News

Young Blood: an extract from Sifiso Mzobe’s novel

South Africa had been waiting for a novel like Young Blood when it won the coveted Sunday Times Fiction Prize in 2011. Community newspaper journalist Sifiso Mzobe set his debut novel in his hometown of Umlazi, Durban. It is a racy, fast-paced, stark narrative told from the side of the railway tracks where crime is part and parcel of everyday township life.

Sifiso Mzobe

News | 28 January 2014

Cape Flats artists launch magazine

A group of young artists are putting their creativity on the map. They have launched a magazine called Motswako, which means ‘mixture’ or ‘diversity’.

Pharie Sefali

News | 27 January 2014

Commissioner klaps SAPS for inefficiency

At the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, the morning got off to a rocky start for the SAPS legal counsel with Chairperson Justice Kate O’Regan again verbally reprimanding them.

Adam Armstrong

News | 27 January 2014

Most of Khayelitsha is policeable

At the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, Phumeza Mlungwana has given evidence.

Adam Armstrong

News | 27 January 2014

Activists protest in solidarity with Dasnois

About 40 protesters gathered outside the Cape Town CCMA offices this morning in solidarity with Alide Dasnois, former Cape Times editor.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 24 January 2014

Harrowing testimony about vigilante killing

This morning the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry heard disturbing accounts of vigilante justice.

Adam Armstrong

News | 24 January 2014

SAPS accused of being disrespectful to Commission

Hearings and submissions of oral evidence started at the Commission of Inquiry in Khayelitsha today. The hall at Lookout Hill was packed with member of the Social Justice Coalition, residents of Khayelitsha, academics and journalists.

Adam Armstrong

News | 23 January 2014

Will the cars be safe here?

It was another sweltering hot day as the Commission of Inquiry continued its inspections around Khayelitsha. Crime hotspots and locations for community courts were visited. These include Nkanini, Harare Park and Ilitha Park.

Adam Armstrong

News | 23 January 2014

Business Report puts Terry Bell on “indefinite hold”

Terry Bell is a regular contributor to GroundUp. In addition to occasionally writing original material for first publication on GroundUp, he also kindly allows us to republish his Business Report column.

GroundUp Editor

News | 22 January 2014

Khayelitsha Commision of Inquiry

News | 22 January 2014

Pharma vultures

News | 22 January 2014

The week in political activism

This week, we cover the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, what’s happening in education and the patent wars.

Brent Meersman and GroundUp Staff

News | 22 January 2014

Penumbra: an extract from Songeziwe Mahlangu’s debut novel

Penumbra arose out of Songeziwe Mahlangu’s MA in Creative Writing at Rhodes University. Set in Cape Town, it is the story of a restless young graduate, Mangaliso Zolo, working at an alienating office job for a large corporate insurance company. He suffers from mental illness, most probably schizophrenia, and the reader follows him on the chaotic journey of his mind for several days through the university southern suburbs.

Songeziwe Mahlangu

News | 22 January 2014

Khayelitsha refuse collectors angry at working conditions

Since starting in November, some Khayelitsha refuse collectors say they still haven’t received uniforms or protective gear to wear while doing their jobs. Their employer says it is all lies.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 22 January 2014

SASSA fails to pay grants on time in Gugulethu and Mitchell’s Plain

There is a large backlog in social grant payments at South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) branches in Gugulethu and Mitchell's Plain. Beneficiaries who have not received their grants in months are accusing the state agency of incompetence.

Pharie Sefali

News | 22 January 2014

Police detain Zimbabweans for over 15 days

Three Zimbabwean men were detained at Richmond Police Station for over 15 days for being in the country unlawfully. The police were apparently waiting upon Immigration Services of the Department of Home Affairs to deport the men.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 22 January 2014