News

In photos: Police and protesters clash at University of Johannesburg

Despite what appeared to be a promising joint statement yesterday morning by University of Johannesburg (UJ) management and trade union Nehawu, tension escalated through the day on campus, culminating in police using force to disperse demonstrators.

Photos and text by Juliette Garms

News | 5 November 2015

Rugby is for girls too

No matter that they lack proper equipment and they train on a coarse field rife with thorns, the Iqhayiya High Schools Girls’ Rugby team from Khayelitsha have plenty of spirit. And the school has been nominated in the Developing School Team of the Year category for the 2015 SA Sports Awards to be announced in Gauteng on 22 November.

Siyavuya Khaya

News | 4 November 2015

Social grants: Pensioners complain about deductions for airtime

Edendale pensioner Phumzile Khumalo receives a social grant of R1,410 every month. Since last year, she says, airtime has been deducted from her account every month - without her permission.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 4 November 2015

SA vaccines get a shot in the arm

The $20-million partnership between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and South Africa's Biovac Institute was “the beginning of the establishment of vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the continent”, science and technology minister Naledi Pandor told GroundUp.

Sarah Wild

News | 4 November 2015

UWC students and rector reach late night deal

An agreement was reached at UWC late last night after a seven hour meeting between Rector Tyrone Pretorius, the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and #FeesMustFall. The agreement includes the university’s commitments on a range of issues including free education, outstanding debt, registration fees and outsourcing.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 4 November 2015

Snakes in the classroom

A school caretaker falls into a pit toilet and struggles for an hour to get out; snakes invade a primary school classroom: it’s just another day in Eastern Cape schools.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 3 November 2015

“If I move out, where will I go?,

Residents of houses on a state farm in Stellenbosch will hear next year whether the Western Cape High Court will grant the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works an order to evict them.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 3 November 2015

Accused in Masiphumelele mob justice murder gets bail

Hundreds of Masiphumelele residents sang outside Simon’s Town Magistrates’ Court at the bail hearing of community activist Lubabalo Vellem.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 2 November 2015

Dispute over who represents students at UWC

On Monday, a group of about 300 protesters at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) continued their call for free education, an end to outsourcing, scrapping registration fees, clearing student debt, and the incorporation into the institution of Kovacs private residence on the UWC campus.

Ashleigh Furlong and GroundUp staff

News | 2 November 2015

Bellville Home Affairs door closed to refugees

Refugees and organisations working with them in the Western Cape say they were not informed with adequate time nor consulted by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) about the closure of its Bellville office for refugee travel and applications for identity documents.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 2 November 2015

The toilet collectors

News | 2 November 2015

Masiphumelele on edge as community leader appears in court

The Masiphumelele man who is accused of murder, attempted murder, assault with attempt to do grievous bodily harm, and public violence appeared in the Simon's Town Magistrates' Court this morning for his bail application. The matter was held over to 2 November.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 30 October 2015

Make Grahamstown a better place for all, say protesters

About 100 people gathered in front of the Grahamstown City Hall to protest against the xenophobic violence that has hit the town and surrounding townships for more than a week.

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News | 30 October 2015

Fired newspaper employee wins settlement award

Bongani Fani, the newspaper deliveryman dismissed by Independent Newspapers, has accepted an award of R34,000 (the equivalent of three-months gross pay) after a hearing at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). It took seven months to reach the settlement for an amount slightly less than the R40,000 his lawyer had asked for.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 30 October 2015

Do what you believe is the right thing, 1980s activist tells students

Activists are always in a minority, 1980s student leader Llewellyn MacMaster told students in Cape Town last night.

GroundUp Staff

News | 30 October 2015

Students march to parliament

A few hundred students and workers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) marched to parliament this afternoon demanding an end to outsourcing at all universities, protesting against police brutality, and calling for free education.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 29 October 2015