GroundUp

08/09/2026

South African schools face an infrastructure backlog of R140-billion, according to Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.

In some rural areas schools are closing down because families are moving to cities.
In urban areas many schools face pressures on classroom space.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/two-years-into-her-tenure-gwarube-faces-a-r140-billion-school-infrastructure-crisis/ by Velani Ludidi

Learners are moving from rural to urban areas

08/09/2026

Villagers near Mthatha say a water scheme started in 2006 has never delivered water to them, even though taps were installed between 10 and 17 years ago.

Residents say at least four contractors have worked on the Buthongweni Water Supply Scheme.

The OR Tambo District Municipality says the project faced contractual, technical, electricity and community-related problems.

The municipality says the scheme is now operating on a rationing schedule, but GroundUp found dry taps. Villagers said they still rely on untreated water.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/this-water-project-started-20-years-ago-but-these-eastern-cape-villagers-taps-are-still-dry/ by Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Yamkela Ntshongwana

Eastern Cape villagers say at least four contractors have worked on the Buthongweni Water Supply Scheme

08/09/2026

Henk Boshoff, commissioner at the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) visited Bloekombos and Wallacedene at the beginning of the month to assess sanitation and waste services.

This is a year after his first inspection in the area, which followed complaints about recurring sewage blockages and poor waste management.

Boshoff pointed out that while there was some improvement, there was still sewage in the streets and uncollected litter.

The City said it is considering increasing the frequency of waste collections.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/one-year-later-human-rights-commission-finds-sewage-still-running-through-bloekombos/ by Vincent Lali

“We have seen people living in sewage, and that is not acceptable,” says Human Rights Commissioner after visit to Bloekombos and Wallacedene

08/09/2026

SANCA Thusong is contracted by the Gauteng Department of Social Development to provide out-patient substance use treatment and prevention for about R878,000 every three months.

The organisation went five months without any payment, but continued to operate regardless. Social workers have been buying fuel and airtime from their own pockets.

Staff members have not been paid their salaries. Many are behind on their rent and are unable to provide for their families.

On Monday, several days after GroundUp sent queries, the department processed payments, but for only two months.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/social-workers-left-destitute-by-gauteng-government/ by Seth Thorne

“Social work is all about care, but nobody cares for us,” says SANCA Thusong employee

08/09/2026

The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) kicked off national deaf awareness month with its annual silent walk on Saturday.

This was the 12th annual walk. The event aims to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing people. Participants who are not deaf received earplugs to wear as they walked the 5km route from Newlands to Rondebosch and back.

Read the full article on groundup.org.za

📰 &📹Mary-Anne Gontsana

08/09/2026

The repatriation and deportation of about 100,000 immigrants cost R341-million.

That’s enough to pay about 142 000 monthly old age grants.

Most of this money – R233-million – was spent on buses for people fleeing xenophobic violence and raids.

90,000 people were voluntarily repatriated, while 10,000 were deported.

Read the full article on groundup.org.za

🎤 Liezl Human
📹 GroundUp Staff

08/09/2026

The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) kicked off national deaf awareness month with its annual silent walk on Saturday.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/hundreds-walk-in-silence-to-launch-deaf-awareness-month/ by Mary-Anne Gontsana

People who can hear wore earplugs for the 5km route

08/09/2026

Hundreds of Ngcobo taxi operators met several local and national government officials in the council chambers of the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality on Monday afternoon.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/nogcobo-taxi-drivers-meet-government-to-resolve-impasse/ by Johnnie Isaac

On Monday afternoon, scores of taxis formed a long convoy through the town near the municipal offices. They have been striking since 18 August.

08/09/2026

The Lovedale Press printing house was established as a small printing press by the Glasgow Missionary Society in 1823.
Over the years, it was a vehicle for black authors to publish their work.

But the printing house is battling to keep its doors open and preserve its legacy.

Artists at Victory of the Word, in collaboration with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and others, are working to digitise and preserve this legacy.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/artists-are-reimagining-the-200-year-old-lovedale-press-while-saving-its-legacy/ by Alice Scott

The printing house is battling to keep its doors open

07/09/2026

An estimated 3,300 people are stuck in South African prisons because they cannot afford bail of R1,000 or less. They have not been convicted of a crime.

They are exposed to prison conditions for weeks or months.
The Bail Fund, supported by philanthropic funding, has launched a pilot project to pay small bail amounts for low-risk detainees.

Read https://groundup.org.za/article/prisoners-poverty-unaffordable-bail-amounts-keep-thousands-people-behind-bars/ by Liezl Human

Newly launched Bail Fund has assisted 154 people so far