Some residents of the predominantly coloured lower-middle class suburb of Belgravia Estate in Athlone are opposed to an upgrade of the neighbouring predominantly black informal settlement of Vygieskraal.
Barbara Maregele
News | 18 May 2015
As the number of homeless people seeking assistance is expected to increase during winter, the City of Cape Town has invited non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and shelters to apply for aid.
Barbara Maregele
Brief | 18 May 2015
Garbage is piling up in Marikana informal settlement. Residents, concerned about their health and the squalor in which they are living, are calling on the City of Cape Town to begin providing services.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 13 May 2015
Some Hangberg residents living in the area known as “Die Sloot” say they will not move out of their homes despite looming threats of eviction.
Barbara Maregele
News | 11 May 2015
On 28 April GroundUp reported that land in Thembokwezi, Khayelitsha had not been developed by Old Mutual despite a commitment to do so in 2008. Here is Old Mutual's response.
Old Mutual
News | 6 May 2015
The home of the Ndlovu family in Azalea, Pietermaritzburg, was demolished five years ago. This was part of a project by Msunduzi Municipality to replace structures with new houses, but the project has been delayed since 2010. The delay is due to overspending, says ward councilor Msizi Ngcobo.
Ntombi Mbomvu
News | 5 May 2015
Residents of the informal settlement in Philippi East (named Marikana by residents, after the massacre in Marikana, the platinum mining town) attempted to erect shacks next to the Stock Road Train Station yesterday, but were prevented from doing so by police. Nevertheless residents have promised to try again.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 23 April 2015
While land occupiers lose their materials and possessions after being evicted, state defence manufacturer Denel accuses the EFF of manipulating the poor when instigating occupations of land it owns.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 17 April 2015
A Rastafarian in Mbekweni has spent 20 years building himself a five storey wooden house - and he plans to add two more storeys.
Michael Nkalane
News | 15 April 2015
A large grey plastic bucket stands nearby one of several doorways in a derelict hostel in Kayamandi near Stellenbosch where Mhlangabezi Jobela has lived for more than 20 years.
Barbara Maregele
News | 15 April 2015
A Land Claims Court judge could opt to jail the Director-General of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mdu Shabane, for contempt of court. Such a decision, however, may still be too late for Zabalaza Mshengu, who turned 101 in January, and has waited 14 years for his claim to land as a labour tenant to be processed. The case also raises uncomfortable questions about how far government will go to push judicial tolerance in order to avoid implementing constitutional rights.
Donna Hornby
Opinion | 13 April 2015
About 100 supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) marched around Khayelitsha calling on backyard dwellers to occupy land belonging to private owners.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 10 April 2015
There was chaos in Khayelitsha on Wednesday with battles between police and residents occupying land, and shops being looted. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Khayelitsha have distanced themselves from the looting, but residents say it was led by people wearing EFF T-shirts and berets.
Text by Nombulelo Damba. Photos by Masixole Feni.
Feature | 9 April 2015
Anger and frustration was written on the faces of All Stars football players when a group of TR Informal Settlement residents allegedly led by Economic Freedom Fighters took over their playgrounds on Tuesday morning.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 7 April 2015
Kimberley resident Frans Bernd has needed to use a wheelchair since his leg was amputated in 1991. He thought his dream of owning a house would come true when the municipality told him in 2014 to move to a site where houses and services would be available. But the dream has turned into a nightmare.
Douglas Mthukwane
News | 2 April 2015
Manenberg residents who have been living in containers for the last five months while their City Council flats are renovated have been left in limbo yet again. The subcontractors responsible for the renovations packed up all their equipment and abandoned the site last week.
Barbara Maregele
Feature | 31 March 2015