News

Report details “state of crisis” in schools for visually impaired children

Schools for the visually impaired are in such a "state of crisis" that their students suffer "fundamental impairment of their human dignity”. This is according to SECTION27’s Left in the Dark report, which was released today, detailing extensive research into the conditions in 22 schools for the visually impaired.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 18 November 2015

Endlovini residents accuse councillor of breaking promises

Tempers flared last night in Endlovini in Khayelitsha, with angry residents burning portable toilets and blockading the road in a protest over housing.

Siyavuya Khaya

News | 17 November 2015

Insurance shock for parents of disabled Khayelitsha teenager

The parents of disabled Khayelitsha teenager Siphokazi Rululu took out an insurance policy in May last year to cover funeral expenses if they lost their daughter. When Siphokazi died last week, her mother Nomveliso Rululu was horrified to find that the insurance company would pay out R2,000 instead of the R12,000 they had been expecting.

Siyavuya Khaya

News | 17 November 2015

UWC students to meet Chancellor

The FeesMustFall movement at UWC is to meet the university’s Chancellor Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. This was according to Lindokuhle Mandyoli, a representative of the #FeesMustFall movement, who addressed students today.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 16 November 2015

Robbers target foreign hawkers in Port Elizabeth

Foreign nationals trading in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, live in fear following a spike in robberies in recent months. The traders say they are being targeted by criminals who rob them of their goods and then sell the loot to locals at a heavily discounted price. Most robberies happen in daylight.

Joseph Chirume

News | 16 November 2015

Living off vegetables from a dump site

Like others in Sobantu township where she lives, 42-year-old Nokhukhanya Myeza wakes up at 5am and dresses for work. But while others put on their best clothes, Myeza gets into old sneakers, torn jeans and an old T-shirt, and walks to the New England Landfill dump site in Pietermaritzburg to search and pick up food.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 16 November 2015

Students and workers shut down CPUT

Clashes occurred between protesters and police, and campus activities were suspended after over a thousand students and a number of workers picketed and sang outside the administration building of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Bellville.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 13 November 2015

Addo residents demand that “killer” canal be closed

Residents of Paterson, Addo, Bersheba, Uitenhage and Thornhill have threatened to close down the Sundays River Valley Municipality in Addo if a canal which they say is killing their children is not closed within seven days.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Siphesihle Matyila

News | 13 November 2015

Fire leaves over 200 Hout Bay residents homeless - here’s how you can help

Fire spread through Imizamo Yethu informal settlement at about noon on Thursday. Over 200 people have been left homeless, after more than 30 shacks burnt.

Juliette Garms

News | 13 November 2015

Arrested UWC students make bail

Fifteen protesters arrested yesterday during the standoff between students and police at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) were released this afternoon on R3,000 bail each, after their supporters managed to raise the R45,000 in total bail money in about an hour.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 12 November 2015

Masiphumelele will get a police station - when it’s safe

Masiphumelele residents who have been promised a new mobile police station will have to wait until the police decide it’s safe to install it.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 12 November 2015

Vrygrond’s Communiversity: offering young people a choice

Since the Communiversity opened its doors in Vrygrond in 2012, nearly 200 young people have graduated with new skills, ranging from maths to first aid and food gardening.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 12 November 2015

Blikkiesdorp families want to move again

Some of the families who accepted an offer from the City of Cape Town to move from Blikkiesdorp to Wolwerivier in September, say they want to move again.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 12 November 2015

UWC shut down

There was utter chaos at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on Wednesday when riot police clashed with student protesters and used rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas. Ashraf Hendricks documents the day-long standoff where a building was set alight, fires started and rocks thrown at police and private security. The protests were triggered by an email from the Chairperson of Council, which criticised the #FeesMustFall movement and said the protesters needed to engage with the SRC in order to have a special council meeting.

Photos by Ashraf Hendricks

News | 12 November 2015

iQhayiya students reject Department’s answers to their demands

About 150 students from iQhayiya High School in Khayelitsha marched to the Western Cape Department of Education to demand an answer from the acting deputy director, Benjamin Schereka, to their list of demands.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 11 November 2015

UWC students clash with police

Chaos erupted at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) today as police used rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades against students protesting against the stand taken by the head of the university council.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 11 November 2015