Constitutional Court rules Cape Town government perpetuates spatial apartheid, orders housing action
via The Namibian6 min read
The Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled that the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape provincial government are responsible for perpetuating spatial apartheid. This judgment, delivered on July 2, follows a decade-long legal battle initiated by activists and human rights lawyers. The court emphasized that the distribution of resources must actively dismantle historical inequalities, specifically requiring the provision of affordable housing in areas like the Cape Town CBD and the historically white suburb of Sea Point. The case originated from the 2016 sale of the Tafelberg Remedial School site in Sea Point, which activists argued should have been used for affordable housing for workers commuting from the Cape Flats. The ruling overturns previous appeals and mandates that both the provincial government and the City of Cape Town report within three months on their housing pipelines and budgets, addressing their failure to implement social housing programs in well-located areas.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
The One Economy Foundation has introduced the iBreakFree sexual and reproductive health SRH web application, designed to enhance young people's access to health information, self-screening tools, and healthcare service referrals. According to spokesperson Paulina Moses, the platform, developed under the iBreakFree Project with Global Fund support via the Ministry of Health and Social Services, offers information on HIV-AIDS prevention, family planning, mental health, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual and gender-based violence. It also provides private self-screening tools for HIV, STIs, and gender-based violence, alongside referrals to healthcare services and online support. To assist young people without internet access or smart devices, the foundation has established two SRH digital hubs at the Eenhana Multi-Purpose Youth Centre in the Ohangwena region and the Outapi Multi-Purpose Youth Centre in the Omusati region. The platform is intended for individuals aged 13 to 35 as a reliable source for SRH information and support.
Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Croatia in a dramatic World Cup match, advancing to the last 16 where they will face European champions Spain. Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, though Croatia had a late equalizer disallowed by VAR due to an offside decision. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's 41-year-old captain, scored a penalty in the 68th minute, becoming the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match. After the game, an emotional Ronaldo paid tribute to his late teammate Diogo Jota, who died almost a year ago. Meanwhile, Spain advanced to the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Austria, with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and one from Pedro Porro. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed satisfaction with his team's performance but emphasized the need for continued improvement. In another match, Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0, with goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye, continuing Africa's challenging start to the knockout rounds as Algeria became the latest African team to exit.
Must ReadA diplomatic disagreement has emerged between South Africa and Ghana following claims by Ghana that a Ghanaian man was killed during anti-migrant protests in South Africa, which South African officials deny. Ghana's Foreign Affairs ministry expressed profound shock over reports that 40-year-old Bashiru Isak was shot dead in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township and filed a formal protest note and police complaint. South Africa's justice minister responded by expressing concern that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information regarding irregular migration. South African police stated they have no record of a murder in Khayelitsha but are investigating the killing of 35-year-old Ghanaian Kwabena Boagen in Nyanga, a different Cape Town township, allegedly due to extortion. Police requested details from Ghanaian authorities regarding the Khayelitsha incident. A South African foreign ministry official called claims linking the death to anti-migrant protests a "fabricated tale." Anti-migrant groups in South Africa had set an unofficial deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, leading to thousands marching. Ghana, Malawi, and Nigeria have been repatriating citizens from South Africa, with about 25,000 people having left. Police reported that Tuesday's protests were largely peaceful, with about 900 arrests for immigration-related offenses and looting. Ghana demanded a full, transparent, and expedited investigation into Isak's death and urged South Afri