Programme News

30 January 2015
(News)
An Indian company this week declared its intention to mine in a critical water catchment area in Mpumalanga, just one year after the area was proclaimed a protected area. Atha-Africa Ventures called a meeting with landowners in the Mabola protected environment, where the company claims to have a right to mine coal. Mabola is one of five important water sources in Mpumalanga that were proclaimed...
21 January 2015
(News)
Mokopane, Limpopo, is a town on the brink. It’s on the brink of complete political meltdown, after years of factional fighting over corruption among municipal leaders. It could also be on the brink of a newfound prosperity, with a major platinum mine being built on its outskirts – on land previously used for small-scale subsistence farming. Some locals say they weren’t consulted...
13 January 2015
(News)
Raesetsa Makgabo was paid 5,250 South African rand (about $450 U.S.) to allow a Canadian mining company to begin drilling on her maize fields. The two men took the cash from an envelope, counted it carefully and spread it on the table in front of Raesetsa Makgabo in her village home. It was exactly R5,250. She says she remembers vividly what the men said next: They told her to take the money...
15 July 2014
(News)
  The controversial Red Ants Security Services will now have to give 48 hours notice before undertaking evictions, as well as check the validity of court orders authorising the removal of residents from informal settlements. This is according to Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo, who signed a memorandum of understanding with the private security services provider on Monday. The...
21 May 2014
(Press release)
Featuring:   Gloria Bosman, Paul Hanmer (piano), Sydney Mavundla (trumpet), Mthunzi Mvubu (sax), Bernice Boikanyo (drums) and Thembinkosi Mavimbela (bass), plus eminent poets South African platinum mine workers have been on strike for 4 months with no pay. The bosses and companies have been intransigent.  We are living in a society where our CEO 's are the 3rd highest paid in the...
5 February 2014
(News)
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) wilfully acted in contempt of a court order when it refused to re-admit students evicted from their residences, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled on Tuesday. Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), for the students, on Saturday obtained an urgent court order to force TUT to allow students back into residences. They returned to court this week with a...
3 February 2014
(News)
Boosted by a weekend interdict allowing Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) hostel residents back on campus, student leaders say they will proceed with a mass protest on Monday. Late on Sunday, some residence students remained uncertain about their position and when they would be able to return to their rooms. Many in Soshanguve had taken shelter in the Falala Community Hall in block F. Cecil...
3 February 2014
(Press release)
  Lawyers for Human Rights is concerned by the Tshwane University of Technology’s wilful contempt of an urgent court order allowing students to return to their residences. The North Gauteng High Court on Saturday issued an urgent order allowing students who had been evicted from their residences at TUT to return to their residences. The university acknowledged the ruling through media...
10 January 2014
(News)
Government has acknowledged its failures in its land reform programme, particularly in providing support to successful claimants. Chief Land Claims Commissioner Nomfundo Gobodo said the keyword going forward will be sustainability. In what could pave the way for other land reform cases, a controversial land claim was settled in Mpumalanga on Thursday. Government paid about R1-billion for...
7 December 2013
(News)
Nelson Mandela’s qualities as a leader who truly served his people and remained humble are the most important lessons to be learnt from his life, law firm Routledge Modise’s chairman, Lavery Modise, said on Friday. "He brought out the best of what is expected in a leader. I cannot think of a better example. It will be a hard act to follow, but we should all try to emulate him,...