Dance teacher who raped students faces the music

Lulamile Gagu was found guilty on twelve counts of rape at the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court on 10 October. He will be sentenced on 29 October.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 17 October 2012

Understanding the Simelane judgment

The Constitutional Court is proving that there is life after Chaskalson, Langa, O’Regan and Ngcobo. Many feared that new Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng would usher in an era of slavish Executive-mindedness – and that may still come true – but recent judgments of the Court are quite the opposite.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Protesters demand that schools stay open

Approximately a thousand people marched to the Provincial Legislature building on Friday 5 October, which was also International Teachers Day, in protest against the closure of 27 schools in the Western Cape by MEC for Education, Donald Grant.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 10 October 2012

Khayelitsha’s first coffee shop soldiers on

It has been three months since three young guys from Khayelitsha opened the first coffee shop in the township. Since then it has only got better.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 10 October 2012

The immense danger and opportunity of climate change

There’s an astonishing blind spot that afflicts most of South Africa’s elites and intelligentsia, and indeed, our civilisation. It’s particularly tragic that South Africa, which suffered nearly 10 years of HIV denialism, should now also be afflicted by climate change denial.

David Le Page

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Tougher times ahead as tensions ratchet up in Europe

In a world wracked by ongoing economic crises, what is the role of trade unions? And if they focus
solely on “bread and butter issues”, are they, as National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Lesiba
Seshoka says, doomed to fail because “broader policies are shaped at a political level”.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Husband accused of abuse ends up in hospital

A husband accused of abuse is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit of Eben Donges Hospital in Worcester. His wife alleges he sustained injuries when he intentionally burnt down her shack and property worth R10,000 a fortnight ago.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 10 October 2012

The mining industry strike wave: what are the causes and what are the solutions?

In this important paper, Gavin Hartford analyses the root causes of the mining industry strikes and proposes solutions.

Gavin Hartford

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Du Noon residents complain about flies and smells from toilet cleaning service

Mandla Mncayi lives in Du Noon in Cape Town. He lives in an RDP house and is a street committee member. Mncayi is, like many residents in his area, fed up with the way mobile toilets are collected in his area, which is called Site 5.

Nokubonga Yawa

Brief | 10 October 2012

Khayelitsha hosts successful fun run

Radio Zibonele, a community radio station in Khayelitsha, organised a fun run for Khayelitsha residents on Saturday 6 October.

Nokubonga Yawa

Brief | 10 October 2012

“Work hard and you will succeed” - Rising Kaizer Chiefs star

GroundUp spoke to Kaizer Chiefs Junior's Steven Sibanyoni.

Margo Fortune

News | 10 October 2012

Working for food at age 14

Sbu Jakavula is 14 years old. He lives in Du Noon township. He does not go to school. Instead he sells furniture from an informal stand.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 3 October 2012

Living on the streets of Cape Town

Many people live on the streets of Cape Town. For various reasons they either cannot enter shelters or do not wish to stay in shelters.

Seth E K Fortune

News | 3 October 2012

Better politics is essential to fix education

The Limpopo textbooks debacle has exposed the staggering incompetence of Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education, and Bobby Soobrayan, her Director-General. But a recent incident indicates that they or their colleagues in the Department of Basic Education are also very nasty.

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 3 October 2012

Soccer players unite against xenophobia

Last week, twelve soccer teams representing different countries participated in a four-day soccer tournament under the campaign theme "unite as one". The tournament took place in Nyanga and was organised as a Heritage day celebration.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 3 October 2012

Mental health care in Khayelitsha: an interview with the provincial government

October is mental health care awareness month. We take a look at mental health care services on the Cape Flats and what is available to people with a mental health illness.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 3 October 2012