I enjoy lawyer jokes, but in my time with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) the lawyers I worked with didn't fit the stereotype. They often represented TAC pro bono or at reduced fees. They put money aside to fight for justice, especially for poor people. They were also modest. In our high profile cases, the TAC's lawyers were not the centre of attention. Nevertheless, TAC won most of its cases and all the key ones. We were very ably represented.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 21 August 2013
This is the last in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
This is the second in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
This is the first in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
The Democratic Alliance markets itself as an efficient and un-corrupt alternative to the ANC. It never hesitates to point out serious service delivery failures by the ANC. So it is interesting to see its responses to the Social Justice Coalition's criticisms of the City of Cape Town's handling of a major toilet supply contract in Khayelitsha.
Nathan Geffen
News | 30 April 2013
"[W]henever we see that little white bastard called Jared Sacks we must beat the shit out of him ... " This was written by well-known journalist and black-consciousness writer, Andile Mngxitama, on his Facebook page.
Nathan Geffen
News | 25 March 2013
Do you want to buy a firearm for protection? Many people do because of the high rate of violent crime in South Africa. But is it sensible? Will a gun make you more secure or will it put you and your loved ones in greater danger?
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 27 February 2013
Night-time and Khayelitsha looks a different place to a few weeks ago. The City has repaired most of the street lights in the township's major roads; it is noticeably brighter now. Last night Mayor Patricia De Lille joined a march organised by organisations who have been demanding that the lights be repaired.
Nokubonga Yawa and Nathan Geffen
News | 12 February 2013
Charred ruins of beds, microwaves, washing machines, fridges, corrugated iron, asbestos and other shack building materials are strewn across the BM section of Khayelitsha.
Nathan Geffen
News | 3 January 2013
Ivor Blumenthal, the former station master and presenter of Chai FM, has written a tirade against Jews who are critical of Israel.
Nathan Geffen and Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 19 December 2012
Madiba is in hospital. Spokespeople assure us he is doing well. That he is old, sick and likely to die soon are avoided or dealt with euphemistically.
Nathan Geffen, Editor GroundUp
Opinion | 12 December 2012
Months before Social Justice Coalition member Angy Peter was arrested for her alleged role in a vigilante murder, she had lodged a complaint of corruption against police officer Andile Mtshiceka.
Mary-Jane Matsolo and Nathan Geffen
News | 7 November 2012
Kenny Solomon is South Africa's first chess grandmaster-elect.
Nathan Geffen
News | 17 October 2012
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
None of the big political parties are showing the kind of leadership that is needed when it comes to housing.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 29 August 2012
On 10 December 1998, about 10 people picketed outside St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town. They demanded that the state roll out a programme to reduce the risk of pregnant women transmitting HIV to their infants and for drug companies to lower their HIV medicine prices. This marked the modest beginning of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 July 2012