News

Allegations around public works programme spark protests in desperate Free State dorp

Arrive in Smithfield from any direction and the first official board one sees announces: ‘Mohokare declares war on waste’. The chief weapon in that war is a platoon of temporary workers hired under government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) administered by local municipalities.

Carmel Rickard

News | 16 September 2014

Celebrate Global Female Condom Day

As we celebrate the second Global Female Condom Day on 16 September 2014, I join the celebrations with a wide smile and confidence, writes Nokhwezi Hoboyi.

Nokhwezi Hoboyi

News | 16 September 2014

Bullying still rife in schools, finds survey

A survey started in 2011 by the Quaker Peace Centre covering 102 learners has found that 95% of respondents were bullied at some point; of these 50% were bullied at school. The centre is ramping up its anti-bullying campaign.

Pharie Sefali

News | 16 September 2014

Heideveld residents march against recent gang violence

More than one hundred residents, along with various religious groups, marched on Saturday, winding their way through the streets of Heideveld to protest against the increase in gang turf wars and the drug trade in the area.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 September 2014

Mfuleni Boxing Academy undaunted

The Mfuleni Boxing Academy opened its doors to boxers from the area in 2010. In most townships, the reason community members open up sports clubs is to try and get the youth off the streets and away from gangsterism and substance abuse. Mfuleni is no exception.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 15 September 2014

Soccer: Protest disrupts Safa Cape Town Coca Cola Cup

At the semi-finals of the woman’s leg of the Safa Cape Town Coca Cola Cup, the Saxon United Ladies team from Heideveld protested on one of the fields where a semi-final match between RV United from Khayelitsha and Phoenix Spurs from Bonteheuwel was about to start.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 15 September 2014

Khayelitsha cleaners fed up with not getting paid on time

Every month since January, Khayelitsha’s refuse collectors and street cleaners in QA and PJS Section go in large groups to camp outside the supervisor’s office so they can get what is due to them.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 15 September 2014

Waiting for hours in tax queues

Filing income tax manually at a South African Revenue Service (SARS) branch can be a day’s mission, involving hours of travel and standing in a queue.

Johnnie Isaac, Joyce Xi and Thembela Ntongana

News | 15 September 2014

Salt River “improvement” deprives car guards of income

Car guards outside the Old Biscuit Mill have been left without an income after the newly operational Salt River Business Improvement District (SRBID) told them to leave.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 12 September 2014

Disabled and living in a shack

Regina Mahlombe is 64. She has become bed-ridden as a result of being stabbed by muggers in Gugulethu when she was 21. She yearns to leave her shack for a proper home.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 September 2014

Young dancer gets scholarship but has no funds to stay in US

Local dancer Aviwe November will soon be heading to the United States where he has been awarded a two-year scholarship with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 September 2014

Bafana Bafana - start of a winning streak?

On Wednesday, Bafana Bafana’s new intake of youngsters played their second game, this time against African champions Nigeria at Cape Town stadium, leaving over 30,000 supporters with huge smiles. The game ended in a goalless draw, but with Bafana on second spot with six points in Group A of the African Nations Cup Qualifiers.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 12 September 2014

Six-year-old and siblings survive by begging for food

A kid known as Didi, who is six, walks the Nyanga streets asking people for bread and for money to buy sweets and chips. Didi says that sometimes he sleeps without eating; when he wakes up, he and his siblings have to go and look for food.

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 September 2014

City of Cape Town plan to acquire drones

Shortly after referring to its CCTV system as "Big Brother" and expressing support for public video surveillance, the City of Cape Town has revealed that it is in the “planning phase” of a camera drone project.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 11 September 2014