These are just some of the regressive proposals in the Refugees Amendment Bill. We only have until this Friday to make public submissions to tell Home Affairs to scrap the aspects of the Bill that deny refugees' basic human rights. Advocacy groups such as Lawyers for Human Rights have already pointed out that the Refugees Amendment Bill is at odds with our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international conventions. Read more about this issue here: https://africacheck.org/factsheets/refugee-amendment-bill http://www.lhr.org.za/policy/lawyers-human-rights-submission-refugees-amendment-bill

Mzansi is a grossly unequal society. The government's efforts at addressing these inequalities leaves much to be desired. "The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future." Oliver Tambo

Syferbult is a very impoverished community of over a 1000 people living in shacks. About a hundred of the adults get seasonal work, from two to four months of the year; the rest make do on whatever grants they can access. Despite a contractor putting in taps and pipes that function, fgor years the community has received slightly erratic tanker water. In September, they received nothing for three full weeks. Since then they have received approximately four tankers (enough for drinking water for four days) and the water has run in the taps twice for about 45 minutes (without any warning or notification). The councillor for Ward 36 claims this is because they owe Eskom R6000; I've also been told the water can't be pumped because of: cable theft; problems with the diesel generator; a circuit breaker malfunctioning; and the township has not been formalised (if so, why was infrastucture contracted and put in place?) On 18 October, the thirsty, dusty and dirty community finally exploded and marched in protest. They were met with rubber bullets and tear gas - one person was injured, thankfully not seriously. And still the children, the sick, the elderly are thirsty - so thirsty that when we arrive with bakkie-loads of water, they run and jump on the back of the moving vehicle, unable to hold back, desperate for the precious fluid. This is unconstitutional. "The right of access to sufficient water is accorded to everyone in s 27(1)(b) of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water. Section 27(2) requires the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right." Syferbult is not alone in this plight. I have heard of at least six other communities in Rustenburg area with the same problem. Yet phoning, emailing, attending meetings , buttonholing the councillor.... nothing works. Please spread this far and wide.

Our children have missed the academic year because of the hide and seek the government officials do, the ruling party had promised that we would have Free Quality Education in South Africa to close the gap between the previous disadvantage and the advantage group.

Leigh Ann Naidoo put her personal safety at risk in taking part in the Freedom Flotilla initiative: she did so in order to draw attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip and in an attempt to deliver hope to this beleaguered population. Leigh Ann, with the rest of the crew, was effectively kidnapped by Israeli forces. Despite ongoing appeals to the embassy to provide consular assistance Mr Sisa Ngombane claimed - until the very day of her release (negotiated by lawyers) - to be unaware that she was in detention. This dereliction of duty left a courageous South African activist vulnerable to the whims of a military force that routinely maltreats, humiliates and tortures prisoners. Such negligence was only aggravated by Mr Ngombane's behaviour at Leigh Ann Naidoo's Press Conference where instead of condemning the illegal interception of the Zaytouna-Oliva, the kidnapping of the activists and the inhumane siege on Gaza, Mr Ngombane decided to discuss the three teenagers kidnapped in The West Bank in 2014. The kidnapping and subsequent murder of these teenagers was notoriously used by Israel to justify its attack on Gaza - an attack which led to the death of over 2000 Palestinian civilians, 550 of whom were children. While the government PROCLAIMS its support for the Palestinian people, it will obviously ACT in a manner that works to perpetuate their suffering if those in positions of power privately sympathise with Israeli abuses. For the government to be consistent with its own policies, as well as with the will of the majority of South Africans who hold - as Mandela did - that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians, we ask for Mr Ngombane to be recalled.

UCT management has made it clear that they plan to resume full university functions on Monday 3rd October through the use of extensive private security. Heavy private security has been deployed at other South African universities with serious implications for the safety of students and staff alike. The state’s recent zero tolerance directive to the police force with regard to student protesters shows an increased willingness to use violence to resolve disputes. However there is no strong evidence that increased security will protect students or prevent the destruction of property. In fact experiences over the last year and on other campuses have shown increased security presence escalates tensions and is more likely to lead to violence than to mitigate it. Despite management’s multiple communiques regarding engagements with different stakeholders, a transparent negotiation process between management and protesting students only began in earnest as of this Friday, 30th September. Without a genuine commitment to engaging with tangible outcomes, there is substantial basis to concerns that the opening of campus on Monday 3rd October will dissolve the urgency to deal with issues of fees, interdicts and institutional culture. #NotInOurNameUCT #DenouncePrivateSecurity #EndTheImpasse Ways to show support: We ask that people sign and share the petition in support. For tutor groups, teaching or lab assistants and other students or staff involved in the running of the university, you could send emails to your students and faculties (to denounce use of private security, declare a stay-away or discontinuation of work until these issues are addressed, and pressure your faculty bodies to take a stance on this matter) For different interest groups at UCT, whether student societies or faculty bodies or other, public statements denouncing private security and calling for engagement.

