South Africa|Western Cape

There have been nearly 1,200 shack fires in Cape Town this year, claiming over 80 lives

The City used to provide kits swiftly for fire victims but the end of a grant means that SASSA has taken this over, and help comes much slower

Mother pleads with strained Dial-a-Ride service to help get her daughter to school

Her daughter is among thousands of people on the City-run service’s waiting list

Cape Town’s orchestra performs first live concert since pandemic — for Groote Schuur’s health workers

Judge refers “blatantly dishonest” advocate for disciplinary action

And he questions why Minister of Justice has not promulgated law that would punish misbehaving lawyers

Sex Workers Pride celebrated with vaccinations and calls for decriminalisation

Western Cape MEC for Health Nomafrench Mbombo says criminalisation of sex work makes access to health services more difficult

How musicians are helping health workers cope with Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic has exhausted health workers. To boost morale, musicians Graham Alexander and Colin September are performing in the hallways of hospitals.

Cape Town centre offers a hot meal and a vaccine to homeless people

“We wanted to create a welcoming and safe space with a meal where people could have access to the vaccine if they choose” says U-Turn’s director Jean-Ray Knighton-Fitt

Social grant offices have been closed over the past year, leaving recipients to foot the bill

Grant beneficiaries have to wait for hours in long queues, and spend more of their grants on travelling

Children’s book aims to give learners hope during the Covid-19 pandemic

More than 25,000 learners on the Cape Flats participate in the launch of Yola and the Trusted Crown for International Literacy Day