Cape Town to give an additional R10-million to shelters

Human Rights Commission urges city to move away from ‘us and them’ mentality when it comes to homelessness By Marecia Damons A report by the Human Rights Commission into homelessness in Cape Town found a lack of ablution facilities, clean water and homeless shelters for families. The report follows the City’s amended by-law that provides for compliance notices to be issued...

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Court slams City of Cape Town for barring access to homeless camp

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...

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Undocumented children win right to basic education

In a monumental ruling at the Makhanda high court, judges found it was unconstitutional to bar learners without birth certificates from receiving basic schooling. By Tania Broughton Thirty-seven children have changed the law for themselves and an estimated one million others in South Africa who have been deprived of an education because they are undocumented. In a ruling penned by Judge President...

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