AZAPO Takes Election Campaign To Streets of Kliptown

Sthembiso Sithole

Residents of the ANC run informal settlement complain of such toilets.

AZAPO has told Kliptown residents that their vote on the May 18 municipal elections should be a protest against the current leaders in their community.

The party promises to improve the poor service delivery by increasing job opportunities and providing adequate houses with running water and electricity. Kliptown, Soweto, is a squatter camp where many residents have complained of a lack of service delivery and inadequate housing without proper sanitation and electricity. On Freedom Day, 27 April, AZAPO leaders went on a campaign in the area.

First Time Voter Believes Political Party Promises Not Achievable

Sthembiso Sithole

Agriculture minister, Tina Joemat-Petterson
faced a tough crowd over the weekend.
Photo: http://www.mg.co.za/

South Africans are going to vote for their municipal leaders on May 18 and as usual around election time political parties are out in full force mobilising people to vote for them on the day. I qualify to vote for the first time this year and I must make my choices carefully so I have conducted my own research.

Adequate housing, running water and sanitation are always at the top of the agenda for the poor and promises to improve these are often made by those running to be elected.

Ahead of the elections South Africans have seen newspaper headlines such as: ‘SA’s poor fed up with waiting for houses services’ coupled with the wave of protests have been seen and heard from the media sources. In the Northern Cape one community walked out of a speech by agriculture minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, with residents saying they are tired of being spoken down to and thought this was their chance to have a conversation with the ANC minister.

National Press Club Supports SABC On Showing Police Brutality in Ficksburg

Media Statement By National Press Club

Visuals of police beating-up Ficksburg teacher,
Andries Tatane, shown on SABC1.

The National Press Club has come out in support of SABC TV News for screening footage of police attacking a protestor in Ficksburg in the Free State this week, that allegedly led to his death.

The SABC has been criticised by some for showing the “gruesome” material.

Club chairman Yusuf Abramjee congratulated the national broadcaster “for being bold, balanced and fair on this issue.

Bus Fare Not Affordable for the Poor

Paseka Menyau

Bus communters in Pretoria’s Soshanguve Township are not happy with the recent bus fare increase which they say they were never consulted about.

The Putco Bus Company raised fares by eight percent on 03 April 2011 as a result of the recent fuel price increase in South Africa. Meeting in the township's Block TT commuters, most of whom earn working class salaries, say much of their money goes towards transport.

Community Theatre at the Breytie

Ntombi: Produced by Thabiso Sihlali & Pumla Luthuli

After White Lies I Have to Regain my Boss' Trust in Internship

Ntokozo Mahlangu

White lies – we all tell them and we often tell ourselves that they are harmless whenever they are uttered. Is there such a thing as white lies though? It’s a question I am asking myself after a recent episode that has landed me into some deep, hot water. I often have to find ice-cubes at work to cool off the water just a little bit. Here is my story.

I am in a taxi, 40 minutes away from work when I receive a call from a colleague asking me how far I am from the venue we are to hold a meeting in. I proudly say I am five minutes away from the building. I don’t think of any problems this might cause as I will think of another story to tell should he call again. At this stage he must have been calling for what seemed to have been the tenth time – the first phone call came when I was fast asleep and it’s the call that woke me up.