News

Langa in mayhem as protesters demand housing

Hundreds of Langa residents took to the streets today to demand new houses. Several shops were looted, roads were closed and police used teargas and fired rubber bullets.

Zintle Swana and Thembela Ntongana

News | 9 July 2014

“I love what I do, but there are many problems as well.” - a community health worker’s story

A Delft South community health worker (CHW) had no choice, but to take two weeks unpaid leave after sustaining a serious back injury while bathing a patient earlier this year.

Barbara Maregele

News | 9 July 2014

Langa’s national hockey star

A local player from Langa was in the South African team which finished in 11th place at the recent Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands. Siyabonga Kalipa spoke to Lungile Tsolekile.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 9 July 2014

Khayelitsha Inquiry final report delayed

The Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha has delayed the release of its final report to 8 August. The report was due to be submitted to Premier Helen Zille on 11 July.

Adam Armstrong

News | 9 July 2014

Former car guard gets his master’s degree

Former car guard Albert Mpazayabo’s great regret is that he cannot use his new master’s degree in his own country, Rwanda.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 9 July 2014

Activists call for fair employment conditions for community health workers

Community health workers (CHWs) are an essential link between communities and the often confusing health-care system. There are about 70,000 of them countrywide. They do a myriad tasks: visiting and assisting frail people at their homes, educating people about HIV and TB, and much more. But their conditions of employment are beset with problems.

Barbara Maregele

News | 9 July 2014

Cape Town kids learn stick fighting

Traditional stick fighting is one of the sports being taught to children in the school holiday programme set up by the City of Cape Town.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 8 July 2014

Residents of Lwandle are still homeless

Lwandle residents evicted from Sanral land a month ago are still waiting to get new homes - and to get their belongings back.

Pharie Sefali

News | 8 July 2014

Project to map Khayelitsha’s toilets could improve sanitation

Two organisations have teamed up to map public flush toilet locations in Khayelitsha. They will launch an interactive website and phone-based reporting system to improve efficiency in toilet maintenance.

Michelle Korte

News | 8 July 2014

Metrorail: We need better transport

Cape Town’s commuter train service is abysmal. Our trains are late, dangerous and uncomfortable.

GroundUp Editor

News | 7 July 2014

“Incomprehensible” that Home Affairs declared 5-year-old undesirable

A recent wave of litigation against Home Affairs following the unheralded implementation of new immigration regulations on 26 May 2014 continued on Friday in Western Cape High Court.

Katy Osborn

News | 7 July 2014

That time of the month at Metrorail

Cape Town commuters blame the long queues at Metrorail ticket offices every month end on a shortage of sales agents.

Zintle Swana

News | 7 July 2014

Metrorail newsletter reveals how often trains are late

“I’m stuck at the station--the train’s late” has become a catchphrase for Metrorail commuters.. But have you ever wondered exactly how often the trains are delayed, and which lines have it the worst?

Joy Shan

News | 7 July 2014

The week in political activism

This week we cover the availability of generic drug-resistant tuberculosis medication in Khayelitsha, a worldwide anti-corruption campaign taken up by Corruption Watch, a parents’ camp hosted by Equal Education, and an upcoming school infrastructure reform conference.

Michelle Korte

News | 3 July 2014

New contraceptive is so popular that stocks are running dry

Such was the demand for a newly-introduced female contraceptive implant that stocks ran dry in the Ilembe district a week before the month's end in April. After stalling for three weeks, the programme restarted when stocks were replenished in the second week of May.

Ruth Atkinson

News | 3 July 2014

Cops say they will take Gun Free South Africa’s concerns seriously

On Tuesday, Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) called upon Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to institute a moratorium on firearm licensing nationwide.

Katy Osborn

News | 3 July 2014