Regions

Walking Bus protects pupils from gangs

11th October 2016 Chandre Appels 0

Running the gauntlet to school is no longer a danger for some children in gang-infested Mitchells Plain thanks to an innovative ‘walking bus’ initiative implemented by the Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato earlier this year.
The initiative, which sees parents and grandparents volunteering to accompany groups of children to and from school, was introduced in Delft in May, and expanded to include the Mitchells Plain areas of Lentegeur and Beacon Valley in June.

Masibambisane High on the IT map with Korean help

11th October 2016 Zimbini Molisi 0

A Maths and Science school in Delft has received a major donation from Samsung.
A high school in gang-ridden Delft hosted 30 Korean volunteers for a week, who, as part of a team from electronics giant Samsung, taught learners smartphone repair skills and how to establish an online shopping portal.

ANC members tell Kgalema Motlanthe: Remove corrupt councillors

13th September 2016 Elitsha reporters 0

ANC members and supporters in Buffalo City pleaded with former president Kgalema Motlanthe to remove corrupt ward councillors and approach the national office to disband their party’s regional and provincial leadership.
Motlanthe and other ANC leaders were in East London this week to review legislation passed by the government. The meeting took place at the East London Christian Centre. Hundreds of people participated.

Robertson Winery workers on strike

13th September 2016 GroundUp 0

Workers at Robertson Winery are on strike calling on the winery to pay them R8,500 a month.
The workers, who protested outside the winery say they are currently earning between R2,900 and R3,500 a month before deductions, according to Karel Swartz, deputy general secretary of the Commercial, Stevedoring and Allied Workers’ Union (CSAAWU).

Water bill arrears shock for pre-paid electricity buyers

13th September 2016 Mphumzi Sizani 0

Masiphumelele residents are shocked that Cape Town City is charging extra for electricity because of water meter debt.
As a means of clawing back some of the R2.1-bn in water account arrears, the City is charging extra for electricity supplied through pre-paid meters and supposedly putting the difference against account-holders’ water debt.

Youth force local shops to close over jobs for outsiders

13th September 2016 Max Qwayi 0

A shopping complex in Harare, Khayelitsha was placed under siege by a mob of about 30 angry youth from the area who demanded jobs at the small businesses be given to local residents.
The youth, believed to have been led by local ANC Youth League organiser, Yanga Mjingwana, converged on the Hilltop shopping centre where Spar is the anchor tenant. During lunchtime they disrupted shoppers and forced the closure of Learn to Earn and the Moholo Lounge.

Poor state of sport facilities in Mdantsane

11th August 2016 Yamkela Sifingo 0

Mdantsane is known for its love of sport, especially boxing and rugby, but a small audit of the facilities proves that they are in a poor state.
Mdantsane, the second biggest township in South Africa, is located between East London and King William’s town. “MDA” as it’s referred to by those who live in it, was established in the late 1960’s as a result of the East Bank/West Bank forced removal of residents, who were separated by the Buffalo River. Under the reign of white dominance, the native people fought a number of battles protecting their land, but they were defeated and driven off the river banks. Mdantsane was built as a concentration camp, where white industries draw labour, and enslave black people to keep their businesses running at low cost.

Protestors vow to continue to put pressure on Mugabe

11th August 2016 Bernard Chiguvare 0

Two recent protests at the Zimbabwe Consulate have given a political voice to Zimbabweans based in South Africa.
Zimbabweans that include students from the University of Cape Town, University of Western Cape, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Stellenbosch University marched twice this month to the Zimbabwe consulate to handover petition to the Consulate General.

Khayelitsha Cycling club is changing young people’s lives

26th July 2016 Bernard Chiguvare 0

It has barely been a few years since the club was formed but it has already made an impact on young people’s lives in Khayelitsha
In the heart of Khayelitsha, one of the oldest black townships, where crime is the order of the day, is a Cycle Academy known as  Bonga Cycle Academy. It’s aim is to draw youth’s attention from township ills towards healthy sport and exercise.

Kliptown residents want houses as promised in the Freedom Charter

26th July 2016 Ramatamo wa Matamong 0

Adopted in Kliptown in 1955, the Freedom Charter and its demands became a rallying point for many in the struggle against apartheid. Sixty one years later, the Charter has consistently been at the centre of key theoretical and political debates.
When Kliptown residents see different political parties flooding their area, informal settlement residents of the iconic Kliptown in the South of Johannesburg don’t need to look at their calendar to confirm that it is election season.

No lack of service delivery will stop us from voting say Duncan Village residents

26th July 2016 Elitsha reporters 0

If it is not blocked toilets, then it’s garbage piling up next to people’s homes. But the community of Duncan Village in East London say they know the importance of voting.
It was a sunny Sunday when Elitsha visited the area. Most people were busy doing their washing, some sitting next to their shacks. There were political party representatives who were busy doing door to door campaigning.

Informal settlement residents turn to pay TV

26th July 2016 Mandla Mnyakama 0

Several DSTV dishes appear dotted on shack rooftops as you drive past the area from the N2 Highway near Borcherds Quarry in Cape Town.
Kanana Informal Settlement adjacent to Barcelona in Gugulethu was established in 1992 and consists of about 4,000 residents.
The area is hit hard by floods every winter as well as shack fires that sometimes result in deaths.
This densely populated shack settlement has been electrified and has got 1,214 bucket system toilets with some residents sharing them while others got toilets installed in their homes.
There are also more than 40 communal water taps.
Local residents say they enjoy pay TV because it not only helps to update them on international entertainment but also prevents their children from loitering after school, especially during the winter school holidays, keeping them indoors.