Articles for GroundUp Staff

Campaigning for clean toilets and good cops: an interview with the SJC’s Axolile Notywala

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has been at the forefront of two campaigns in recent years: improved toilet provision and better policing in Cape Town's townships. GroundUp did an in-depth interview with the organisation's Axolile Notywala.

GroundUp Staff

News | 21 August 2015

Marikana: reminders of a massacre

Three years ago on this day, the police shot dead 34 miners at Marikana. Here are some of the articles we've published since then that, sadly, remain current and relevant.

GroundUp Staff

Analysis | 16 August 2015

Phiyega rejects recommendations of O’Regan Inquiry

Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega has “denied, disputed or redirected to the [Western Cape Provincial Government and City of Cape Town]” every recommendation of the O’Regan Commission of Inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha.

GroundUp Staff and Bernard Chiguvare

News | 7 August 2015

GroundUp’s Masixole Feni wins photography award

Masixole Feni, GroundUp's photographer, has won the 2015 Ernest Cole award.

Text by GroundUp Staff. Photos by Masixole Feni.

News | 4 August 2015

The worst spokesman in government?

Because GroundUp is currently based in Cape Town, many of our stories deal with difficult issues for the local government here. Yet despite the often harsh criticisms of the City of Cape Town that appear on our website, the City’s media department nearly always responds to our queries professionally. The same goes for the South African Police Service.

GroundUp Staff

News | 4 August 2015

Lost belongings after evictions: a chaotic blame game

A year after their eviction from land owned by the SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL), some Lwandle residents say their possessions were never returned to them. But SANRAL says the goods were placed under the control of a community leader, and the agency is not to blame if residents did not get their belongings back.

GroundUp staff

News | 31 July 2015

Seedtime: An Omar Badsha Retrospective

Seedtime is an impressive retrospective exhibition of works by South African artist, photographer and former political activist, Omar Badsha, spanning a period of 50 years.

GroundUp Staff

News | 23 July 2015

Good Hope Construction: workers’ demands still being probed

The Building Industry Bargaining Council is investigating employees’ claims that money is still owed to the Council by Good Hope Construction (GHC), target of a protracted strike during which one employee died.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and GroundUp staff

News | 14 July 2015

“I chose to stay when most people are leaving, but someone has to stay behind to fight” - Zimbabwean student activist

Passmore Nyakureba is the national chair of ZimRights in Zimbabwe. He spoke at Equal Education’s second congress on Monday (6 July) about the dire conditions thousands of Zimbabweans face daily.

Barbara Maregele and GroundUp Staff

News | 7 July 2015

“Teachers suffer as we suffer. But we need to hold them accountable,, Dwane tells education activists

Equal Education members from across the country gathered at the opening ceremony for the organisation's second triennial National Congress on Saturday. The main theme of the four-day event underway at the University of the Western Cape in Bellville is "Building our democratic movement for education justice and equality."

Barbara Maragele and GroundUp Staff

News | 6 July 2015

Marikana Commission dodges compensation issue

What compensation should there be for the victims of the Marikana massacre? The answer given in Judge Ian Farlam's final report released by President Zuma on Thursday night differs substantially from the recommendations given by the Marikana Commission's evidence leaders.

Ashleigh Furlong and GroundUp staff

News | 26 June 2015

Court to decide if Operation Fiela is constitutional

Is Operation Fiela lawful? Judge Jan Hiemstra in the North Gauteng High Court will hear argument today from Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) that it isn’t.

GroundUp Staff

News | 23 June 2015

De Waal Drive residents’ option to stay on, for now

On the weekend, some tenants at the De Waal Drive flats received notices that they can stay on, provided they pay their rentals going forward. In this latest message to the residents, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has asserted a softer approach than it had done in the past. The change has been welcomed.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 23 June 2015

Minister to be consulted on evictions

Private and public landowners will have to notify the Minister of Human Settlements before evicting people from their land, if a proposal being discussed in government becomes law.

GroundUp Staff

News | 22 June 2015

Army closes down Cape Town Station

On World Refugee Day this weekend, South African police, traffic officials, metro police, brand specialists, immigration officials and defence force members shut down Cape Town Station's taxi terminus as part of Operation Fiela. The four-hour operation brought commuters to a standstill as taxis were not allowed in or out on a busy Saturday morning. Dozens of foreign nationals were arrested.

Bernard Chiguvare and GroundUp Staff

News | 22 June 2015

Showdown over what medicals schemes must cover

A high-profile court showdown is looming between a medical scheme and the patient activist group, Treatment Action Campaign, as well as about a dozen other organisations. Its outcome will have significant repercussions for what schemes offer their members.

Shadi Garman and GroundUp Staff

News | 19 June 2015