Human Rights
Nyanga celebrates first gay pride march
On Saturday 18 March about 300 people gathered at NY1 Gugulethu and marched to the Nyanga Football Stadium in the first gay pride march in Nyanga.
Paul Kasonkomona fights for fair trial
Paul Kasonkomona, an HIV/Aids activist based in Zambia, appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate's Court today (15 May) on charges of idle and disorderly behaviour. He was arrested last month after calling on the Zambian government to decriminalise homosexuality and to respect the human rights of gay people, prisoners, and sex workers. Kasonkomona's case was postponed today after his defence attorneys, SBN Legal Practitioners, filed a constitutional application on two grounds.
"I just want to go back to South Africa. I miss it so much."
Two Mozambican sisters living in a Child and Youth Care Centre (care centre) since 2007 were deported to their home country in January despite nine years of growing up in South Africa.
Outspoken activist for gay rights arrested in Zambia
Paul Kasonkomona, a Zambian human rights activist with many years’ experience, was arrested in Lusaka on Sunday for publically supporting the rights of Zambia’s sexual minorities. He was arrested shortly after appearing on an independent television channel, Muvi TV, where he spoke in favour of access to health care for sex workers, prisoners, and sexual minorities.
Two children killed by illegal connections
Andile Duvane was electrocuted on Wednesday 13 March while playing soccer with his friends. He stepped on open electrical wires outside Metrorail's substation at the RR section in Khayelitsha.
Social Justice Coalition protests community protection from police
On March 11th, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) staged a protest outside of parliament in Cape Town proposing a new memorandum aimed at improving relations between community members and the police that serve them.
Allegations of abuse in clothing factories
Workers in Kwazulu-Natal clothing factories have made allegations of abuse against factory owners in affidavits provided to GroundUp.
The poorest of the poor: The Karretjie Mense of the Great Karoo
In and around Colesberg, a small historical town on the N1 mid-way between Cape Town and Johannesburg, I met a group of impoverished sheep shearers living in abject poverty, surviving in tiny tin shacks on the verges of public roads. Only recently, in the last 15 years, have they become a settled, sedentary people.
Are the lights coming back on in Khayelitsha?
Broken streetlights in Khayelitsha are at the centre of a debate between civil society activists, Premier Helen Zille, Mayor Patricia De Lille and several councillors responsible for wards along Lansdowne Road.
Man loses use of hand at work, but can't get compensated
A Zimbabwean man, Farai Chawasema, who lost all use of his hand in an injury at work on 29 November last year, is accusing his employer, Patrick Pieterse, of Pat's Engineering and a medical practitioner, Ajmal Ikram, of Melomed Gatesville Medical Centre, of failing to get him workman's compensation.