Although there may be wide and reasonable disagreements with respect to both the goals and tactics of the student movement for free, quality and decolonised education, as well as the goals and tactics of university managements, the securitisation of campuses can never be an effective way of resolving differences. Such securitisation can and has already has caused bodily harm and trauma to protestors, by-standers, academics, support staff and security personnel themselves, while further exacerbating fear and mistrust, thereby polarising positions and undermining academic freedom. It is unreasonable and unsafe to expect students, academic staff and support staff to continue the academic project under these conditions. Moreover, it is antithetical to the pursuit of a negotiated solution that will enable the completion of the academic year successfully. Academics and concerned persons, please sign the petition with your name and affiliation.

This is important because the Chief Master of the High Court is supposed to push the transformation agenda at the Department of Justice so that Black Liquidators can be included to be appointed in all insolvency matters in this country. One cannot expect a person who is a racist or who has racist tendencies to be in charge of such an important position.

Amidst the violence at Wits University, Sarah Mokwebo, Hlengiwe Patricia Ndlovu and Lerato Motaung stripped during the protest at the main campus saying they were tired of being brutalised. The three women‚ faced the police with their hands crossed over their heads in an effort to stop the violence. Skhumba Hlope thereafter uploaded a video of himself body shaming the three women, making reference to "droopy breasts" also making fun of their stretch marks and bellies. While we completely support freedom of expression, Skhumba's comments are part of institutionalising the policing of women's bodies and reinforcing the idea that they exist for public consumption. By taking him off air until he publicly apologises, Kaya FM will be sending a firm signal to us all that the station does not endorse such views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTnmlENu_20 From past Israeli interceptions the possibility of a violent military attack as was experienced by the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010 is a reality. It is deplorable that despite the loss of lives resulting from Israel’s unlawful piracy in international waters, the Israeli regime has once again repeated its criminal conduct [1]. By the same token, it is inexcusable that the United Nations and its Security Council have failed to warn Israel not to proceed with its threat to attack the WBG. We as signatories are deeply concerned that these peaceful women activists on board the Zaytouna and their non-violent mission to break the illegal Israeli blockade, face such an unprovoked and unwarranted interception. The WBG is a solidarity mission to occupied Gaza and has no intention of entering Israel illegally. We find it unacceptable that despite these public threats by Israel, and notwithstanding the fact that one of the volunteers on board is a South African citizen, Leigh-Ann Naidoo former Olympian and activist, the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) remains silent. We therefore call on the SA Presidency to urgently take steps to ensure the safety of all the women on this mission, including Leigh-Ann Naidoo. It is imperative for the SA government to provide the necessary protection for its citizen. The WBG is an admirable effort by brave women from various countries to set sail across the Mediterranean to Gaza, in a peaceful attempt to break Israel’s illegal blockade. The international community, including the ANC-led government, must step in to prevent Israel from carrying out such crimes against humanity, crimes which it frequently commits with complete impunity. Names of women who were on the 'Women's Boat to Gaza':: Mairead Maguire, Ireland Marama Davidson, New Zealand Jeannette Escanilla, Sweden Samira Douaifia, Algeria Leigh-Ann Naidoo, South Africa Madeleine Habib, Australia Ann Wright, United States Hoda Rakhme, Russia Dr. Fauziah Hasan, Malaysia Mina Harballou, United Kingdom Sandra Barrilaro, Spain Synne Sofie Reksten, Norway Emma Ringqvist, Sweden [1] https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161005-breaking-reports-israel-stops-womens-boat-to-gaza/#.V_UYIKQSY61.twitter Women’s Boat to Gaza South Africa Palestine Solidarity Alliance Palestine Solidarity Campaign BDS South Africa South African Jews for a Free Palestine – SAJFP National Coalition 4 Palestine #NC4P Media Review Network – South Africa University of Johannesburg Palestine Solidarity Forum – UJ PSF Right2Know Campaign Palestine Solidarity Alliance Youth League MSA Union

This is in accordance with FREE decolonized education.

MEDIA RELEASE: New date agreed by the parties in the recognition of Muslim marriages class action Today, Monday 20 March 2017, the before Human Rights Day, a new date was agreed by the parties concerned for the recognition of Muslim marriages class action to heard by the High Court. The 28th August has been agreed. A directions hearing was convened by the High Court this morning after the Judge President ordered the consolidation of a further matter pending before the High Court which similarly highlights the plight of Muslim women. There are several matters that are pending at a number of courts across the country. This is testament to the fact that Muslim women are struggling to assert their rights because their Muslim marriages and the consequences arising therefrom are not legally recognised. They have no option but to plead their cases with the courts and the judiciary. Given the importance of the matter three judges have now been appointed to hear the matter. Namely; Judges S Desai, G Salie-Hlophe and NP Boqwana. This morning saw women come to the steps of the High Court from all over Cape Town to show solidarity and support for this matter. The lived reality of these women is that legal protection has been denied to them some 16 years after the Constitution came into force. This results in widespread oppression and gender discrimination in areas such as divorce, the duties of support, parental rights and responsibilities and inheritance. Press Release On Other Case Outcomes: http://www.wlce.co.za/images/press%20releases/WLC_Customary%20Marriages%20Act_Limpop%20ruling_020816%20press%20release.pdf Article: Are nikah and sindoor equal to wedding rings and lobola?: http://www.standup.co.za/bambanani-social-justice/resources/63-wlc-customary-marriages-case.html Also Read: http://www.polity.org.za/article/official-customary-law-and-the-disruption-of-patriarchal-power-the-case-of-msinga-2013-09-26