News

Mfuleni’s homemade beer brewer

Bukelwa Qebeyi moved to Mfuleni from the Eastern Cape in 1994 hoping to find a job, but like many others she never found one. So she decided to make a living from what she knew best—brewing traditional African beer.

Joyce Xi

News | 27 October 2014

Peeing into a plastic bottle on the long road from Lindela

Tapiwa, 35, was deported to Zimbabwe in August via the notorious Lindela Repatriation Centre. A few days later, he was back in South Africa. He told Tariro Washinyira his story.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 27 October 2014

Siqalo portaloo cleaners protest

Protesting portaloo cleaners from Siqalo informal settlement blocked Vanguard Drive during rush hour traffic on Friday morning. They claim that their health is being compromised by inadequate protective equipment and the failure of their employer to provide them with inoculation against disease - a requirement of their contracts.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 24 October 2014

How a groundbreaking clinic is helping men deal with HIV

You enter the Ivan Toms Centre for Men’s Health via a quiet road on the side of Woodstock Hospital. Despite the modest surroundings that superficially look no different to any other clinic, this is a pioneering experiment in public health.

Zintle Swana

News | 24 October 2014

Residents march for essential services

The City of Cape Town has been given 14 working days to respond to a memorandum of demands from the residents of Marikana, Rolihlahla Park and Klipfontein informal settlements.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 24 October 2014

Joe Slovo housing spat continues

Joe Slovo residents have accused Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela of changing the criteria for housing allocation at the last minute in order to deny them access to new houses. But Madikizela says even “approved” subsidy beneficiaries should not expect automatic allocation of houses.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 23 October 2014

Khayelitsha’s young BMXers off to the championships

Four of Khayelitsha’s finest up and coming BMXers have been hard at work on the track for the past two weeks preparing for the South African championships this weekend in Durban.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 23 October 2014

Joe Slovo residents “too young” for houses

Residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement, Langa, have been left homeless after they started demolishing their shacks under the impression that keys to new housing units would be handed over to them. The MEC for Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, has said that the shack demolitions were premature and that many of the beneficiaries are “too young” to be prioritised for housing.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 23 October 2014

Mfuleni backyarders clash over land

A piece of land in Bardale was the site of clashes at the weekend when two groups of backyard dwellers from Mfuleni confronted each other.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 21 October 2014

Police’s Firearms Registry contract probed by Hawks

After paying R340 million for a Firearms Control System that was not delivered, the SA Police Service has cancelled its contract with IT company Waymark Infotech. The botched contract is subject to a criminal investigation by the Hawks.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 21 October 2014

A tribute to Gerald Kraak

Gerald Kraak (1956-2014), who was responsible for organising funding for many leading civil society organisations, died of cancer on Sunday night. Zackie Achmat pays tribute to his old friend.

Zackie Achmat

News | 21 October 2014

Lwandle residents to SANRAL: where are our possessions?

Lwandle residents who have been rehoused after being evicted from SA National Roads Agency land in June complain that their possessions have been lost or damaged.

Pharie Sefali

News | 21 October 2014

Getting health care to sex workers in Cape Town

Leigh Davids was born a boy, but when she was five, she realised she wanted to be a girl.

Katy Scott and GroundUp Staff

News | 20 October 2014

Tackling rape in Khayelitsha

Between two and three rapes are reported every day to a single centre in Khayelitsha. And the numbers will probably rise at the end of the year.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 20 October 2014

Week in activism

This week we look at Greenpeace’s call on government to make Eskom comply with pollution laws, a report prepared for Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and a call for the Department of Home Affairs to recognise transgender rights.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 17 October 2014

Makhaza residents protest at Matthew Goniwe clinic

Inadequate treatment, disrespectful staff members, and lost patient folders have become common at the Matthew Goniwe Clinic in Makhaza, say residents, who marched in protest on 16 October.

Joyce Xi

News | 17 October 2014