News
Taking your life in your hands on Metrorail
In the past year, 394 incidents of crime on trains were reported in the Western Cape according to Metrorail. “We are losing lives on overcrowded and dangerous trains,” said Cosatu Western Cape provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich last week at the launch of its Section 77 application to Nedlac relating to train transport in the Western Cape. A lack of security on the trains is a key concern of the campaign.
Ashleigh Furlong
News | 3 August 2015
Mitchells Plain families face winter eviction
It’s raining lightly and there’s a cold breeze as Isgak Abrahams and his two young children huddle inside the small makeshift tent they call home. The tent, built on an open field near the Kapteinsklip train station in Mitchells Plain, is made of three large blankets, cardboard boxes and plastic sheets, all held down by a few bricks.
Barbara Maregele
News | 3 August 2015
Like inhaling smoke? Ride Metrorail.
A complete disregard for the no-smoking notices and rules on Metrorail trains and at stations by many commuters poses a daily health hazard to thousands of their fellow travellers. And Metrorail appears powerless to enforce the law.
Thembela Ntongana
News | 3 August 2015
Lost belongings after evictions: a chaotic blame game
A year after their eviction from land owned by the SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL), some Lwandle residents say their possessions were never returned to them. But SANRAL says the goods were placed under the control of a community leader, and the agency is not to blame if residents did not get their belongings back.
GroundUp staff
News | 31 July 2015
“It’s no one’s dream to clean bucket toilets”
Thandekile Madikane tells his children that he works at the airport. He does not want his children to laugh at him for the job he does. But his job is vital. He is part of the city's operation to clean portable toilets.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
News | 31 July 2015
Deputy minister swaps his T-shirt for sanitary pads
In 2011 President Jacob Zuma promised sanitary pads for girls and women who cannot afford them. Nearly five years later, the only sign that this promise is being kept is an attempt by Deputy Minister in the presidency Buti Manamela to raise awareness about the issue through a series of well publicised events.
Pharie Sefali
News | 30 July 2015
City evicts recently housed Wolwerivier families
Dozens of Metro Law Enforcement officers swooped on Wolwerivier relocation camp on Wednesday morning. They broke locks and ejected two households deemed to have occupied the municipal built structures unlawfully. Yet, a community leader has called this show of force an insult, citing the general lack of safety and protection for Wolwerivier's inhabitants.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 30 July 2015
Children without homes: referrals up for Cape Town centre
Just this week alone six children have been referred to the Fikelela Children's Centre in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha. The institution’s head social worker, Kate Brydon, says the number of abandoned children being referred to Fikelela has risen.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 30 July 2015
Tsunami residents accuse City and Province of playing games
Angry residents of the Tsunami informal settlement in Delft have accused the City and provincial government of playing games with them.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
News | 29 July 2015