A proposed property development on the slopes of Table Mountain above the historic Bo-Kaap, where house prices are sky-rocketing, has elicited a fatwa (an Islamic decree issued by a recognised authority) from the Muslim Judicial Council banning any construction at the Tana Baru Muslim burial site and shrine.

Allegations of voting irregularities at the Western Cape conference of the African National Congress refuse to die down as the ousting of Premier Ebrahim Rasool continues to divide the party’s provincial structures. Competing lists of voting delegates at the Western Cape ANC conference appear to have created scope for election irregularities.

The Treatment Action Campaign is confident of a favourable ruling in its anti-defamation interdict proceedings against anti-Aids drug lobbyist Matthias Rath, in which judgement was reserved by the Cape High Court recently. The TAC started interdict proceedings two months ago, after it was repeatedly described as ”a front company for pharmaceutical multinationals”.

Victor Greene has stopped replacing the rear brake light bulbs of his ageing car as youngsters from his working-class suburb in southern Cape Town kept on stealing them to smoke tik, the latest drug being consumed by the city’s youth. ”If they can get it [the light bulb] for free, they can save some rands for tik,” he shrugs.

Councils cannot finger sinister or ”third” forces for protests against the slow housing and service provision, and must shoulder some of the blame, says Western Cape minister for local government and housing Marius Fransman.

Cape Town’s political leaders remained largely invisible this week during the city’s spreading protests over housing shortages which, particularly in Langa and Guguletu townships, set ”Cape-borners” against amaKwaduka (rural newcomers). Monday saw crisis meetings at the metro council’s head offices, but an encounter with community leaders scheduled for Tuesday was postponed.

After almost 10 years Servcon, the low-cost housing finance venture between the government and banks, which, controversially, could evict bond defaulters, will cease to exist. This week Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu announced that Servcon’s mandate, which expires at the end of March next year, would not be renewed. ”Servcon is already wrapping up business,” she said.

Bulelani Ngcuka’s Amabubesi Investments company has acquired a majority stake in a lucrative golf and luxury residential estate industry near George — in a development headed by a former Special Forces operator and employing as conservation consultant Colonel Jan Breytenbach, the recce who founded 32 Battalion.