News

Nyanga celebrates first gay pride march

On Saturday 18 March about 300 people gathered at NY1 Gugulethu and marched to the Nyanga Football Stadium in the first gay pride march in Nyanga.

Jonathan Dockney

News | 22 May 2013

Controversial youth website dodges censorship

“Outoilet” is an Afrikaans word meaning “old toilet”, but it also refers to a cellphone chat site, aimed mainly at Cape Flats youth. Its URLs are blocked by several service providers, but the site frequently re-emerges with different URLs.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 22 May 2013

Gang killers suspected of targeting another boy

Last week, 17-year old Glenrico Martin was shot dead at his high school in Athlone. Natheer Abrahams is 16-years old and is being bullied and threatened by gangsters. He suspects they are the same ones that killed Glenrico.

Margo Fortune

News | 22 May 2013

How to buy your license

News | 22 May 2013

How to buy your driver’s license

Attempts to clean up corruption at the Lingelethu West Traffic Station in Khayelitsha appear to be failing. GroundUp went undercover and recorded an offer of a bribe by an outside operator, and also spoke to others who were either asked to pay a bribe or who did bribe their way to being allowed behind the wheel.

GroundUp Staff with assistance of the Cape Times

News | 21 May 2013

Investigate and stop this mundane everyday corruption

Today GroundUp published a story, with the assistance of The Cape Times, of corruption at Lingelethu West Traffic Department in Khayelitsha. We tell how the buying of learner's and driver's licenses is commonplace and show that there is the perception, arguably a reasonable one in some areas, that a bribe is necessary to get a driver's license.

GroundUp Editor

News | 20 May 2013

Activist group accuses City of failing to monitor toilet contracts

On 27 April the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) held a meeting in Khayelitsha to report the results of an audit of toilets provided by a supplier contracted to the City of Cape Town. On 10 May the SJC released a written report of the audit's findings.

Fergus Turner

News | 16 May 2013

“ËśProdigal daughters’ speak out at Franschoek literary festival

The exile experience of women in the liberation movements — a largely neglected aspect of recent South African history — will feature this year at the Franschhoek Literary Festival in a discussion involving the octogenarian feminist writer, Lauretta Ngcobo.

Terry Bell

News | 16 May 2013

Make it happen campaign

News | 16 May 2013

Small business

News | 15 May 2013

What do the big banks offer low-income earners?

Low-income earners are people who are unemployed or those making just enough to get by on a single or joint monthly income. What do banks really offer these South Africans?

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 15 May 2013

Paul Kasonkomona fights for fair trial

Paul Kasonkomona, an HIV/Aids activist based in Zambia, appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate's Court today (15 May) on charges of idle and disorderly behaviour. He was arrested last month after calling on the Zambian government to decriminalise homosexuality and to respect the human rights of gay people, prisoners, and sex workers. Kasonkomona's case was postponed today after his defence attorneys, SBN Legal Practitioners, filed a constitutional application on two grounds.

Jonathan Dockney

News | 15 May 2013

Struggle for disabled people to use Cape Town’s transport

On Monday Cape Town bus drivers ended their strike after 25 days. They had asked for a wage increase of 18% but settled for a preliminary increase of 9.5% which will increase to 10% from October. What does the strike reveal about how poor people get around in Cape Town, particularly for disabled people?

Nkosikhona SwartbooiAndiswa Hala

News | 15 May 2013

Community Care

News | 15 May 2013

Interview with Lauren Beukes

Cape Town-based writer Lauren Beukes won the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel Zoo City. Her new novel, The Shining Girls, is receiving rave reviews and is set to make best-seller lists around the world. Marcus Low talked to her about her writing and about the links between speculative fiction and real-world social issues.

Marcus Low

News | 15 May 2013

The challenges of running a business in a poor community

There are many challenges when starting a business. Planning and marketing the business, determining prices, and managing the day to day running are not simple tasks. But entrepreneurs in low-income communities face additional challenges when starting out.

Margo FortuneSean Robson

News | 15 May 2013