West coast mine workers in court

A group of nine miners and Vredendal community members who were charged with public violence after participating in a demonstration outside the Australian-owned Tormin mine on the west coast, made a brief appearance in court on Thursday. Meanwhile, on Friday a group of about 60 mine-workers and members of the west coast community where the Tormin Mineral Sand mine operates came to Cape Town to picket outside the High Court.

Barbara Maregele and Bernard Chiguvare

News | 9 October 2015

The small town whose residents live in fear for their lives

Residents of Busila near Gatyana (Willowvale) say they have lost faith in the police after two houses were set alight by unknown men in the early hours, Tuesday. Since July, four people have been killed and five houses set alight. Residents say police are failing to protect them.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 8 October 2015

Behind the scenes and in the spotlight at the Khayelitsha Fashion Show

Fashions by local designers were on display at the Khayelitsha Fashion Show, Chillers Place, Madayi Crescent, Khayelitsha.

Photos by Masixole Feni.

News | 8 October 2015

Some panic as Zimbabwean special permit closes

On Monday, panicked applicants who had not yet received their Zimbabwean Special Dispensation Permit (ZSP) started queuing outside the ABSA building in central Cape Town for help.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 8 October 2015

Over 2000 in Cosatu march to parliament

At least two thousand workers from all sectors of the economy in the Western Cape marched to parliament today to hand over a memorandum of demands.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 7 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: The good, the bad and the confusing

For millions of South Africans, the monthly social grants -- mostly pensions and child support -- are the difference between survival and starvation.

GroundUp Staff

News | 7 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: Sassa’s bid to stop illegal deductions

Every month, money is deducted from the accounts of hundreds of beneficiaries of social grants without their permission. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is working to get the money refunded. But according to the Black Sash, the system Sassa has set up does not work.

GroundUp Staff

Feature | 7 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: Net1 - the company that runs the grant payment system

The South African government’s massive social security payment system is managed by a subsidiary of Net1, a company listed on stock exchanges in the United States and Johannesburg.

GroundUp Staff

Feature | 7 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: How grants are used to back loans

Some social grant beneficiaries are so deeply in debt that much of each month’s grant goes to paying back a loan.

GroundUp Staff

Feature | 7 October 2015