Organisations analysed letters denying LGBTI applicants refugee status By Tariro Washinyira A report released on Thursday by several civil society organisations has found evidence that LGBT refugees are being denied asylum in South Africa despite being “eligible for protection under international and domestic law”. The authors of the report surveyed denial letters for 67 asylum applicants who had applied for asylum on the basis of...

Occupants agree to be surveyed by City and legal team By Liezl Human The Western Cape High Court has granted an order which will allow occupiers of the former Woodstock hospital to be surveyed about their identities and to determine how many occupants are living there. Housing activist group Reclaim the City has said that this application by the City of Cape Town...

Fire victims say they are likely to spend a second night outside because they don’t have material to rebuild their homes By Nokulunga Majola A woman died and a teenager sustained serious injuries during a fire that destroyed 49 shacks at Marikana informal settlement in Cato Manor on Sunday. The families say they are unable to rebuild their homes and will...

Demolition of structures and removal of land occupiers without a court order is unconstitutional, says advocate By Liezl Human The establishment and operation of the City of Cape Town’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit (ALIU) is unlawful, because it is mandated to demolish structures without needing a court order, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) argued in the Western Cape High Court last...

Freedom Under Law has accused CPS of under-reporting its profits by R800 million By Tania Broughton The Constitutional Court has ordered Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to furnish chartered accountants Rain with all the documents required to conduct a proper audit of the firm’s illegal contract for the payment of social grants on behalf of government. The court granted the order at the behest of Freedom...