Tougher times ahead as tensions ratchet up in Europe

In a world wracked by ongoing economic crises, what is the role of trade unions? And if they focus
solely on “bread and butter issues”, are they, as National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Lesiba
Seshoka says, doomed to fail because “broader policies are shaped at a political level”.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Protesters demand that schools stay open

Approximately a thousand people marched to the Provincial Legislature building on Friday 5 October, which was also International Teachers Day, in protest against the closure of 27 schools in the Western Cape by MEC for Education, Donald Grant.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 10 October 2012

Du Noon residents complain about flies and smells from toilet cleaning service

Mandla Mncayi lives in Du Noon in Cape Town. He lives in an RDP house and is a street committee member. Mncayi is, like many residents in his area, fed up with the way mobile toilets are collected in his area, which is called Site 5.

Nokubonga Yawa

Brief | 10 October 2012

Working for food at age 14

Sbu Jakavula is 14 years old. He lives in Du Noon township. He does not go to school. Instead he sells furniture from an informal stand.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 3 October 2012

Living on the streets of Cape Town

Many people live on the streets of Cape Town. For various reasons they either cannot enter shelters or do not wish to stay in shelters.

Seth E K Fortune

News | 3 October 2012

Asylum seekers complain to Human Rights Commission about Home Affairs

About eighty asylum seekers have launched a complaint with the South African Rights Commission (SAHRC) against the Department of Home Affairs.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 3 October 2012

Soccer players unite against xenophobia

Last week, twelve soccer teams representing different countries participated in a four-day soccer tournament under the campaign theme "unite as one". The tournament took place in Nyanga and was organised as a Heritage day celebration.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 3 October 2012

Education organisation uses technology to urge Motshekga to fix schools

In a little over a month Equal Education (EE) head to the Bhisho High Court, to continue their fight for minimum norms and standards, and they are pulling out all the stops.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 3 October 2012

Better politics is essential to fix education

The Limpopo textbooks debacle has exposed the staggering incompetence of Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education, and Bobby Soobrayan, her Director-General. But a recent incident indicates that they or their colleagues in the Department of Basic Education are also very nasty.

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 3 October 2012