Farmer accused of cutting electricity and food credit to break strike

Seventy employees at Leeuwenkuil Farm refused to work for five days until five of their colleagues were reinstated, according to the Commerical Stevedoring Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU).

Tessa Gooding

News | 21 November 2012

Behind the scenes of school infrastructure victory

Doron Isaacs of Equal Education describes the organisation's campaign that got the Minister of Basic Education to settle their court case last week.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 21 November 2012

Farm conflict: thousands of people could not access medicines

During the farm violence in De Doorns and other parts of the Western Cape over the last few weeks, thousands of public health system users could not get their medicines because health facilities closed down.

Kate Stegeman and Tariro Washinyira

News | 21 November 2012

Altercation highlights farm tensions

An argument between a farmer and two employees has spiralled out of control. The story shows the kinds of problems fuelling the current farm tensions in the Western Cape.

Tessa Gooding and Margo Fortune

News | 21 November 2012

Becoming a good player doesn’t happen overnight

Isma-Eel Stanfield is only 20 and plays striker for Cape Town All Stars in the second division. On Sunday they beat FC Tygerberg and Isma-Eel scored two goals.

Margo Fortune

News | 21 November 2012

“This project has changed our lives in a big way. We now have the opportunity to work and run our own businesses.”

Township is a non-profit organisation that is creating jobs and providing opportunities for people living in Cape Town’s townships.

Janine Fortuin

News | 21 November 2012

Ridiculous complexity of housing in South Africa

Millions of South Africans at the end of apartheid dreamed of living in a house one day. This was the hope offered by the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Eighteen years later there has been progress. The Department of Housing says that over 3 million houses have been built sheltering over 13 million people. But there is a terribly long way to go.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 21 November 2012

De Doorns: an explosion waiting to happen…

There should have been no surprise or outrage expressed by mining companies,
agribusiness, and government officials about the recent explosion of strikes and
protests on mines and farms. And trade unionists across the board should not have
been caught flat-footed by the outbursts of anger that erupted in the North West,
Limpopo and now in the Western Cape.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 21 November 2012

The Commission of Inquiry into the Khayelitsha Police

The Commission of Inquiry into the allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha is on hold pending the outcome of Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa's court action to stop the commission. But in his court papers Mthethwa has, perhaps unwittingly, included explosive documents which actually appear to strengthen the case for having a Commission of Inquiry.

GroundUp Editor

News | 14 November 2012

Groot Constantia workers complain of unfair treatment

Its fine wines are known around the world and the City Sightseeing bus takes regular journeys through its beautiful grounds beneath Table Mountain. But the community who live and work at Groot Constantia estate say that the charitable trust that owns the farm pays female vineyard workers less than their male counterparts. They also accuse management of reducing their benefits.

Tessa Gooding

News | 14 November 2012

“People’s Commission” testimony exposes police failures

In December 2009 Thandokazi Njamela was smacked on the head with an unopened beer bottle by her friend's boyfriend. She lost consciousness and was taken to Khayelitsha's Site B Hospital.

GroundUp Staff

News | 14 November 2012

Dreaming of owning one of the cars he guards

Grejimo Gates is 22 year old. For him, being a car guard at Town Centre in Mitchell's Plain is his business.

Margo Fortune

Brief | 14 November 2012

An interview with the founder of Indhi fashion design studio

GroundUp interviewed up-and-coming Cape Town fashion designer, Melissa Samuels.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 14 November 2012

Scuffles breaks out in Delft over SASSA meal vouchers

Hundreds of residents queued outside Delft library last week Wednesday in the hope of receiving one of 25 SASSA meal vouchers.

Mihle Pike

News | 14 November 2012

Understanding the two Commissions of Inquiry into the police

There are two Commissions of Inquiry underway in South Africa (SA) that involve the SA Police Service (SAPS), the Police Minister and Police Commissioner, that we should be interrogating, examining, monitoring, overseeing and following with equal vigour.

Fatima Hassan

Opinion | 14 November 2012

Khayelitsha chess stars selected to play for province

The future is looking bright for a group of Khayelitsha chess stars. They have been selected to play for the Western Province schools chess team.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 14 November 2012