making submissions on Cape Town's draft budget. Last year fewer than forty people wrote submissions and only 23 were from the public. This has been the trend for the last couple of years.

Axolile Notywala

Opinion | 14 May 2015

UCT and transformation part five: fees and finances

Studying at UCT is expensive and many students struggle to pay the fees, though both the university and the state do try to support students. In the fifth and final part of our series on UCT and transformation we look at fees and finances.

GroundUp Staff

Feature | 14 May 2015

Bus on the way for Masiphumelele students

Masiphumelele High School students who have been walking and hitchhiking 15 kilometres to get to school will soon have their own transport.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 14 May 2015

EFF protesters accuse ward councillor of racism

About 50 Kalkfontein residents marched to Kuilsriver municipality offices demanding better service delivery today.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 13 May 2015

We want service delivery, say Marikana residents

Garbage is piling up in Marikana informal settlement. Residents, concerned about their health and the squalor in which they are living, are calling on the City of Cape Town to begin providing services.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 13 May 2015

Former Buccaneers player in court - for coaching soccer

A three year long legal battle between the City of Cape Town and the African Brothers Football Academy (ABFA) is coming to a close. On 14 May the academy’s Craig Hepburn will appear in court, charged with failing to comply with the City’s zoning laws.

Elias Kuhn von Burgsdorff

Feature | 13 May 2015

Presidency silent on sanitary pad promise

It has been four years since President Jacob Zuma promised that sanitary pads would be provided for poor women and girls in South Africa. But repeated attempts by GroundUp to find out what has been done suggest that his promise has not been kept.

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 May 2015

Bangladeshi shop owners face xenophobic threats from Kimberley residents

The Bangladeshi owners of a shop were escorted out of Roodepan by heavily armed police officers last night. This happened after angry residents pelted the shop, Roodepan Mobile on Starling Street, with bricks and stones shortly after 7pm.

Douglas Mthukwane

News | 12 May 2015

No toilets and not enough water in struggle hero’s birthplace

Residents of Slangspruit in Pietermaritzburg say they are used to the smell of faeces, because they have no toilets.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 12 May 2015

Justice for victim of fraudulent finance scheme involving FNB

Another home-owner has successfully challenged the unlawful transfer of their home, under the fraudulent Brusson Finance scheme, and an attempted eviction.

Mateenah Hunter

News | 12 May 2015