Articles for Mary-Anne Gontsana

Is it the end for popular Cape Town circus?

As part of the City of Cape Town's plans to rationalise municipal facilities, the South African National Circus School (SAN Circus) will have to vacate their premises in Observatory, after their lease was terminated before it was set to expire.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 3 July 2015

One of the world’s oldest toys is a township craze

Spinning tops have been around for years and this is one of the toys that has been keeping township kids busy for decades, especially during school holidays.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Brief | 1 July 2015

Counselling on wheels to come to Khayelitsha

“It will be like an emotional ambulance.” This is the vision of 28-year-old Banetsi Mphunga: a mobile psychology clinic in Khayelitsha which will see kids in the township receive free help dealing with psychological trauma.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 June 2015

Yew Street Market gets its permit back

Saturday will see the park in Salt River buzzing with excitement when stall owners reopen for business, after the Yew Street Market was re-issued with its permit by the City of Cape Town.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 June 2015

Tattoos - township style

Since the age of 16, Peter Webb from Mfuleni has had an obsession with tattoos after seeing many movie stars with bodies splashed with ink designs. Finally with his first salary, he managed to buy a tattoo machine and started his own business in the township.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 18 June 2015

City withdraws Salt River market’s permit

What was supposed to be an upliftment project for the Salt River community has turned into a nightmare for market organiser Kim van Lingen. The permit for her market was withdrawn days before the second one was to take place.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 June 2015

Gun shots any time of day in Manenberg

This past weekend in gang-plagued Manenberg, a number of shootings took place once again in what community members refer to as one of those “worse weekends”.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 8 June 2015

Mfuleni school kids taught in a shack

As Cape Town weather gets worse, some Grade R learners from Mfuleni are being taught in a cold leaking shack with just one toilet, because there is insufficient space for them in a proper school.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 3 June 2015

Shooting hoops through stereotypes: Philippi’s women basketball players

Even though Philippi female basketball player, Ziyanda Tyefi says the sport is still viewed as a male sport, she loves it and she cannot see herself playing anything else but it.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 26 May 2015

When the state neglects property rights

Fridges, stoves, furniture, televisions and microwaves are just some of the goods that residents claim are taken or damaged during evictions. Shack building materials are taken too. But what exactly happens to these goods once they are taken away? And what does the law say?

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 22 May 2015

N2 golfer joins club

Vuyo Sontsonga used to play golf between two roads, the N2 and Borcherds Quarry, nearly everyday. But now his dream of golf club membership has been realised.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 21 May 2015

Mfuleni vegetable garden gives people dignity

It's all smiles and happiness as five men and women go about their work at the Bambanani Food Garden. Project manager Theresa Falatsa explains that it is passion that drives them.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 19 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

Detainee tells of shocking conditions for awaiting trial prisoners

After numerous organisations wrote to the Department of Correctional Services, raising their concerns about the bad conditions in the awaiting trial section of Pollsmoor prison, GroundUp exclusively spoke to a detainee in that section, who says nothing has changed.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 7 May 2015

Maggots, bodies and stench: what Khayelitsha residents say about their toilets

Last Thursday the Social Justice Coalition handed over 500 submissions, written by Khayelitsha residents, on the municipal budget to the City of Cape Town. GroundUp examined a sample of them to find out what residents are asking for.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 29 April 2015

Old Mutual drags its heels on Khayelitsha housing development

Old Mutual has not kept a promise to build more than 500 low cost houses and a shopping centre in Khayelitsha, though this was a condition of a 2008 deal with the City of Cape Town.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 28 April 2015