SJC Welcomes Significant Shift in Cape Town’s Sanitation Policy

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) welcomes a commitment from the Office of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille that janitorial services for sanitation facilities in informal settlements “should be considered for inclusion” in the planned Mayoral Special Jobs Creation Project. According to the Mayor, the R138 million project – announced on 29 September 2011[2] – will come in the form of “a community based operation and maintenance programme in historically neglected communities” which will include “cleaning, maintenance of services in informal settlements, maintenance of stormwater systems, and more”. If such a service is designed and implemented effectively, it will serve as a groundbreaking step towards ensuring that all people in Cape Town have their rights to basic sanitation progressively realized.

Protest For Justice & Safety In Khayelitsha

Lorna Mlofana (21) raped and murdered because she had HIV. Nandipha Makeke (18) raped and murdered. Makosomzi Rapele murdered. 7 schoolgirls raped. Children under age 7 raped. Matriculant stabbed to death. They were activists with the Treatment Action Campaign, Social Justice Coalition, Free Gender, Triangle Project and Equal Education Their families and comrades faced a criminal justice system crippled by numerous failures. Lost dockets, corruption, poor investigation, escaped suspects, the state not opposing bail for accused standing trial for serious crimes, mistreatment of victims, a failure to inform families of updates relating to their cases, years-long forensic backlogs and endless postponements that see cases taking years to be resolved

Public Protector Must Release Government Responses To Findings on SAPS Leasing Agreements

During February and July 2011, the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, issued two reports titled Against the Rules and Against the Rules Too, respectively.

These reports issued findings on the investigated alleged irregularities relating to the procurement and leasing of two buildings for new South African Police Service (SAPS) offices.

Both reports found that SAPS and the Department of Public Works (DPW) did not comply with, ‘Section 217 of the Constitution, the relevant provision of the PFMA, Treasury Regulations and supply chain management rules and policies’.

SJC To Host Cape Town Sanitation Summit

On Thursday 15 September 2011 The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) will host the inaugural Cape Town Sanitation Summit – an opportunity for NGOs, community representatives, activists, government representatives, technicians, academics, experts and other stakeholders to discuss joint plans to improve access to clean and safe sanitation facilities in Cape Town’s informal settlements.

Zoliswa Nkonyana Murder Trial Set To Conclude After Five Years

JOINT STATEMENT: Social Justice Coalition, Treatment Action Campaign, Free Gender, Triangle Project and Sonke Gender Justice.

On 4 February 2006, Zoliswa Nkonyana was brutally murdered in Khayeltisha, Cape Town. A group of young men stabbed, clubbed, kicked and beat her to death. Zoliswa was 19 years old and lived openly as a lesbian. For this, she lost her life. She died only metres from her home.

SJC Meets with Mayor of Cape Town to Discuss Access to and Quality of Sanitation in Informal Settlements

On 7 July 2011, a delegation from the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) met with Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille and officials from departments including Water and Sanitation, Housing, Development Services, Electricity, Solid Waste Management and Utilities. The SJC’s delegation was joined by Reverend Suzanne Peterson, who represented Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum (WCRLF); and Professor Maurice Kibel, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at University of Cape Town.

SJC and ISS Call for Urgent Investigation of Public Protector’s Findings and Alleged Police Misconduct

Reports in yesterday’s press have indicated that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a warrant of arrest for Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, on charges of corruption and fraud. The allegations regard events in 2008, when she worked at the South African Law Reform Council (SALRC). Madonsela has denied the allegations.

The warrant of arrest comes at a time when the Pubic Protector was finalising her second report, the first of which implicated SAPS National Commissioner Bheki Cele and Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde in engaging in unlawful, improper conduct that violates South Africa’s laws and Constitution relating to procurement, tenders and leasing of premises for the police worth R500 million.