Department of Coffee opens new branches

Muffin runs, a pop up shop, a new range of coffee beans and now training volunteers to be baristas -- Khayelitsha’s first coffee shop, the Department of Coffee (DOC) is growing and showing no signs of slowing down.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 11 August 2014

South Africa leads in HIV prevention among gay groups

As homophobic discrimination continues to sweep across the African continent, we should be acutely mindful of the diverse ways it harms societies. While we are most aware of the direct effect homophobic physical violence has on sexual minority groups, it is also crucial that we be cognisant of the many insidious ways stigma and discrimination impact not only on sexual minorities but society at large.

Andrew Tucker

Opinion | 11 August 2014

Gugulethu residents go on 24-hour patrol

Residents of ward 44 in Gugulethu have taken matters in their own hands to combat crime in the area. About 122 volunteers have signed up to do community policing work, which encompasses patrolling the area 24-hours a day, checking sewage problems and collecting rubbish material. The group has divided itself into three shifts, working around the clock from 7am.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 11 August 2014

Massive Cape Town march in solidarity with Gaza

Tens of thousands of people marched through Cape Town city centre this morning in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and opposing Israeli military action.

GroundUp Staff

News | 9 August 2014

Massive Cape Town march in solidarity with Gaza

Tens of thousands of people marched through Cape Town city centre this morning in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and opposing Israeli military action.

GroundUp Staff

News | 9 August 2014

Police give Lwandle inquiry the “run around”

Lwandle inquiry chair Denzil Potgieter on 8 August slammed the police for withholding video footage and key documents relating to evictions at the informal settlement in June. He accused the police of giving the inquiry secretariat the “run around” during its numerous attempts to access the footage.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 8 August 2014

Expropriate the suburbs, say activists

Tracts of private suburban land will have to be expropriated by the state at below market value if spatial apartheid in South African cities is to be reversed. The property clause in the Constitution can be interpreted in a revolutionary manner to allow for this. Expropriated land, subsidised by existing government property, should be used to provide housing for shackdwellers from the city fringe, so that informal settlements can be less dense and upgraded. These were the concluding opinions in a roundtable discussion on the Urban Land Question in the Cape Town CBD on 7 August.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 8 August 2014

Alibi belatedly corroborated for co-accused in Angy Peter case

The testimony of a Khayelitsha taxi driver corroborating the alibi of Azola Diyamani on the night of murder victim Rowan du Preez’s assault is “shocking” and “defies any logic”, prosecutor Phistus Pelesa told the court on Thursday, 7 August. This follows the testimony of Monde Cofa, who told the court he had been in possession of the taxi for the entire weekend in question.

Barbara Maregele

News | 8 August 2014

Someone needs to stop SANRAL

The SA National Roads Agency, already under investigation after the brutal eviction of Lwandle residents from SANRAL land in June, is facing furious residents from six Eastern Cape villages who are adamant they were misled about the new Wild Coast toll road, writes Mzamo Dlamini.

Mzamo Dlamini

Analysis | 8 August 2014

Evicted Mfuleni backyarders now live in a tent

After being evicted four times from private land, about 100 Mfuleni residents have now found respite in a tent on a piece of vacant land in Bardale.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 7 August 2014

Boxers say too few pro fights in Cape Town

The lack of professional boxing fights in Cape Town sees two boxers from the Cape off to Johannesburg to participate in a Golden Gloves Promotions tournament on the weekend, 9 to 10 August.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 7 August 2014

Life after incarceration

“There is life after incarceration,” said Denise Mitchell, a former inmate at Pollsmoor Prison. She was giving a speech at a graduation ceremony for a group of prisoners who have obtained certificates as chefs on the 31 July.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 7 August 2014

Good causes left to die waiting for lotto millions

In its 15 years of existence, the National Lotteries’ Board (NLB) has disbursed more than R18 billion to good causes, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies. However, the 2013 annual report indicates that while 5,455 applications were adjudicated in the year, 10,928 applications were still outstanding as of 31 March 2013. 7,500 of those are applications from charities.

Katy Scott

News | 7 August 2014

Angy Peter trial co-accused also claims he was framed

The man accused of hitting murder victim Rowan du Preez multiple times with a golf stick the night before he was found severely burned, told the court he was at home watching movies at the time.

Barbara Maregele

News | 7 August 2014

SA shackdwellers protest against evictions in Austria

On 6 August, shackdweller movement Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) marched on the the Austrian honourary consul in Durban to protest the eviction of squatting “comrades” under way in Vienna. This, in reciprocation of months of solidarity and support from people and organisations based in Europe and the United States for AbM.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 6 August 2014

African immigrants experience a spate of raids and deportations

It started on 16 July in Langebaan at Freeport block of flats. Immigrants were deported with nothing on them. Deportees, leaving friends and relatives behind, lost their possessions, furniture and money. Then on 31 July, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) raided a block of flats in Somerset West and Sholoza Villa in Kraaifontein. Immigrants who did not have documents -- mainly Congolese, Tanzanians, Malawians and Zimbabweans -- were arrested.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 6 August 2014