Mother City News

The National Film and Video Foundation has had six CEOs in two-and-a-half years

• At a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee meeting last week questions were raised about the procedures involved in appointing the current NFVF board and acting CEOs.
• Department of Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was accused by MPs of destabilising the NFVF for political ends.

MPs are not convinced enough is being done

SANParks CEO Hapiloe Sello says resources are being allocated to fight crime on Table Mountain, but she acknowledged that it may not be enough.

Sello was briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on Tuesday.… Read more

Settlement reached between the municipality and the Western Cape Network on Disability

By Tania Broughton and Mary-Anne Gontsana

The City of Cape Town has paused its plans to significantly cut back on its Dial-a-Ride service for disabled people.

The municipality reached a settlement agreement with the Western Cape Network on Disability on Friday, which was made an order of court by Acting Judge Wallis Roux.… Read more

Western Cape Network on Disability is challenging the cuts in court

On Thursday morning, disability activists disrupted an Urban Mobility Portfolio Committee meeting at the Civic Centre over planned cuts to the City of Cape Town’s Dial-a-Ride service.

Among them were users of the transport service and representatives from Disability Revolution, QuadPara Association of South Africa, and #UniteBehind.… Read more

Department of Public Works and Ndifuna Ukwazi square off in court

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

Families facing eviction from 104 Darling Street – named Irene Grootboom House by some of its residents – are awaiting judgment from the Western Cape High Court.… Read more

Work has been disrupted and more than 1,250 people still live on the tracks

Trains to Mitchells Plain on the Central Line have not been operational for six years, and several stations on the line remain closed.

The delay in reviving train services has left Mitchells Plain commuters reliant on alternative means of transport.… Read more

City says it has to introduce cuts due to budget constraints

By Mary-Anne Gontsana/GroundUp

Disability organisations held a picket outside the Cape Town Civic Centre on Monday against the City of Cape Town’s planned cuts to the Dial-a-Ride service.

The City announced earlier this month that from 8 September, the transport service will only be available for wheelchair users and people with severe walking impairments.… Read more

237 Social housing units planned

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

The Cape Town City Council has approved the sale of the “Fruit and Veg” site in the city centre adjacent to Roeland Street for social housing.

This comes eight years after municipal land between Kent and Bloemhof Streets on the border of District Six was first earmarked for affordable housing.… Read more

There is nothing random about what Israel is doing,” says Palestinian journalist.

Hundreds of people, including many journalists, marched on the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town on Sunday, protesting against Israel’s killing of journalists.

This comes after Israel killed six media workers at the al-Shifa hospital precinct in Gaza City on 10 August.… Read more