News

Informal traders wary of Strand Pavilion upgrade

Informal traders who eke out a living at Strand Pavilion allege that the City will marginalise them as the facility is upgraded. The City says there will be space for the traders, though slightly reduced. The upgrade has been in the pipeline since 2013.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 17 June 2015

New hope for labour movement

There is just the faintest breeze of renewal and democracy wafting through the bureaucratic corridors of Cosatu and disturbing the cobwebs of dogma that have tangled up due process in the country’s largest labour federation.  It comes in the form of the election of David Sipunzi as general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Terry Bell

News | 15 June 2015

Lwandle: accusations and counter-accusations

Lwandle’s residents intend to protest on the N2 because they say they are being neglected by SANRAL, the City of Cape Town and the Housing Development Agency (HDA).

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 June 2015

De Waal Drive residents assured they will not be evicted - if they pay

De Waal Drive tenants were assured on Thursday evening by Western Cape MEC for Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela that they will not be evicted unless they are not paying their rent. Madikizela reiterated this point at a press conference this morning.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 12 June 2015

City withdraws Salt River market’s permit

What was supposed to be an upliftment project for the Salt River community has turned into a nightmare for market organiser Kim van Lingen. The permit for her market was withdrawn days before the second one was to take place.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 June 2015

GroundUp readers to the rescue of Sibhozo brothers

Generous GroundUp readers have made sure the Sibhozo brothers of Site C Taiwan informal settlement in Khayelitsha have enough to eat every day.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 11 June 2015

Site C’s Good Samaritan sharing the little she has

Going to bed on an empty stomach is not something new for Noxolo Mafilika of Site C Taiwan Informal Settlement. The 37-year-old mother of two has been sharing the little she has with the Sibhozo boys who lost their grandmother early this year. GroundUp published their story on 23 April.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 11 June 2015

Asylum seeker’s eight years in limbo

Enap ‘Pitshou’ Ngwene, 32, is an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since he arrived in South Africa in 2007, he has nothing tangible to show. He blames this on his rejection for asylum in 2011, which has now been on appeal for four years.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 11 June 2015

What it is like to live in Masiphumelele

The Wetlands informal settlement of Masiphumelele is home to over 20,000 people. It is a jumble of corrugated iron shacks and electrical wires. The smell of sewage and rubbish fills the air. Among the many problems its residents face are a lack of toilets and taps for water.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 11 June 2015