One rand an hour is not enough, says domestic workers’ union, and other stories

Featured story

\xe2\x80\x9cYou see yourself vanishing and you think: I\xe2\x80\x99m going to die\xe2\x80\x9d

Andaleeb Rinquest remembers the moment she accepted, with certainty, the imminence of her own death.

Daneel Knoetze

Reports

Criminal justice system at fault, Peter\xe2\x80\x99s defence tells court

The criminal justice system had failed by releasing Rowan du Preez, the court heard yesterday in the trial of Angy Peter and three others for du Preez\xe2\x80\x99s murder.

Johnnie Isaac

Organisations allege dreadful conditions at Pollsmoor awaiting trial facility

Lack of mattresses, a leaking roof, lack of hot water and insufficient access to medical treatment: Pollsmoor\xe2\x80\x99s facility for awaiting trial prisoners has been slammed by civil society organisations for what they call \xe2\x80\x9cseveral concerns regarding conditions of detention at the facility.\xe2\x80\x9d

Mary-Anne Gontsana

R1 an hour is not enough, says domestic workers\xe2\x80\x99 union

The increase in minimum wages for domestic workers of R1 an hour is not enough, says Myrtle Witbooi, general secretary of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU).

Thembela Ntongana

Running a vegetable shop from a wheelchair

Lulamile Witbooi lost his legs in a train accident in 1991. Today he runs the \xe2\x80\x9cCorner Market\xe2\x80\x9d, a thriving fruit and vegetable shop in Zwezwe, Khayelitsha.

Joyce Xi

Sentence hearing for Angy Peter begins

This week, witnesses began testifying in the sentencing hearing of Angy Peter, Isaac Mbadu, Azola Dayimani and Christopher Dina.

Johnnie Isaac

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

Dead man left to \xe2\x80\x9ccook\xe2\x80\x9d in sun for hours

Mahlubandile Mdingi lay dead for seven hours on a street corner in Bardale extension, Mfuleni, before the health department\xe2\x80\x99s pathology services took his body away.

Johnnie Isaac and GroundUp staff

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

Amidst acrimony, Somerset West soup kitchen to be replaced by transport hub

The Helderberg Street People\xe2\x80\x99s 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

Court orders City to conduct census of Marikana

On Thursday, residents of Marikana informal settlement\xe2\x80\x99s 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

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

Opinion

Trade union supported political parties: lessons to be learned

Opinion: 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