Bread price hikes hit the poor hardest
The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU, has accused food companies of exploiting the poor by increasing bread prices at a time when the cost of wheat has come down.
Walking Bus protects pupils from gangs
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
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.
#Police brutality at University campuses across the country
As university students across the country intensify their demand for free education under the banner of #FeesMustFall, their cause has not been peaceful with incidents of violence being widely reported. Those who are sympathetic are getting worried that the violence associated with the students’ protests is sabotaging their legitimate claim which is in line with the Freedom Charter that there shall be free and compulsory education.
Luvo Manyonga: “Mommy I did it!”
It is two days after Luvo Manyonga came second place and won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. The streets of Mbekweni have come alive as locals celebrate the pride of the Paarl community, carrying posters expressing their joy for Luvo’s achievement. A school band from Desmond Tutu Senior Secondary school, Luvo’s alma mater, is playing while locals dance through the streets.
Things were looking up for Team South Africa when Manyonga took the lead with his fourth attempt when he jumped 8.28m, and then when he bettered that to 8.37m with his fifth attempt. The American Jeff Henderson took gold with his final effort of the night – an 8.38m effort.
1 in 4 women in the Platinum belt have been raped
A recent report by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has revealed that 1 in 4 women have been raped in Rustenburg.
This, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) means that around 11,000 women and girls in Rustenburg are raped each year. The report states that 95% of rape survivors have never told a health professional of the incident, and only half of those surveyed knew that HIV could be prevented after being raped. According to MSF Epidemiologist Sarah-Jane Steele, the findings show that rape is not only highly prevalent in the Rustenburg municipality, but that opportunities to reduce the more serious health impacts of rape are being missed.
ANC members tell Kgalema Motlanthe: Remove corrupt councillors
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
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).
Abattoir workers win unfair dismissal case on appeal
Robertson Abattoir workers have successfully appealed a Labour Court judgment in their case of unfair dismissal.
The Labour Court’s ruling against the workers last year was set aside recently by the Labour Appeal Court and the workers’ case will now be sent back to that court.
Water bill arrears shock for pre-paid electricity buyers
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
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
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.
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