News

Novels by South Africa’s Dickens given new life

“Alex La Guma has come home.” With those words, a visibly emotional Blanche La Guma last weekend received the first book, “hot off the presses” containing three of her late husband’s best-known novels, all of them banned in the apartheid era. The occasion was the initial launch of Alex La Guma - a colossus revisited at the literary festival in the small Western Cape resort town of Montagu.

Terry Bell

News | 6 July 2015

Ambitious student documentary explores apartheid murder

On 3 July 1985 Johannes “Papi” Spogter, who was only 15, was dragged out of his home in the middle of the night by police. Earlier that day he had taken part in a UDF demonstration against the murder of the Cradock four. Shortly after the demonstration Spogter witnessed the police shoot dead 19-year-old Mzwandile “Zed” Miggels, who organised the march and was a leader in the UDF.

Shadi Garman

News | 6 July 2015

“Teachers suffer as we suffer. But we need to hold them accountable,, Dwane tells education activists

Equal Education members from across the country gathered at the opening ceremony for the organisation's second triennial National Congress on Saturday. The main theme of the four-day event underway at the University of the Western Cape in Bellville is "Building our democratic movement for education justice and equality."

Barbara Maragele and GroundUp Staff

News | 6 July 2015

Court dismisses eviction of retired Montagu farmworker

A retired farmworker and his family who were evicted from their home on Langdam farm in Montagu last year are entitled to move back to their farmhouse, the Land Claims court in Cape Town ruled this week.

Barbara Maregele

News | 3 July 2015

Tsunami residents pressure state to move them to new land

Tsunami Informal Settlement near Delft in Cape Town is a severely deprived area. Residents have been expecting to be moved to a better area, but it appears their hopes have been dashed.

Nombulelo Damba-HendrikMasixole Feni

News | 3 July 2015

Operation Fiela: I saw soldiers moving towards my stall, says trader

A Nigerian trader arrested at Cape Town station during Operation Fiela on World Refugee Day has described how he was accused of drug dealing.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 2 July 2015

Sweet deal for Kayamandi beekeeper

Six years ago, Loyiso Mbete from Kayamandi in Stellenbosch saw a gap and struck a deal to buy 80 beehives from a local farm. Now the 35-year-old part-time construction contractor runs a thriving beekeeping business with more than 320 hives on several farms across the winelands in the Western Cape.

Barbara Maregele

News | 2 July 2015

Commuters angry at Metrorail increases

COSATU and an organisation called Public Transport Voice have criticised Metrorail Cape Town's ticket increases which kick in today, 1 July 2015. Metrorail, however, says the fare increase is unavoidable.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 1 July 2015

There’s no excuse, Minister: Here’s the proof

There are massive medicine stockouts in the public health system. These are mainly due to failures within the state system, not external problems such as global supply shortages that Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi has claimed are primarily responsible. Here’s the proof.

Ashleigh FurlongNathan Geffen

News | 30 June 2015

The dark and dangerous road to school rural children face

About 200 pupils from farm schools in Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw handed a memorandum to the Western Cape Education Department on Monday. The demonstration was organised by Women on Farms Project.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 29 June 2015

Marikana Commission dodges compensation issue

What compensation should there be for the victims of the Marikana massacre? The answer given in Judge Ian Farlam's final report released by President Zuma on Thursday night differs substantially from the recommendations given by the Marikana Commission's evidence leaders.

Ashleigh Furlong and GroundUp staff

News | 26 June 2015

Counselling on wheels to come to Khayelitsha

“It will be like an emotional ambulance.” This is the vision of 28-year-old Banetsi Mphunga: a mobile psychology clinic in Khayelitsha which will see kids in the township receive free help dealing with psychological trauma.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 June 2015

Homeless people living near Biscuit Mill displaced

On Monday 15 June, contractors hired by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), began demolishing a building located on Railway Street across the train tracks from The Biscuit Mill. The building in question was a three-story building that was deemed “obsolete” by Henry Masimla, the PRASA real estate manager.

Jess Holdengarde and Shadi Garman

News | 26 June 2015

“We work in love without discrimination” — How immigrant women are making successful businesses

Fatima Mahomed Abukar immigrated to South Africa from war-torn Somalia. She together with a group of Somalis, Burundians, Senegalese and Malawians sell belts, socks and bags in Stellenbosch. Their business now runs smoothly, but they had to fight to get it that way.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 June 2015