Local government

City turns Khayelitsha street lights on

Night-time and Khayelitsha looks a different place to a few weeks ago. The City has repaired most of the street lights in the township's major roads; it is noticeably brighter now. Last night Mayor Patricia De Lille joined a march organised by organisations who have been demanding that the lights be repaired.

Nokubonga Yawa and Nathan Geffen

News | 12 February 2013

Are the lights coming back on in Khayelitsha?

Broken streetlights in Khayelitsha are at the centre of a debate between civil society activists, Premier Helen Zille, Mayor Patricia De Lille and several councillors responsible for wards along Lansdowne Road.

Nokubonga Yawa, Mihle Pike and GroundUp Staff

News | 30 January 2013

Playing politics while the Boland burns

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille is correct in claiming that there is
political interference in the strikes and recurrent violence in the Boland. And the
DA is as responsible as any other political grouping for being involved in โ€” or
โ€œinterferingโ€ โ€” in the ongoing upheaval.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 23 January 2013

BM fire victims to be moved to Mfuleni

Fire left about 800 households destitute on new years day in BM Section, Khayelitsha. Many of these families are sheltering at the O.R Tambo hall a short distance from the scene of the fire.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 23 January 2013

Premier’s excuses leave the lights off

Last week GroundUp and the Cape Times published Doron Isaacs's detailed account of his repeated but unsuccessful attempts to have authorities repair dysfunctional streetlights in Khayelitsha.

Gavin Silber

Opinion | 23 January 2013

The DA is more efficient at Twitter spin than at delivering basic services to Khayelitsha

I work every day in Khayelitsha. From time to time I am there at night, usually to drop somebody at home after a meeting or social event. In the daytime I am as good as any taxi driver at avoiding the potholes that litter the streets. At nights itโ€™s not so simple.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 16 January 2013

Councillor spends nine days in prison for “doing his job”

Anele Yawa is a proportional representative councillor in Uitenhage. In August he spent nine days in prison. He alleges his only crime was to do his job.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 5 December 2012

Delft clinic and community members caught in SANCO squabble

An internal squabble in the South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) in Delft spilled over into the streets earlier this month.

Mihle Pike

News | 28 November 2012

Poor versus business in Somerset West

A soup kitchen serving poor people in Somerset West struggles to stay open following pressure for it to relocate from the ward councillor and a business woman.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 17 October 2012

Has the City’s janitorial service been flushed?

โ€œI have seen no one fixing any toilet. They are blocked right now as we speak.โ€ These are the words of 29-year-old Zoliswa Mampofu, a Khayelitsha resident and mother of two.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 2 October 2012

Cape Town’s stray dog problem

He limps as he quickly crosses the busy road of NY 1 in Gugulethu, probably injured by another dog who is in the same position as he is. No home, no food, no care.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 19 September 2012

Switch on the lights

Providing working street lights is an important part of a city administration's duties. Street lights help people to walk or drive safely after dark. Last week it was reported that half the road deaths in the Western Cape are pedestrians. Lack of lighting as well as walkways across busy roads are likely among the causes of this.

GroundUp Editor

News | 12 September 2012

It’s still dark in Khayelitsha

Earlier this year, GroundUp published a story on the issue of street lights not working on Lansdowne Road in Khayelitsha.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 12 September 2012

Five years and still no street lights on N2 Gateway

Delft ward councillor Michael Sandile Toko is in charge of ward 20 which includes Voorbrug, Eindhoven and Delft South. His duties include bringing services and projects provided by the City of Cape Town to the people of these areas.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 12 September 2012

Picking up the pieces left by a corrupt councillor

Umrhabulo Triangle is the name of ward 96 in Makhaza Khayelitsha. Former ward councilor, Thabile Maxon Ludidi, had to step down when he faced corruption charges. Now 34-year old Councillor, Danile Khatshwa, is having to pick up the pieces.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 12 September 2012

Making sense of local government

To help us and our readers better understand local government service delivery, GroundUp has been interviewing ward councillors and residents.

GroundUp Editor

News | 5 September 2012