Striking west coast mine workers suspended

About 25 workers at the Australian-owned Tormin mine on the west coast, who went on strike last month, were suspended on Sunday.

Barbara Maregele

Brief | 19 October 2015

No birth certificate, no education: how Home Affairs has failed a Cape Town family

When other kids their age are at school learning, Thandeka Plaatjies, aged 10, helps her mother with chores and plays with her siblings – Thandiswa, age nine, and Luthando, age seven – outside their home in Westlake township.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 19 October 2015

Social grants: state decides not to award tender

In 2012 South Africa’s social grant and pension payment system changed in two important ways: Firstly, administration and payment was outsourced by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to a single private company called Cash Paymaster Services (CPS); secondly, and as a result, all social grants began to be paid directly into specifically-created bank accounts for every beneficiary.

Ben Stanwix

News | 16 October 2015

Try getting an ambulance in this part of Grahamstown

Earlier this month, Health-e reported the difficulties of accessing ambulances in rural Eastern Cape. Here we report on how difficult it is to get an ambulance in a township as close as five kilometres from the nearest hospital.

Hancu Louw

Feature | 16 October 2015

Silicosis: mining companies hit back in court

Allowing the miners in the landmark silicosis case to act as a class on behalf of other miners would be contrary to the interests of justice, lawyers for the gold mining companies argued yesterday.

Lwandile Fikeni

News | 16 October 2015

Black Sash steps up ‘Hands off our grants’ campaign

On Thursday, over 1,000 people attended a silent protest held by the Black Sash at St George's Cathedral, Cape Town. A similar protest was held at Mopanye Mall, Soweto, in which 120 people attended. There was also a picket, held with the Right2Know, on Tuesday outside the Mitchells Plain Sassa Office. The protests are part of the Black Sash and partners’ 'Hands off our grants' (HOOG) campaign.

Pasqua Heard

News | 15 October 2015

Capricorn residents accuse taxi association of inciting violence

Violence over taxi routes erupted in Cape Town’s South Peninsula yesterday morning. The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) reports that a 59-year-old taxi driver and his 20-year-old assistant were shot dead at about 5:30am this morning in Seawinds.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 15 October 2015

Court hears whether silicosis miners can bring class action

Lawyers for the mining companies have begun to set out their case in the South Gauteng High Court, which is hearing an application from mineworkers to be allowed to claim for damages due to exposure to silica dust on behalf of a bigger group of affected mineworkers.

Lwandile Fikeni and GroundUp staff

News | 15 October 2015

Masiphumelele to get more policing

Following weeks of protests demanding better policing, and a number of incidents of mob justice, a satellite police station will be opened in Masiphumelele, and seven new constables have begun working in the area.

Pasqua Heard

News | 15 October 2015