After an 18 Year Wait for Houses Residents Build Shacks by Force

Sthembiso Sithole

Soshanguve residents without government subsidised houses are calling for their councillors to step down as they say they haven’t fulfilled any of the promises made before elections. They say they had been promised houses but this hasn’t happened and as a result about 100 families have decided to build their own shacks rather than sit and wait for the people tasked with assisting them. Some even accuse those in power of selling these free houses to foreign nationals – an accusation that has been the cause of many alleged xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

“The current elected councillors are misrepresenting us. That is why I call for Soshanguve to unset (Simon) Maratula,” says one of the residents.

Refugee Aid Organisation Does Good Beyond Mandela Day

Paseka Menyau

While many celebrities and other public figures were trying to convince us that they do good when they only did it for just an hour and seven minutes on 18 July every year, there is an organisation that does this every single day without even boasting about it. Johannesburg’s Refugee Aid Organisation also did its bit for Mandela day on the former statesman’s birthday and didn’t even shout about it.

RAO employess took 19 refugee children from the Troyeville Junior Primary School in Johannesburg to the Apartheid Museum so they could learn about the history of South Africa, the challenges South Africans came across and the sacrifices made to achieve freedom.

SA TV News Needs an Independent African Agenda

The e-News Channel is South Africa's only television news channel.

While the media is following the finances of Julius Malema with the Democratic Alliance urging the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, to investigate the leader of the ANC youth league – there are those with a view that South African political journalists are becoming lazy and following each other like sheep on their reports. Those views are being shared on social networks.

Sowetan Entertainers Doing it for the Love

Sthembiso Sithole

Sowetan, Bonginkosi Madondo, says he is driven by the love of art, African culture and traditions and as a result has participated in various theatre productions such as Amasiko and Devil Protest. He started performing at the Positive Art Society in Phiri Hall in the township in 2003. Through the legacy of the late Thembinkosi Nkabinde who was the founder of the group, Bonginkosi has taken over the initiative.

“Art is something for us performers to tell those untold stories. It heals spiritually,” says Bonginkosi.

The 29 year old who is also gumboot dancer and choreographer believes that one can make a living out of art.

Give Us Free Clothes & We'll Do Mandela Day For You!

Mandela Day is a call to action for people to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time, just as Nelson Mandela did.


In November 2009 the United Nations declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day and for the last two years has been marked with acts of goodwill in communities throughout the world.

In the Pretoria area, Journ’Tau is teaming up with the biggest campus radio station, TUT 99,2FM, for Mandela Day. You can participate in the 67 minutes for Mandela day by donating clothes and blankets at the station in Soshanguve TUT south campus. We will then take all the donations to the HOPE CHILDREN’S  CENTRE in Soshanguve.

Chiawelo Residents Meet to Demand the Release of those Arrested

Sthembiso Sithole

Chiawelo residents are demanding the release of those arrested for the burning down of a former councillor’s house and the attack of the new councillor’s car and on Friday they protested outside court where those arrested earlier in the week were appearing. They say the case should not have been postponed.


On Wednesday evening there was an emergency meeting in the township where their way forward was discussed.

Chiawelo Residents Not Backing Down

Sthembiso Sithole

Chiawelo residents are still refusing to back down from their demands of cheaper electricity tariffs despite five community members including two minors over the burning down of the former councillor’s house earlier this week.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa lambasted the community when he visited with Police Commissioner Bheki Cele. As they arrived in their lavish cars, journalists and residents were waiting on Nefefe Street outside the house of ward 12 councillor Johannes Nemaungani.

Scorpions Showboating Sees Them Represent SA in International Street Football Tournament

The Scorpions from Soweto have won the five-a-side football competition known as the Kia Champ into the Arena Tournament and will be representing South Africa in the international street football competition to take place between 22 and 25 July in Argentina. The team with much showboating skill beat last year’s winners and South African representatives, Randburg Spurs, 5-1.

The margin between the two sides was only a goal difference at half time but the Scorpions proved too strong for Randburg during the second half. The match between the two sides showed much skill and shibobo that South African street football is known for despite being a one-sided affair.