Sanitation

Poor chemistry between City and community over sanitation contract

The Khayelitsha Green Point White Hall was packed on Saturday as residents came to air their grievances at a community hearing on sanitation and housing issues in the area. The community hearing was based on the findings of a social audit conducted with support from the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) between 4 and 14 August.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 August 2015

Campaigning for clean toilets and good cops: an interview with the SJC’s Axolile Notywala

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has been at the forefront of two campaigns in recent years: improved toilet provision and better policing in Cape Town's townships. GroundUp did an in-depth interview with the organisation's Axolile Notywala.

GroundUp Staff

News | 21 August 2015

GroundUp’s Masixole Feni wins photography award

Masixole Feni, GroundUp's photographer, has won the 2015 Ernest Cole award.

Text by GroundUp Staff. Photos by Masixole Feni.

News | 4 August 2015

“It’s no one’s dream to clean bucket toilets”

Thandekile Madikane tells his children that he works at the airport. He does not want his children to laugh at him for the job he does. But his job is vital. He is part of the city's operation to clean portable toilets.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 31 July 2015

Amputee uses a plastic bag for a toilet

Fifty-three year old Annacleta Zungu, who has only one leg, uses a plastic bag as a toilet at night because she is afraid to use the pit toilet outside her Pietermaritzburg house. Zungu, who is diabetic, lost her leg last year.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 22 July 2015

Dispute over jobs sparks protest in Barcelona informal settlement

A battle over jobs at Mawose Cleaning Services, contracted by the City of Cape Town to clean Barcelona informal settlement, sparked a protest which cut off a section of the N2 highway on Sunday night.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 20 July 2015

Joe Slovo residents queue for water

The City of Cape Town and residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa will meet this week to discuss the installation of additional taps in the area.

Barbara Maregele

News | 24 June 2015

More poo protests looming

At 4am on Wednesday, Cape Town police used teargas and rubber bullets to prevent a group of about 50 residents from Barcelona informal settlement dumping buckets full of human waste onto the N2 highway. Residents said their buckets have not been collected or cleaned for the past four months.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 18 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