Housing

Living in a graveyard

For the past few years, the old Jewish burial site located south of Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town has become a home to a number of homeless people.

Siphesihle Matyila

News | 16 July 2015

In 80 years, she’s never lived in a warm house

“I don’t know how it feels to be in a warm house without a leaking roof,” says Betha Mkhize, who is in her eighties and lives in Ezinketheni in Pietermaritzburg with her mentally disabled son.

Ntombi Ngubane

News | 15 July 2015

Street artists battle over De Waal mural

A group of anonymous street artists called Space Invader has claimed responsibility for “reinterpreting” the mural in District Six along De Waal Drive near Cape Town city centre.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 July 2015

Living in a shed the size of a toilet for 14 years

Forty-three year old Patrick Brewer from Henley in Pietermaritzburg has been living in a tiny shed the size of a toilet for 14 years.

Ntombi Ngubane

News | 10 July 2015

Court dismisses eviction of retired Montagu farmworker

A retired farmworker and his family who were evicted from their home on Langdam farm in Montagu last year are entitled to move back to their farmhouse, the Land Claims court in Cape Town ruled this week.

Barbara Maregele

News | 3 July 2015

Tsunami residents pressure state to move them to new land

Tsunami Informal Settlement near Delft in Cape Town is a severely deprived area. Residents have been expecting to be moved to a better area, but it appears their hopes have been dashed.

Nombulelo Damba-HendrikMasixole Feni

News | 3 July 2015

Law enforcement shatters homeless man’s dreams

Law enforcement is removing homeless people who have been living alongside the Liesbeek River below Valkenberg. The homeless claim they are being harassed and their belongings are taken and destroyed by officers of the law. Many have already left the area and others say they are planning to leave.

Pharie Sefali

News | 25 June 2015

Tsunami residents demand new land

More than 100 residents of Tsunami informal settlement in Delft marched to the offices of MEC of Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela demanding to be moved to new land with services.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 24 June 2015

We are wrong to celebrate CEOs for pretending to be poor for 12 hours

We're a generation of clicktivists, incessantly raising awareness for a wide assortment of causes and social justice issues. But we rarely follow through with any tangible action or put our money where our ‘shares’ are. So, logically, we should be lauding those attempting to deliver actual change by attempting to physically address societal problems.

Natasha Skoryk and Caitlin Spring

Opinion | 24 June 2015

Joe Slovo residents queue for water

The City of Cape Town and residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa will meet this week to discuss the installation of additional taps in the area.

Barbara Maregele

News | 24 June 2015

De Waal Drive residents’ option to stay on, for now

On the weekend, some tenants at the De Waal Drive flats received notices that they can stay on, provided they pay their rentals going forward. In this latest message to the residents, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has asserted a softer approach than it had done in the past. The change has been welcomed.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 23 June 2015

Ses’khona leaders rendered homeless

Three Ses’khona leaders from Mfuleni Garden City informal settlement were left homeless after residents demolished their shacks on Saturday, accusing them of “selling” open spaces.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 23 June 2015

Minister to be consulted on evictions

Private and public landowners will have to notify the Minister of Human Settlements before evicting people from their land, if a proposal being discussed in government becomes law.

GroundUp Staff

News | 22 June 2015

Wynberg residents resist MyCiti bus plans

Residents in Wynberg and Plumstead were still up in arms on Wednesday over the new planned MyCiti bus route. They claim it has not involved true public participation. If implemented as currently proposed, many families will have to be evicted and the social character of Wynberg will be changed.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 19 June 2015

More poo protests looming

At 4am on Wednesday, Cape Town police used teargas and rubber bullets to prevent a group of about 50 residents from Barcelona informal settlement dumping buckets full of human waste onto the N2 highway. Residents said their buckets have not been collected or cleaned for the past four months.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 18 June 2015

Lwandle: accusations and counter-accusations

Lwandle’s residents intend to protest on the N2 because they say they are being neglected by SANRAL, the City of Cape Town and the Housing Development Agency (HDA).

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 June 2015