Housing

Khayelitsha toilet audit finds “dire” results

One in four of the Khayelitsha public toilets, which are supposed to be cleaned by the City of Cape Town's janitorial services, is not working, a social audit by the Social Justice Coalition has found.

GroundUp staff

Feature | 1 October 2014

Another Abahlali baseMjondolo member assassinated

Shortly after returning to KwaZulu Natal from the Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) Western Cape relaunch, Thuli Ndlovu, a branch chairperson in the shackdwellers’ movement, was gunned down in her shack.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 1 October 2014

Media reports on protest action lack depth and context — media monitor

Palls of thick smoke hung over the N2 mid-September 2014, after protesters from the farming town of Grabouw, some 20 kilometres from Gordon’s Bay, barricaded the national highway with burning tyres. Rubber bullets flew and canisters of teargas exploded as the police met protesters head on.

Mandy de Waal

Analysis | 30 September 2014

Apartheid geography and murder in Cape Town

Building a socially and racially integrated Cape Town will decrease our murder rate and other violent crime, writes Zackie Achmat.

Zackie Achmat

Opinion | 30 September 2014

Abahlali baseMjondolo relaunches in Western Cape

Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Western Cape branch relaunched at the Sweethome Farm informal settlement on Saturday. Re-elected chairperson Siyamboleka James spoke to GroundUp about the movement’s hopes to expand in the city, to renew negotiations with council for accountable service delivery, and about why there is no prospect of them working with Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement.

Daneel Knoetze

Brief | 29 September 2014

Harare crime even higher despite urban upgrade

The recently released Western Cape crime statistics of 2014 deem Harare as one of the worst of 10 areas in Khayelitsha, plagued with increasing crime despite the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrade Programme (VPUU).

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 September 2014

Lwandle residents return

It is nearly a month since residents evicted from Lwandle in Strand returned to the land owned by the South African National Road Agency Limited, but they still face an uncertain future.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 26 September 2014

How Nedbank took the Radebes’ house and how they won it back again

On Thursday in the Gauteng High Court, judgment was given in a matter dealing with reverse mortgage schemes. These schemes have proliferated over the last few years as people with poor credit records seek out companies that are willing to lend them money regardless of their blacklisted status.

Claire Martens

Analysis | 26 September 2014

Public invited to attend the final Lwandle hearing

The commission of inquiry into the Lwandle evictions has invited members of the public to attend its final hearing in Cape Town on Friday.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 25 September 2014

Secrecy shrouds Blikkiesdorp relocation plans

Blikkiesdorp community leaders are demanding access to an agreement between council and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) for the relocation of the settlement.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 25 September 2014

The week in activism

This week we look at a settlement on a land reform matter by Legal Resource Centre, a SWEAT dialogue to commemorate National Heritage Day, and Sonke’s call on government.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 25 September 2014

Will there be an investigation into police shooting?

The man shot by police during evictions in Philippi East a month ago is back at work -- and still waiting for police investigators to contact him.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 23 September 2014

Marikana evictees granted bail

Residents from Marikana informal settlement were jubilant outside Athlone Magistrates Court today when twelve of their neighbours were granted bail. The men had been in custody since 22 August for resisting evictions at the settlement in Philippi East.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 22 September 2014

Bail for arrested shackdwellers - residents toyi-toyi outside court

Around 50 residents from Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East descended on the Athlone Magistrates Court to support twelve of their neighbours who have been detained for almost a month.

Daneel Knoetze

Brief | 19 September 2014

Criminalising protest and dissent

A new report by SERI profiles a community protest in Lenasia, Gauteng, and concludes that the criminal justice system was "abused" in order to intimidate activists and protesters. A look at similar cases in Cape Town seem to support this finding.

Daneel Knoetze

Opinion | 18 September 2014

Disabled and living in a shack

Regina Mahlombe is 64. She has become bed-ridden as a result of being stabbed by muggers in Gugulethu when she was 21. She yearns to leave her shack for a proper home.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 September 2014