Lee-Yandra Paulsen

As winter conditions worsen across Cape Town, non-profit organisation Souper Troopers is appealing to the public to support its Winter Drive 2026, aimed at assisting vulnerable people living on the streets. The organisation is collecting blankets, warm clothing, toiletries, shoes, and non-perishable food items to help those facing harsh weather conditions and homelessness. Founded in 2014, Souper Troopers has become known for its outreach programmes focused on restoring dignity and […]

South Africa’s labour market is facing mounting pressure as the country’s growing working-age population continues to outpace employment opportunities. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows that the official unemployment rate has increased to 32.7%, leaving more than eight million South Africans without work. At the same time, the country’s working-age population has now surpassed 42 million people. Professor of Economics at the University of Cape Town and Director of […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will urgently seek a review of the Section 89 independent panel report following last week’s Constitutional Court ruling that Parliament acted unlawfully when it rejected the report in 2022 over the Phala Phala scandal. The independent panel found that Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office in relation to the theft of foreign currency from his Limpopo farm. However, the President maintains that the […]

Child protection advocates are calling for urgent amendments to South Africa’s Children’s Act following two baby abandonment cases reported just 48 hours apart on the Cape Flats. The incidents have renewed concern about baby dumping and the lack of safe, legal alternatives for mothers and girls in crisis, exposing ongoing gaps in the country’s child protection system. Sandy Immelman, founder of Helderberg Baby Saver and a board member of Baby […]

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) says it strongly opposes what it describes as attempts by “big capital and right-wing elements” to delay the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. The Constitutional Court is currently hearing a challenge brought by the Board of Healthcare Funders and the Western Cape government, which questions whether the public consultation process on the Act met constitutional requirements. NEHAWU says […]

The taxi industry in the Western Cape is warning of possible fare increases as fuel prices continue to rise, placing mounting pressure on operators. Industry bodies say the sustained hikes are making it increasingly difficult for taxi owners and drivers to remain financially viable, despite efforts to shield commuters already burdened by the high cost of living. Chairperson of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association, Nkululeko Sityebi, said the impact has […]

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), established to “advance economic development, social justice, labour peace, and the democratisation of the workplace,” is facing mounting pressure due to ongoing budget cuts and underfunding. These constraints have resulted in a growing caseload and significant backlogs, delaying the scheduling of hearings and limiting access to justice for vulnerable workers. This was the focus of a discussion and protest hosted by the […]

The Department of Basic Education has defended its textbook screening process, insisting it is not a tender system, amid concerns over possible procurement irregularities. This follows a request by Minister Siviwe Gwarube for the National Treasury to investigate the process involving foundation phase textbooks. According to reports, Lighthouse Publishers was registered just three days after the terms of reference were issued, yet secured 26% of approvals, with a potential value […]