Gay-rights activist’s trial nears final stages
On 20 February 2014, a preliminary ruling will be made in the case of The People v Kasonkomona in the Lusaka Magistrates Court. The ruling will determine if Paul Kasonkomona needs to defend himself against the state’s case or if the case should be dismissed and Kasonkomona acquitted.
Jonathan Dockney
News | 15 January 2014
Phillipi settlement battle highlights housing problems
On 7 and 8 January, the City of Cape Town’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit demolished more than 40 homes at the Marikana settlement in Philippi East. There has been ongoing conflict between the City and the residents who have settled on this plot of privately owned land just off Symphony Way.
Sibusiso Tshabalala
Feature | 15 January 2014
African Delights: an extract from Siphiwo Mahala’s collection of short stories
Siphiwo Mahala’s short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals and magazines locally and internationally and have been collected together in African Delights (published by the Jacana Literary Foundation). The result is a unique tour of South African life.
Siphiwo Mahala
News | 15 January 2014
Organisation helps matriculants get into university
The South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) started a bridging year programme in 2003. Young people from township schools are assisted with rewriting matric to improve their chances of getting into university, getting a job or doing other useful work for their communities.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 15 January 2014
Fixing the civil service is vital
Civil servants are failing poor people like Cassiem Mahommed and many others. The decline of our civil service is one of the most important political problems facing South Africa.
GroundUp Editor
News | 14 January 2014
The need for real media transformation
Transformation of the media in South Africa is essential. But we should be very clear about what we mean by such transformation.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 14 January 2014
How to hold local government accountable
The elections this year will be for our provincial and national governments. But it is our local government, our mayors and ward councillors, who are responsible for much of the service delivery that affects our day-to-day lives, such as refuse collection, sanitation and day clinics.
Fergus Turner and GroundUp Staff
News | 14 January 2014
Labour Department fails to follow up on sick workers’ claims
On 13 November 2013, GroundUp reported that Cassiem Mahommed has been waiting for over six years for compensation from the City of Cape Town for asbestosis. The Department of Labour immediately contacted GroundUp after publication and promised to follow up with Mahommed Disturbingly, there has been no progress on the matter.
Jonathan Dockney
News | 14 January 2014
Court orders access to Stellenbosch’s deadly initiation school
Seven boys were admitted to Stellenbosch Hospital on the evenings of 25 and 26 November. Two were dead on arrival. One had sjambok marks on his body. They were about 20 years old. They were the victims of an initiation school.
Jonathan Dockney
News | 9 January 2014