GroundUp: South African news that matters

Time for serious action on road carnage

The road crash massacre on the Moloto Road in Mpumalanga last week provides an horrific portent for the annual festive season slaughter on the highways and byways of South Africa. And the manner in which the deaths of 29 people were reported, being consigned, for the most part, to the inside pages of newspapers, reveals just how accepting the country has become of such carnage.

Terry Bell.

Opinion | 18 November 2013

Where’s Wally? Liberals in the DA

Leaders, former leaders and the main cheerleaders of the Democratic Alliance have publicly debated these last weeks about whether or not the party has betrayed its liberal tradition with its stance on black economic empowerment.

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 18 November 2013

The Sculptors of Mapungubwe: an extract from Zakes Mda’s latest novel

Zake Mda’s lyrical novel is set in the mists of time, in the Southern African kingdom of Mapungubwe. (Mda has based his story on a wealth of archaeological evidence and research into oral tradition.) It is a tale of the rivalry between the two artistically gifted sons of the royal sculptor; rivalry in love and rivalry for two competing visions of what society should be.

Zakes Mda

News | 18 November 2013

Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha starts

Yesterday marked the official start of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Police Inefficiency in Khayelitsha. It took place at Lookout Hill in the township. Dozens of members of the community, civil society organisations, and the media gathered to witness the first proceedings.

Delphine Pedeboy

News | 14 November 2013