News

Anxiety grows among Zimbabweans while Home Affairs says do not panic

Some Zimbabweans in Cape Town are asking how one can be patient and not panic when they have lost their jobs, find their bank accounts frozen, their children unable to go to university, and their work permits expiring.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 24 June 2014

Kukhanya - a young burn survivor’s tale

Seven-year-old Kukhanya Ngxumza suffered severe burns when he was only a few months old. Today, he is teased at school, but he doesn’t let bullies win.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 24 June 2014

Abahlali to contest forced evictions

Shackdwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo plans to take legal action after the forcible eviction at the weekend of residents of two informal settlements near Durban.

Michelle Korte

News | 24 June 2014

Changing how township tourism is done

Siphiwe Ngwenya, founder of the Maboneng Township Art Experience, has set out to change the standard way tours to the townships of Cape Town are run. Maboneng, which means ‘place of light’ in seSotho, runs annual festivals in townships as a means to generate income for locals.

Yazeed Kamaldien

News | 24 June 2014

Mixed reaction to Malema’s parliamentary performance

Capetonians who voted for the Economic Freedom Fighters have mixed feelings about the performance of Julius Malema during his first week in parliament.

Pharie Sefali and Johnnie Isaac

News | 24 June 2014

Angy Peter cross examined in court

State prosecutor Phistus Pelesa cross-examined Angy Peter on 23 June at the Western Cape High Court seeking to clarify the order of events leading up to the killing of Rowan Du Preez.

Lara Sokoloff

News | 24 June 2014

Athlone players need funds to reach Baseball World Cup

Of the eight players that have been selected from the Western Province team to showcase their baseball skills internationally, two players, who play for the Athlone As baseball team, may see their dream of playing in an international event shattered.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 23 June 2014

Dust unsettles mining community

Every day at 4pm the small community of Pullenshope in Hendrina is shaken by a loud explosion, earth-shaking tremors and clouds of dust. Situated less than a kilometre from the Eskom-owned Hendrina Power Station, residents say respiratory illnesses are on the rise.

Barbara Maregele

News | 23 June 2014

Confess or else! Threat in Angy Peter trial

Dustin Kramer, Deputy General Secretary of the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), says he has received a threatening SMS, demanding that he gets Angy Peter and Isaac Mbadu to confess to the murder of Rowan du Preez.

GroundUp Staff

News | 20 June 2014

Nyanga gangster puts the blame on his family

“I was not born a gangster, but I will die one. This is not a choice, but it’s because of my circumstances. I want to change, but I can’t. I do not know what to change to and how,” says gangster.

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 June 2014

Family of 13-year-old take legal steps to compel SAPS

The Makalakata family is concerned that a month after the death of their daughter, Tariro, they have not received the post-mortem results and there is no progress on the case.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 20 June 2014

Angy Peter defence say it is a “political case”

Angy Peter continued giving evidence in her defence as the trial continued on 19 June. She told the court that after she was arrested for the murder and kidnapping of Rowan Du Preez in October 2012, she was arrested three more times on other murder and kidnapping charges. None of these charges were ever brought to trial.

Lara Sokoloff

News | 20 June 2014

Farm workers claim right to strike

Robertson fruit farm workers have taken their employer to Labour Court this week to fight for their right to strike and to get their jobs back after being dismissed more than a year ago.

Yazeed Kamaldien

News | 20 June 2014

Metrorail strike looms

Thousands of Western Cape Metrorail commuters could be left stranded following an announcement of a strike pending by the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 20 June 2014

Another winter after 22 years waiting for a house

“I doubt that I will get my house while I am still alive”, says wheelchair-bound Mbuyiselo Vena who has been on a waiting list for a house since 1992. But the City of Cape Town says Vena no longer wants his house built via the Iqhayiyalethu project, and that he needs to join a different housing project.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 19 June 2014

Angy Peter application to have case thrown out unsuccessful

Advocate William King for the defence applied under Section 174 of the Criminal Justice Act to have the case against Angie Peter quashed. The section allows for a case to be discharged if after the prosecution has outlined its case, there is a lack of evidence. But on 18 June the application was dismissed.

Adam Armstrong

News | 19 June 2014