Helping Khayelitsha’s children escape gang violence

The youth of Khayelitsha have been infected with a terrible "disease of gang violence"--as ā€˜Big Guyā€™, a radio presenter from Radio Zibonele called it--that is destroying tomorrowā€™s leaders. It is not hardened gangsters who are involved but children, some as young as 13.

Axolile Notywala

Opinion | 1 August 2012

Cape High Court rules closure of refugee centre was unreasonable and irrational

On Wednesday 25 July, Judge Dennis Davis of the Cape High Court ruled in favour of continued access to the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (CTRRO) for new asylum applicants.

Veronica Washaya

Brief | 1 August 2012

Zimbabweans work together to repatriate the dead

There is a large Zimbabwean community in Cape Town. When members die, their friends and family usually want them to be buried back home in Zimbabwe.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 1 August 2012

Interview with Zimbabwean Olympian who ran against Usain Bolt

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games opened in London on 27 July 2012. GroundUp interviewed Brian Dzingai who raced against Usain Bolt in the 200 metres at the Beijing Olympics. Dzingai is fom Zimbabwe, but is currently located in Paris.

Veronica Washaya

News | 1 August 2012

Rats and rubbish: Somafho Flats in Gugs

Rubbish piles, rats and no electricity. This is the site of Somafho, a block of flats in Gugulethuā€™s NY 121.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 1 August 2012

Cape Town’s determined small business owners

Most young people living in Cape Town's townships are unemployed and have little chance of getting a job.

GroundUp Editor

News | 25 July 2012

Gay and lesbian activists protest Holomisa’s call for review

Last Wednesday, gay and lesbian rights organisations handed a memorandum to the ANC Western Cape representative, Songezo Mjongile.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 July 2012

Selling building material

Lucas Manya works at a stand selling building material in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.

Nokubonga Yawa

Brief | 25 July 2012

Hope amid the horror of joblessness and exploitation

Hope springs eternal in the human breast. So wrote the much-quoted 18th Century English poet, Alexander Pope. And, although this has all too often described the
futility of chasing after rainbows and never finding a promised pot of gold, hope continues to sustain millions of people in situations that, to the more fortunate, might seem hopeless.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 25 July 2012

Immigrants at work: Hair salon and cosmetics shop in Parow

Prince Ikenna came to South Africa from Nigeria in 2010 and has set up a successful salon and cosmetics business.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 July 2012

Site B’s vetkoek hub

Makaziā€™s take away is a busy shack that constantly has a line of customers waiting outside to be served their vetkoek (fat cakes).

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 25 July 2012

Immigrants at work: Making ends meet as a cab driver

Tinashe Nhidza is a 35-year-old Zimbabwean taxi cab driver operating in Cape Town.

Veronica Washaya

News | 25 July 2012

“We’ll come back to Cape Town” - Manchester United players

On Saturday, Manchester United played Ajax in Cape Town as one of their pre-season training friendly matches.

Margo Fortune

News | 25 July 2012

Immigrants at work: IT repair shop in Gardens

Admire Siya is just 25-years old and from Zimbabwe. He has set up an IT shop in his home in Gardens.

Veronica Washaya

News | 25 July 2012

Feeding her family with a meat stand

Nonyameko Sowazi, also affectionately known to her customers as ā€œMadlamini,ā€ runs a ā€œbinnegoedā€ stand at the bottom of the Nonqubela station in Khayelitsha.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 25 July 2012

“I don’t do this for fun” - Road-side window cleaner

Many drivers get irritated with the youths who, without asking for permission first, wash their windscreens at traffic lights.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 25 July 2012