Freed activists vow to hold the state to account
Members of Abahlali baseMjondolo arrested and in some cases held for six months plan to launch a civil suit against the state for unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
Stories by: Nomfundo Xolo
Wrongfully accused Abahlali three set free at last
The shack dwellers’ movement says it feels vindicated that the case against three of its members has been dropped, but warns it remains under siege by the state.
Community at the heart of hunger struggle in SA
Communal gardens and farming enterprises are the beginning of sustainable food sovereignty in South Africa, but a basic income grant is essential to address hunger in the shorter term.
Long Read | Past and present push Phoenix over edge
Decades-old unresolved racial tensions fuelled anew by the killings in Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal are threatening a fragile relationship between the township and its neighbours.
‘I don’t want food parcels, I want justice’
The family members of loved ones killed by vigilantes in Phoenix, north of Durban, during the week of unrest are demanding justice as they bury their relatives.
‘Are we meant to struggle until we die?’
Without the caregiver top-up and the social relief of distress grants to soften Covid-19’s economic blow, impoverished households, especially those headed by women, are floundering.
Overwhelming support for activists released on bail
The arrest of Abahlali baseMjondolo members on ‘trumped-up charges’ generated significant national and global support for the movement.
Egudwini residents live in water limbo
Water is a scarce and often unaffordable commodity for rural communities on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. They feel deeply neglected by uncaring councillors who never respond to their pleas.
The herbal remedy in the city of Durban
Warwick Junction’s herb traders and market sellers are calling for more support and dignified work spaces from the eThekwini municipality.
‘How am I free if I still go to bed hungry?’
The triple threat of inequality, poverty and unemployment means more than 18 million South Africans depend on social grants to feed their families, try to find work and travel for healthcare.
Engen explosion latest in line of grievances
Environmental activists and residents in South Durban have long been asking for stricter environmental policies to clear the polluted air they breathe every day.
Lake fishers fight to maintain subsistence catch
Small-scale fishers in northern KwaZulu-Natal are demanding justice from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority after rangers allegedly shot and killed a resident who was fishing in St Lucia Lake.
Mining brings death and division to KwaZulu-Natal
The proposed expansion of Somkhele anthracite mine has pitted residents against each other, with those against it stunned into silence after the murder of Fikile Ntshangase.
Migrant street traders worse off after lockdown
In Durban, migrant street traders struggling to recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic face municipal red tape and hostile policing.
Breathless between Covid-19 and pollution
Residents in South Durban fear they will more easily succumb to the virus because of being chronically exposed to deadly fumes emitted by the surrounding oil and gas refineries.
Zandile Gumede’s appointment disregards the public interest
In the face of popular outrage, the ANC says its ‘woman-empowering decision’ to deploy the former eThekwini mayor facing charges of corruption is to maintain stability ahead of local elections in 2021.
eKhenana residents are tilling for freedom
Residents of a land occupation in eThekwini are working to produce their own food. They are also getting into class to empower themselves with knowledge.
‘We cannot celebrate Youth Month’
Young activists in KwaZulu-Natal are stepping up in the face of intimidation and hostility to advocate around issues ranging from women’s rights to HIV and Aids, economic inequality and albinism.
Lockdown threat to KZN small-scale fishers
The struggles of fisherfolk in KwaZulu-Natal have worsened during the Covid-19 lockdown and while they have been allowed to return to the pier, they say it has been difficult to gain access.
Merciless evictions continue in Durban
Deaf to the desperate pleas of Ekuphumeleleni residents, the eThekwini municipality continues to demolish their shacks as the Covid-19 lockdown takes other terrible tolls.
Women’s hostel dwellers want housing
Residents at Thokoza Women’s Hostel, who earn a living through street trading, say better living conditions could improve their small businesses and keep their children safe.