News

HRC: Cape Town’s chemical toilets violate human rights

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has found that the City of Cape Town's roll out of chemical toilets unfairly discriminates against “black African” people, and violates the rights to basic sanitation and dignity of informal settlement residents.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 16 July 2014

Judges Matter: the process is broken, so let’s fix it

South Africa needs greater public participation in the appointment of judges, say members of the Judges Matter coalition formed last month.

Michelle Korte

News | 16 July 2014

Teachers, students and parents demand toilets and libraries for schools

“Our school has four pit-toilets, two for the boys and two for the girls”, Yonela Jumba says. “These toilets are also used by the teachers.”

Koketso Moeti

News | 16 July 2014

“Police were firing and I ran for cover”

An eye-witness to the eviction of hundreds of Nomzamo residents in June described the “chaotic” scene to the ministerial inquiry this morning.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 July 2014

Will MyCiti change transport for Khayelitsha?

After the launch of the MyCiti bus route from Khayelitsha to the city centre last Saturday, GroundUp journalist Pharie Sefali took the bus in during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Pharie Sefali

News | 15 July 2014

Judges Matter: transforming the judiciary

Twenty-two civil society organisations have launched a coalition to lobby for transformation in the judiciary.

Michelle Korte

News | 15 July 2014

Death with dignity not only a debate for developed countries

Desmond Tutu's support for assisted dying made headlines across the world this week, and brought the debate into the mainstream in South Africa.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 15 July 2014

How a Steenberg woman is helping victims of domestic violence

For the past 17 years Moriedah Dien has been a volunteer at the Steenberg police station Victim Support Room, assisting anyone who has experienced crime. Now she wants to establish a proper safe house for women who are victims of domestic violence.

Yazeed Kamaldien

News | 15 July 2014

Growing vegetables in the oddest place

Thabani Marhanjana is growing a vegetable garden in an unusal place - on the roof of a two-story building in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 15 July 2014

Lwandle inquiry begins

The ministerial inquiry into the eviction of hundreds of informal settlement residents in Nomzamo near Lwandle Strand began today.

Barbara Maregele

News | 14 July 2014

COSATU says Metrorail blocked their members from travelling to protest

On Saturday, 12 July, COSATU held a demonstration at Cape Town Station to demand improved train service and that Metrorail lower fares to the same as before the recent ticket price increase.

Joy Shan

News | 14 July 2014

Framed: a film to explore the West’s fascination with Africa

About ten years ago, an anthropologist from South Africa and a documentarian from the United States began to set in motion a film that would explore what they see as the West’s obsession with “rescuing” Africa.

Joy Shan

News | 14 July 2014

Manenberg gang violence: In display of solidarity, residents come out of hiding

Residents of Manenberg in Cape Town are fed up with the gang violence. And to show their frustration, they’ve decided to march. Shaun Swingler reports for the Daily Maverick on an initiative called Taking Back Our Streets.

Shaun Swingler

News | 11 July 2014

Andile Lili sets sights on 2016 elections

Former mountain guide, expelled city councillor, leader of the Ses'khona People's Movement: who is Andile Lili? Pharie Sefali and Alide Dasnois spoke to Cape Town’s best known “poo fighter”.

Pharie Sefali and Alide Dasnois

News | 11 July 2014

The Week in Political Activism

This week we report arrests at a health demonstration in the Free State, the African Union’s recent move to immunise leaders from war crime prosecution, and an upcoming school infrastructure reform conference.

Michelle Korte

News | 10 July 2014

Langa protest in photos

Langa residents protested yesterday, demanding new houses. Several shops were looted, roads were closed and police used teargas and fired rubber bullets. Armand Hough took several dramatic photographs.

Armand Hough

News | 10 July 2014