News

Young man behind Limpopo computer training centre

William Makgaba is an example of a young South African who is actively involved in developing his community.

Koketso Moeti

News | 7 February 2014

Somali community run school to learn English

Somali Association of South Africa (SASA) Western Cape chairperson Abdikadir Mohamed has established an English school project with the help of the Scalabrini Centre.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 6 February 2014

Landmark silicosis case reaches a milestone

The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) hosted a special event on 5 February 2014 to highlight its landmark silicosis case and the implications for future legislative and policy reform in South Africa.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 6 February 2014

The week in political activism

This week we have reports from Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), SECTION27, Medecins Sans Frontieres, SERI, the residents of Slovo Park, Lawyers for Human Rights, Wits Justice Project and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Compiled by Brent Meersman

News | 6 February 2014

South Africa’s water wars

Ma Gladys Mphepho hovers over a pot on a two plate cooker in her shack in Papamani, an informal settlement outside of Grahamstown. “We do not have dignity,” she says, stirring the rice, flavoured with beef stock, that is her family’s Sunday lunch. “We do not know what it means to have dignity. Forget about any question of dignity,” says Mphepho.

Mandy de Waal

News | 5 February 2014

Police oversight bodies failing

For three days, the Khayelitsha Commission has heard from various bodies responsible for oversight and cooperation with the police. Their testimonies have not inspired confidence.

Adam Armstrong

News | 5 February 2014

Less than 2km of Upington street paved after a year

An expanded public works project in Upington to pave three streets of 1.8km is incomplete a year later and no account can be given of the project by the Department of Public Works, the local municipality, or the responsible councillor.

Selby Nomnganga

News | 5 February 2014

Long Walk to Freedom

News | 5 February 2014

Disturbing video of “street justice” given to Commission

A disturbing video taken with a cell phone shows a man being beaten up brutally in Khayelitsha. It was placed in evidence at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry yesterday.

GroundUp Staff

News | 5 February 2014

Police accused of extortion

The Khayelitsha Commission has heard testimony about refugees and their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.

Adam Armstrong

News | 5 February 2014

Untitled: an extract from Kgebetli Moele’s latest novel

Kgebetli Moele burst on to the literary scene with Room 207 (Kwela, 2006). That success was followed by The Book of the Dead (2009), a deeply shocking novel whose protagonist deliberately sets out to infect as many people as he possibly can with HIV.

Kgebetli Moele

News | 4 February 2014

Home Affairs uses “sad and bad” court ruling against refugees

The hopes of thousands of asylum seekers in the Western Cape have been dashed by Director General (DG) of Home Affairs (DHA) Mkuseli Apleni.

Brent Meersman

News | 4 February 2014

When a police van hit and killed our child

This is a shortened transcript of a witness testimony given at the Khayelitsha Commission last week.

Transcript from Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry

News | 3 February 2014

Witness alleges police accepted bribe in murder case

While testifying today at the Khayelitsha Commission, a witness stated she believes the officer investigating the murder of her son accepted a bribe to stop his investigation.

Adam Armstrong

News | 30 January 2014

Philippi school struggles to get help for disabled learners

This article has been withdrawn due to problems with it that we are unable to address. GroundUp apologises.

Pharie Sefali

News | 30 January 2014

Brave women and burnt-out cops

Funeka Soldaat told the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry how she had been raped by a group of young men because she is a lesbian. She testified that she is a survivor of "corrective rape".

Adam Armstrong

News | 29 January 2014