News

Social grants: state decides not to award tender

In 2012 South Africa’s social grant and pension payment system changed in two important ways: Firstly, administration and payment was outsourced by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to a single private company called Cash Paymaster Services (CPS); secondly, and as a result, all social grants began to be paid directly into specifically-created bank accounts for every beneficiary.

Ben Stanwix

News | 16 October 2015

Silicosis: mining companies hit back in court

Allowing the miners in the landmark silicosis case to act as a class on behalf of other miners would be contrary to the interests of justice, lawyers for the gold mining companies argued yesterday.

Lwandile Fikeni

News | 16 October 2015

Black Sash steps up ‘Hands off our grants’ campaign

On Thursday, over 1,000 people attended a silent protest held by the Black Sash at St George's Cathedral, Cape Town. A similar protest was held at Mopanye Mall, Soweto, in which 120 people attended. There was also a picket, held with the Right2Know, on Tuesday outside the Mitchells Plain Sassa Office. The protests are part of the Black Sash and partners’ 'Hands off our grants' (HOOG) campaign.

Pasqua Heard

News | 15 October 2015

Capricorn residents accuse taxi association of inciting violence

Violence over taxi routes erupted in Cape Town’s South Peninsula yesterday morning. The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) reports that a 59-year-old taxi driver and his 20-year-old assistant were shot dead at about 5:30am this morning in Seawinds.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 15 October 2015

Court hears whether silicosis miners can bring class action

Lawyers for the mining companies have begun to set out their case in the South Gauteng High Court, which is hearing an application from mineworkers to be allowed to claim for damages due to exposure to silica dust on behalf of a bigger group of affected mineworkers.

Lwandile Fikeni and GroundUp staff

News | 15 October 2015

Masiphumelele to get more policing

Following weeks of protests demanding better policing, and a number of incidents of mob justice, a satellite police station will be opened in Masiphumelele, and seven new constables have begun working in the area.

Pasqua Heard

News | 15 October 2015

Mine workers desperate in remote west coast town

Thembela Nkwalase, a single mother of five, has been employed as a cleaner at the Australian-owned Tormin mineral sand mine on the west coast since December last year.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 October 2015

Land conference hears stories of hope and despair

Communities struggling for adequate housing should do their own surveys of what they need, members of various communities told the land justice conference in Cape Town on 13 October.

Barbara Maregele and Ashleigh Furlong

News | 14 October 2015

Use the law, not violence, say activists at land conference

People facing eviction needed knowledge of the laws and their rights, a member of the South Road community told the urban land justice colloquium on 13 October.

Barbara Maregele and Ashleigh Furlong

News | 14 October 2015