15 September 2017

First published by GroundUp

Amid protests that threaten to shut down the beleaguered town of Vuwani in Limpopo, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has slammed the Department of Basic Education for failing to put in place a contingency plan for students to be able to write their examinations.

15 September 2017

Pretoria - The basic education department hopes that it will be able to implement a catch-up plan that will help 1 600 matriculants affected by a shutdown in Vuwani, Limpopo, as final examinations loom.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 15 September 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) condemns the attack by police on a 14 year old boy during a violent protest in Hout Bay on 12 September 2017. This act contravenes the child’s right not to abused or maltreated as stated in Section 28 of the Constitution, and also violates his right to freedom and security of the person as per Section 12 of the Constitution. This action by the police is in contravention of children’s rights as guaranteed by international and regional human rights instruments such as the Convention on the Rights to the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

01 September 2017

Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, has been criticised for his plan to use “shock and awe” to remove undocumented immigrants from the Johannesburg city centre. Throughout Mashaba’s term in office, he has been accused of fuelling xenophobia by making unconstitutional statements about foreign nationals living in the city.

03 September 2017

The ANC has declined to lead a complaint of racism against Rajesh Gupta for allegedly referring to his employees as monkeys and causing them much distress.

03 September 2017

Cape Town - The owner of Brian’s Pub in Sea Point, where the display of an old South African flag led to an altercation, has taken the flag down and wants to meet the group of friends who took offence and were later jailed.

4 September 2017

Residents in the Mangaung Metro Municipality continue to suffer as a result of the backlog of municipal services.

This, as the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigations into the appalling state of water and sanitation in the province continue. Residents in Pellissier, Bloemfontein, have in the past week had to live with the stench of sewage flooding their yards. One of the residents, Armand Erwee, says they are experiencing a health hazard as sewage spillages, a lack of water and electricity supply is increasingly becoming the norm.

The Ekurhuleni Municipality is dodging accountability for the polluted Kaalspruit River, while the health and safety of children are at risk

4 September 2017

 In 2015 a concrete pedestrian bridge was built over the Kaalspruit.

WATER in the Kaalspruit could be dangerous to Tembisans as it contains unacceptable high levels of E.Coli.

According to Michael Waters MP, DA deputy chief whip in the National Assembly and Lethabong Constituency Head, the E.Coli levels are 345 times higher than the accepted levels due to sewage leaks.

The classrooms in question were built by the education department more than five years ago as a result of classroom shortages at the school

05 September 2017

THE DA has welcomed the investigation into asbestos classrooms at Chloorkop Primary School.

07 September 2017

Representative of the South African Human Rights Commission reportedly visited the Pelican Park branch of Shoprite last Monday.

The visit comes after seven workers were reportedly fired for accepting tips from customers (“Arrested Shoprite workers fired”, People’s Post, 29 August).