Nov
21
2022
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...
Jun
06
2022
Payments delayed by means testing processes
By Marecia Damons
Payments for the new cycle of the Covid R350-a-month grant will be made from mid-June, according to deputy director-general of the Department of Social Development Brenda Sibeko.
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, introduced in May 2020, was due to come to an end in March 2022 but was extended in February this year to...
Jan
26
2022
Following a meeting with organisations last week, the presidency acknowledged the impact the grant has had in reducing poverty and hunger
By Masego Mafata
Civil society organisations met the President and relevant Ministers to plead for the R350 Covid Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to be extended beyond the state of disaster.
They want the president to set up a...
Oct
08
2021
Asylum application backlog set to grow, with Refugee Reception Offices closed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic
By Tariro Washinyira
Refugees who arrived in South Africa after March 2020 have had no way to apply for asylum status.
Accumulating new applications will put further pressure on attempts to clear an already huge backlog of asylum claims.
A UNHCR-funded joint project...
Aug
25
2021
Covid-19 triggered a plan to move families from overcrowded Dunoon informal settlements, but more than a year later, they’re still there
By Peter Luhanga
The Racing Park Developers’ Association wants to overturn the sale of industrial land to the Western Cape Human Settlements Department.
The association has already unsuccessfully appealed against the rezoning of the land for mixed-use housing of 1,500...
Jul
05
2021
Minister Motshekga and eight provincial education MECs in contempt of court, says NGO
By Tania Broughton
Millions of children depend on the national school feeding scheme for a daily meal, but a significant number of them are not getting fed.
Last year, the court ordered the education authorities to develop practical plans to rectify this situation and to report back to...
Jun
28
2021
“It is untenable that the poorest and most vulnerable children should have to foot the bill for budget reallocations” says Katharine Hall
By Liezl Human
Children’s Institute is asking Parliament to increase the Child Support Grant by at least R10 in October.
The organisation says the current grant amount of R460 is too little to cover the cost of minimum basic...
May
07
2021
Dozens of farm workers complain of difficulties accessing UIF during Covid-19 lockdown
By Liezl Human
Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has promised that inspectors will soon be visiting farms where workers’ rights are being violated.
He was responding to dozens of complaints by farm workers in the Western Cape attending an indaba.
The event was hosted by Women on Farms.
Labour department inspectors...
Mar
17
2021
Judge Desai found that South African Human Rights Commission monitors trying to enter the site were acting lawfully
By James Stent
The Western Cape High Court has criticised the City of Cape Town for its treatment of human rights monitors at its camp for homeless people in Strandfontein.
The court also dismissed interdicts granted to the City last year which prevented...
Feb
22
2021
“Government appears to be leveraging the pandemic to suppress dissent”
By Stanley Malematja
This month, the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) published updated regulations with amendments to the December and January adjusted alert level three lockdown.
A number of measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 were relaxed, including bans on gatherings at faith-based institutions. Yet, there have been...