5 September 2013
Oscar Pistorius\xe2\x80\x99 bail application apparently showed how the justice system works when someone is arrested. But actually his hearing and release on bail were exceptional.
Nathan Geffen
News: A GroundUp journalist was left shaken after she was harassed by security guards at the refugee reception centre in Cape Town while reporting a story.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
Featured Story: Natural gas extraction is being promoted as the solution to South Africa's energy crisis. Shell and other energy companies want to harness the untapped reserves of natural gas below the Karoo using fracking. This is meeting stiff opposition, particularly from residents of the Karoo who are concerned about the risks.
Kerry Gordon
News: \xe2\x80\x9cThe Arch soup kitchen was my second home. I feel sad that this is my last time to eat here. The loving, warm, dedicated staff, a guaranteed meal even when it is raining, makes the Arch unique from all other soup kitchens in Cape Town,\xe2\x80\x9d said Richard Thomas, a homeless man.
Tariro Washinyira
Opinion: A demonstration framed \xe2\x80\x98as a silent protest against racism\xe2\x80\x99 held at Wits University on 28 August turned out to be anything but an embodiment of the principles of the anti-racism it espoused when a small group of the protesters sang \xe2\x80\x98dubula e juda\xe2\x80\x99 (shoot the Jew).
Heidi-Jane Esakov
News: Hundreds gathered in Gugulethu last week when Deputy Minister of Police Makhotsho Maggie Sotyu addressed the relationship between the police, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community and sex workers.
Pharie Sefali
Brief: A South African study demonstrates for the “first time the effectiveness of male circumcision, in real-life conditions in curbing the spread of HIV”, says its lead researcher, Bertran Auvert.
Michael Rautenbach
News: Spaza music is an expression of black, urban, hip-hop music. It originated among the youth in townships around South Africa.
Pharie Sefali
Brief: With almost 53% of its youth unable to find work, South Africa is facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, far higher than in comparable countries. While the International Labour Organisation (ILO) gives the youth unemployment rate as around 12% in sub-Saharan Africa and around 28% in North Africa, these high percentages are still far lower than they are in South Africa.
Nwabisa Pondoyi
Brief: Staff at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) on a \xe2\x80\x9cno work, no pay\xe2\x80\x9d strike for six weeks have forced the university to close.
Nwabisa Pondoyi
Brief: Most households have cupboards of expired pills and medicines and sometimes even use them. But what are the dangers?
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News: It is now 20 days since Toronto filmmaker John Greyson and London, Ontario, doctor Tarek Loubani were arrested by Egyptian police while on their way to Gaza.
Jack Lewis
Opinion: Critical elements of the long-awaited and debated survey of the attitudes of Cosatu shop stewards were finally made public in Johannesburg last night. And they are likely to cause a considerable stir within labour and political circles, especially about the possible future launch of a union-backed labour party.
Terry Bell
Roberto Millan