“Parkwood has a problem, people live under inhumane conditions”
Widespread protests for land and housing are taking place with backyarders and landless people occupying vacant land in Cape Town.
Service delivery
Pools of sewage a daily torment in Cape communities
Overflowing sewage is a frequent problem for residents of Samora Machel township and elsewhere in Cape Town. Besides the terrible stench they have to contend with, residents report that their children suffer from skin rashes and respiratory ailments.
Houses in Pietermaritzburg shock residents
The Msunduzi Municipality has recognised the problem of ‘wirewall houses’ delivering electric shocks to their occupants. A Wirewall Rectification Programme started in 2011 did not reach Imbali Unit 18 and it doesn’t look like they have a plan to assist the 70 households affected.
City of Cape Town accused of dividing the community
A meeting between leadership of the Vrygrond community and the City of Cape Town, after several stand-offs between law enforcement officers and backyarders who have attempted to occupy vacant land, has not taken place even though a date was set.
The City and the province won’t expropriate land for housing
The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape provincial government has stated that it will not buy land from Ross Demolition to build houses for Siqalo residents as the land is “not fit for human habitation”.
One death as police disperse Mitchell’s Plain gathering
The conflict between the Siqalo and Mitchell’s Plain communities flared up late on Thursday, despite the suspension by Siqalo of their protest action. Police fired on a gathering of Mitchell’s Plain residents, killing one and wounding two.
Siqalo and broader Mitchell’s Plain communities clash
The situation was calm at Siqalo informal settlement on Thursday morning following a protest for land, housing and provision of better services by the City of Cape Town. The protest, which saw the barricading of Jakes Gerwel Drive with burning tyres and communal waste containers, resulted in a counter-protest from residents of Colorado Park. The protest has been suspended following a meeting between community groups in Mitchell’s Plain.
EFF and community members march for better services at Khayelitsha hospital
Community and EFF members threaten to shutdown Khayelitsha District Hospital if the service it provides does not improve.
Unions and communities march against water tariff increases in Cape Town
Unions and communities marched against the steep tariff increases that the City of Cape Town is proposing.
Cape Town march against proposed water tariffs
During her budget speech in March, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille announced a rise in water tariffs to deal with the water crisis in Cape Town. With Day Zero being moved to next year, the City is adamant that the tariffs will ensure that they deliver the services at the required level.
Water restrictions continue in Queenstown despite full dams
Despite the recent statistics about dam levels in the area, the Chris Hani District Municipality says that Bonkolo dam is at 10% and this is the reason for water cut-offs in Queenstown. Recent dam statistics from the Department of Water and Sanitation state that Waterdown dam which is about 33km from Queenstown and Xonxa dam which is 22km away are at 83,4% and 100,9% respectively.
Khayelitsha residents demand justice for slain leaders
Zwelethu Occupation Movement from Khayelitsha picketed outside provincial police headquarters demanding justice for murdered leaders.
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