There was no evidence to justify Judge Cassim Sardiwalla’s order, says court By Tania Broughton The Supreme Court of Appeal has set aside an order by the Pretoria High Court on the use of ivermectin for Covid patients. The High Court had made an order compelling the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to report back to the court every...

The short answer You can phone their hotline but you will probably have better luck if you get help from a non-government organisation. The whole question Dear Athalie I have been trying to get a birth certificate for my 5-year-old son since 2019 but Home Affairs still hasn't granted me an interview. Every time I go to the office to ask if there...

The municipality may have to forfeit the conditional grant due to underspending By Daniel Steyn The Amathole District Municipality (ADM) risks losing a R493-million conditional grant because it has failed to spend the first R100-million portion. The Municipal Infrastructure Grant was allocated to the municipality in July by the National Treasury. A large section of the Wild Coast runs through the district, including...

After a court battle lasting ten years, the new centre is set to open next year By Tariro Washinyira The long-awaited Cape Town Refugee Reception Centre in Epping is finally taking shape, with builders hard at work on the site of the new building. The office is due to be opened early next year after court battles which have lasted ten...

Empowerment project stumbles in Khayelitsha, showing the complexity of providing solutions to informal settlements By Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik Qandu Qandu informal settlement residents in Khayelitsha say they have feel duped by a project that pairs a solar energy company with the Umbane project led by professors at UCT and Exeter University. The participants say they cannot afford the monthly usage fees for...

The short answer Unfortunately, if the deceased has living siblings, you will not inherit. The whole question Dear Athalie My girlfriend, our child and I have been evicted from my late aunt's house by her younger sister who claims that the house belongs to her and her remaining siblings. But my aunt told us that when she passed everything she owned must go...

The court has put a stop to the seismic survey along the Wild Coast By Tania Broughton The High Court has ruled that the exploration rights granted to Impact Africa and Shell along the Wild Coast were unlawful. The judges said there was “no meaningful consultation” with interested and affected parties prior to the award of the right. The Minister of...

Research shows the grant can help end hunger and also contribute to economic growth By Carilee Osborne South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, with extremely high rates of poverty and unemployment. Large numbers of people are excluded from the economy without the means to ensure that their basic needs are met. Recently there has been a lot...

The short answer You can apply for a FLISP grant as part of the government's “Help-Me-Buy-a-Home” scheme The whole question Dear GroundUp I earn R9,000 a month. This means that I don't qualify for an RDP house, but I also can't get a home loan from the bank. I want my own house. What can I do? The long answer The objective of the Finance...

The short answer You could make a sworn affidavit explaining your circumstances, but you may need legal help. The whole question Dear Athalie How can my 19-year-old brother get a birth certificate when he has no proof of birth (he was born at home), his father's whereabouts are unknown, our late mother did not have an ID? My mother's death certificate is handwritten,...