Health

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

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

Juggling for Jack: How the Zip Zap circus helped a six-year-old boy

The Zip Zap Circus School dome in the city centre was packed on Saturday afternoon as the circus put on a show to raise funds for severely disabled six-year-old Jack Bain.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 28 July 2015

Mother of two disabled children barely coping

Nomahlubi Mbulu is 47. She lives in a house in Old Crossroads. She has three children, a 12-year-old girl, a 17-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son. Her last born, Lilitha, and her eldest, Sibusiso, are both disabled. She is struggling to cope.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 21 July 2015

Close down deadly tavern, demand protesters

Over 200 young people in Khayelitsha marched to Harare Police at 11am today (6 July 2015) to demand the closure of Osi’s Place, a local tavern.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 6 July 2015

There’s no excuse, Minister: Here’s the proof

There are massive medicine stockouts in the public health system. These are mainly due to failures within the state system, not external problems such as global supply shortages that Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi has claimed are primarily responsible. Here’s the proof.

Ashleigh FurlongNathan Geffen

News | 30 June 2015

Counselling on wheels to come to Khayelitsha

“It will be like an emotional ambulance.” This is the vision of 28-year-old Banetsi Mphunga: a mobile psychology clinic in Khayelitsha which will see kids in the township receive free help dealing with psychological trauma.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 June 2015

Showdown over what medicals schemes must cover

A high-profile court showdown is looming between a medical scheme and the patient activist group, Treatment Action Campaign, as well as about a dozen other organisations. Its outcome will have significant repercussions for what schemes offer their members.

Shadi Garman and GroundUp Staff

News | 19 June 2015

How brave nine-year-old narrowly missed falling through the welfare system’s cracks

Luxolo “Nana” Ntsantsa was left paralysed from the waist down after a gunman killed his mother and left him for dead in their small shack in Site C, Khayelitsha nearly a year ago.

Barbara Maregele

Feature | 15 June 2015