The uneven scales of justice
“A scab’s charter.” This was one published description of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) when it came into being 19 years ago. Because, although the bulk of the Act was warmly accepted by the labour movement, it contained a clause that seemed to undermine its basic precept.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 5 August 2014
Neighbour tries to bury Siqalo informal settlement
Rubble dumping on the fringe of Siqalo informal settlement has forced hundreds of shackdwellers to evacuate their homes. Those on the fringe of the settlement have experienced large boulders hitting their shacks. The mound from the dumping, which has shot up since the beginning of the year, has prevented winter rains from draining - leaving dozens of households flooded and abandoned. Yet, the owner of the plot adjacent to Siqalo who allows the dumping to go ahead unchecked, claims that the mound is a necessary safety barrier between his land and the settlement.
Masixole Feni
News | 5 August 2014
Durban police refused to open a case for a Zimbabwean man
A 38-year-old Zimbabwean man claims he was assaulted by a metro police officer in Durban and two Durban police stations refused to open an assault case.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 4 August 2014
Long walk to healthcare
Langa residents are complaining about the distance they have to walk to Bonteheuwel to access basic health care.
Thembela Ntongana
News | 4 August 2014
Firgrove residents want their land back
Two thousand residents removed forcefully from Firgrove, Somerset West, between 1971 and 1975 under the apartheid Group Areas Act, want their land back. ‘Blacks’ were moved to Mfuleni and ‘coloureds’ were moved to Macassar.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 4 August 2014
Case against Nomzamo residents to be transferred to Regional Court
The case against ten Nomzamo (Lwandle) informal settlement residents, who were arrested during violent clashes between police and the community in June, has been postponed.
Barbara Maregele
Brief | 1 August 2014
Tightrope walker says he was pushed off wire by city official
A Zimbabwean tightrope walker and musician claims that a City of Cape Town law enforcement officer pushed him off his tightrope in April, and that Camps Bay police have failed to respond.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 1 August 2014
Last night a community beat up two men, while the police watched
Two men in Nyanga were beaten very badly by about 50 members of their community, including children, after they were accused of housebreaking in the street they live in. The police stood and watched as they were beaten.
Pharie Sefali
News | 1 August 2014
Nationalising the mines is not socialism
Nationalise the mines. That is a demand taken up loudly in recent months by the Economic Freedom Fighters. It is a demand long made by many in the labour movement and it has been given added impetus with the Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) deision to dispose of, or close down, some of its older underground mines.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 1 August 2014