ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP On Tuesday, the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, was due to hear a case about the provision of water to five rural village communities in Limpopo. But because of delays from the legal team of Sekhukhune Municipality, the case will now be heard on Thursday. Judge Hans-Joachim Fabricius described the conduct … Continue reading “Mayor should go to jail” over water failures – Judge describes Limpopo municipality as “disgraceful”
Journalism
Schools stage drama festival in Hillbrow
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP Nearly 600 learners from 39 schools across Gauteng participated in the 13th annual Inner-City Schools Play Festival last week. The schools from Johannesburg, the Vaal region and Ekurhuleni competed in the week-long festival hosted by the Hillbrow Theatre Project, making it the largest in the festival’s history. Plays were performed in … Continue reading Schools stage drama festival in Hillbrow
Schaumberg residents protest against years of state neglect
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP On Friday, about 3,500 residents from Schaumberg informal settlement near Hekpoort in the North West marched to demand services – especially water, but also sanitation and refuse removal. They also want schools for their children. The march started from the community centre and ended at a local sand quarrying mine called Quarry Quip, … Continue reading Schaumberg residents protest against years of state neglect
School governing body members accuse Mohlakeng principal of maladministration
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON GROUNDUP.ORG.ZA Tswelelo primary school is a no-fee school situated in Mohlakeng, west of Johannesburg. Members of the Tswelelo school governing body (SGB) believe that the principal, Mxolisi Sibisi, mismanaged the school’s finances and feeding scheme. They say that the learners have been suffering because there often isn’t enough food for them at … Continue reading School governing body members accuse Mohlakeng principal of maladministration
“No-fee” school charges parents R207 a year
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [subtitle] Crisis brewing: evidence suggests the problem is widespread [byline] Julia Chaskalson Umtapho High School is a no-fee school in the north of Durban that forces parents to pay fees every year. The fees charged to parents are R160 for maintenance, R35 for a new student card and R12 per registration … Continue reading “No-fee” school charges parents R207 a year
The no-fee school where parents had to pay fees
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [subtitle] Long history of corruption at primary school in Gauteng [byline] Julia Chaskalson Mpumelelo Primary school in Midrand, Gauteng, is a no-fee school. But in 2007, whistleblowers approached Corruption Watch to report that the principal was forcing the parents of the more than 1,800 learners, all of whom are from the … Continue reading The no-fee school where parents had to pay fees
New union federation launched
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [subtitle] SA Federation of Trade Unions tackles issue of worker control [byline] Julia Chaskalson Nearly 700,000 workers from 24 trade unions have joined together to form a new trade union federation. The new federation, named the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), held its inaugural congress in Boksburg on Friday. … Continue reading New union federation launched
No “blank cheque” for Cash Paymaster Services, says Court
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [subtitle] Constitutional Court hears Black Sash case on social grants [byline] Julia Chaskalson The Constitutional Court will not write Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) a “blank cheque” to pay out social grants to 17 million beneficiaries, lawyers for CPS were told today. Judge Phineas Mojapelo said the Court would not authorise a … Continue reading No “blank cheque” for Cash Paymaster Services, says Court
Corruption in schools: principals identified as the main culprits
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [subtitle] Corruption Watch report on 1,400 cases of corruption in schools [byline] Julia Chaskalson Principals are the main culprits in corruption at schools, according to complaints collected by Corruption Watch. In its 2016 annual report, Corruption Watch noted that more than a quarter of the cases of corruption referred to it … Continue reading Corruption in schools: principals identified as the main culprits
Mashaba has incited xenophobia, says immigrants’ spokesperson
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GROUNDUP [SUBTITLE] African Diaspora Forum tried in vain to meet organisers of anti-immigrant march [BYLINE] Julia Chaskalson African Diaspora Forum spokesperson, Emeka Johnson believes Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, has incited the ongoing violence against immigrants in Gauteng Province. Mashaba was quoted saying “[Illegal immigrants] are holding our country to ransom and I … Continue reading Mashaba has incited xenophobia, says immigrants’ spokesperson
CHASKALDAUGHTER 