President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the official election results announcement ceremony at the IEC National Results Center on 2 June. (Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images) The 2024 elections were declared free and fair on Sunday night, It was marked by a decreased voter turnout and significant challenges. There were notable shifts in political representation, with seven…
Green shoots — five new forests spring up in Cape Town
The first SUGi pocket forest in South Africa is the pilot forest in Philippi, located on the KT Grows Organics which is now two years and five months old.(Photo: Christian Helgi for Mzanzi Organics) Kristin Engel – 27 May 2024 New urban pocket forests have sprouted around Cape Town in Langa, Mitchells Plain, Bo-Kaap, Pinelands…
Salt River street art walk
From gigantic to tiny, political to pretty – the variety of murals is huge in Salt River. Home to the annual International Public Art Festival for five years 2017-2021 (I am one of their guides), new large murals are being commissioned by the Salt River Heritage Society. The area is full of history and is…
Imagining the Ordinary City: Arts, Placemaking and Everyday Urban Lives
28-29 October 2024, Centre for African Studies Gallery, University of Cape Town. The University of Cape Town is hosting a conference on the theme of ‘Imagining the Ordinary City’, which may be of interest to SAMA members. The Call for Papers is attached. The deadline for abstract submissions is 30 May 2024.
Blow for Woodstock social housing plan
The contested site in Earl Street, Woodstock, where the City of Cape Town planned to develop social housing is currently open space. Photo: Matthew Hirsch 15 May 2024 | By Matthew Hirsch Tribunal overturns Heritage Western Cape decision to allow development at the Earl Street site An independent tribunal last week overturned a Heritage Western…
Joburg artist drives pollution awareness by turning waste plastic into portraits
Mbongeni Buthelezi’s artwork titled ‘Jozi My Jozi’, for the pop-up exhibition, Trash to Art. The exhibition was co-created by over 500 Standard Bank employees and as part of the Jozi My Jozi initiative — a coalition of business, civil society organisations, and public sector stakeholders who want to see a revitalisation of the Johannesburg inner…
Long Street swimming pool is open for business
After nearly four months of maintenance and renovation work, Long Street swimming pool has reopened, ready to show off its enhanced interior and upgraded facilities. These enhancements include roof and cash office repairs, electrical compliance upgrades, and interior touch-ups like the painting of the foyer ceiling and external façade. While there is still some minor installation…
U-Turn’s ‘A Night on the Street’ campaign raises over half a million rand to fight homelessness
Winter is on our doorstep and homelessness is on the rise in South Africa. Picture: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers By Wendy Dondolo In a striking campaign designed to enhance public empathy and understanding for homelessness, U-turn, along with partners SMG BMW Constantia and various philanthropic organisations, hosted a successful event “Night on the Streets 2024”. The…
Cape Town protesters block busy road, demanding services
Families from the “Gate 7” informal settlement outside the Maitland Cemetery blocked Voortrekker Road in Cape Town on Wednesday morning. They want the City of Cape Town to install water, electricity and toilets. Photos: Ashraf Hendricks 22 May 2024 | By Ashraf Hendricks About 40 protesters from the “Gate 7” informal settlement outside the Maitland…
Everything you ever wanted to know about the NHI but were afraid to ask
(Image: Quicknews / Wikipedia) Rebecca Davis – 16 May 2024 The National Health Insurance Bill signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday is a notoriously complex piece of legislation which few people have actually read. We break it down. What is the NHI? The most important thing to note is that it is not a…