Protests over service delivery for the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East have turned violent. An ANC ward councillor’s house was set alight earlier today, allegedly by protesters from Marikana. Police have also opened a case of murder after a man died on the way to hospital after his car was stoned.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 28 May 2015
The City of Cape Town says infrastructure for water and sanitation cannot be installed in 82% of informal settlements because the land is not suitable. Yet the City’s own data tells a different story, writes Dustin Kramer.
Dustin Kramer
Opinion | 28 May 2015
It has taken eight months for the residents of Blikkiesdorp to be given access to an agreement between the City of Cape Town and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). The agreement outlines ACSA’s plans to purchase the land on which the Blikkiesdorp residents are currently residing and rehouse them.
Ashleigh Furlong
News | 28 May 2015
A group of homeless people who live under the bridge behind the Castle of Good Hope have over the past few months gathered funds to buy small tents in a bid to fight off the winter chill.
Barbara Maregele
Feature | 27 May 2015
Four young cousins died in a shack fire in Golishe Crescent, U-Section, Site B, Khayelitsha on Monday night.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 26 May 2015
Stellenbosch shack fire survivors have expressed anxiety about the involvement of the ANC dominated Kayamandi Development Forum (KDF) in their new government housing development project.
Mandla Mnyakama and GroundUp Staff
News | 25 May 2015
Fridges, stoves, furniture, televisions and microwaves are just some of the goods that residents claim are taken or damaged during evictions. Shack building materials are taken too. But what exactly happens to these goods once they are taken away? And what does the law say?
Mary-Anne Gontsana
Feature | 22 May 2015
Nomusa Mthembu, 57, has been living in a bathroom in Thornville, Pietermaritzburg, for more than two decades.
Ntombi Mbomvu
News | 19 May 2015
The smell from blocked drains and stagnant water in Philippi Temporary Relocation Area is so bad, that some residents hardly leave their houses.
Nombulelo Damba
Feature | 18 May 2015
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