Soweto hostel dwellers repelled

Last week, residents of Soweto’s Mzimhlophe Women’s Hostel were at the forefront of a crowd that occupied 66 new homes at the hostel site which have stood empty for over seven years.

Mosa Damane

News | 17 February 2015

Gugulethu standoff underscores struggle for urban land

The City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement evicted land occupiers near Gugulethu on Saturday morning – demolishing six shacks before violent protests erupted. By Monday calm had returned to the community, but the frustrations of shack dwellers from KwaKiki and Sweethome Farm informal settlements continue unrelieved. As police remain on site, residents have vowed that their struggle for land will continue.

Daneel Knoetze

Feature | 16 February 2015

Advocacy group takes large credit firm to court over deductions

On Monday, the University of Stellenboch Legal Aid Clinic will take a group of creditors to court in a bid to have alleged illegal emolument attachment orders declared null and void.

Barbara Maregele

News | 16 February 2015

A silver lining for the post office?

Every cloud has a silver lining. This expression implies that there is some good in every troubled circumstance. Yet it is often difficult to find that silver lining in terms of benefits gained or lessons learned. However, in the present shambles that is the Post Office many workers and trade unions seem to have learned a valuable lesson: nationalisation — state control — does not necessarily mean any improvement.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 16 February 2015

Khayelitsha students protest lack of teachers

About 50 students from Sizimisele Technical High School in Khayelitsha left school on Friday morning to march on the Western Cape Department of Education over a shortage of teachers.

Daneel Knoetze

Brief | 14 February 2015

Addiction and alcoholism: from boardrooms to the streets

I’ve been around recovery from addiction for over ten years. I’m in recovery myself, and I have counselled many addicts and alcoholics who have come in and out of my office. Right now I’m doing what I love the most. I’m trying to find ways to create awareness about addiction and alcoholism; problems that are destroying our society.

Ady Dodds

Opinion | 13 February 2015

After the SONA: questions for President Zuma

President Zuma's State of the Nation Address was thin on detail. Here are a list of questions that we suggest Members of Parliament could ask, so that people living in South Africa will be better informed.

GroundUp Staff

Analysis | 13 February 2015

A Langa team qualifies for prestigious U19 soccer tournament for first time

On the weekend, the Metropolitan U19 Cup play-offs come to an end with the round-robin stage at the Bayhill United Legacy grounds in Mitchell’s Plain. 14 teams from the Western Cape will join host club Bayhill United, reigning champions Ajax Cape Town and Morgenster United champions in the Mitchell’s Plain LFA.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 13 February 2015

Corruption busting vs defamation in Lowveld court case

A well-known Limpopo businessman is suing the editor of a small Lowveld newspaper, Kruger2Canyon, for R500 000 in a defamation case described by the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) as having “elements of intimidation and censorship by individuals with significant power”.

Pharie Sefali

Feature | 13 February 2015

Angy Peter trial: prosecution and defence spar over restorative justice process

The relatives of Rowan du Preez, who was kidnapped and necklaced more than two years ago, are “ready and willing” to participate in mediated talks with the four convicted of his murder, the Cape High Court heard this morning.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 February 2015

Prejudice is one of the biggest obstacles for township wheelchair users

Left disabled by a gunshot wound in 2011, Anda Mthulu from Taiwan in Khayelitsha faces much hardship in his township, through both physical and social obstacles.

Text by Kevin Elliott. Photos by Masixole Feni.

Feature | 12 February 2015

What immigrants would like President Zuma to say

GroundUp asked four immigrants to South Africa what they would like President Jacob Zuma to say in his State of the Nation Address tonight.

Zintle Swana. Photos by Masixole Feni.

News | 12 February 2015

Why mining industry leaders should drive to Woodstock this week

The annual Investing in African Mining Indaba is once again under way at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It is a rather depressed affair this year, with an unresolved regulatory regime, looming labour disputes and an energy crisis that makes investing in South Africa look a lot less interesting than in other countries in Africa.

Melissa Fourie

Opinion | 12 February 2015

“We don’t feel safe walking the streets” - Khayelitsha resident to President Zuma

Four Khayelitsha residents shared their views with us on what they would like President Jacob Zuma to talk about in the State of the Nation Address tonight.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 12 February 2015

Convicted activists vow to challenge gatherings law

A Cape Town magistrate has convicted ten activists from the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) for convening an illegal gathering. Although they were discharged with a caution, the group has vowed to appeal the conviction, and to have the Regulations of Gatherings Act declared unconstitutional by a higher court.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 11 February 2015

Call for deregistration of Jewish students receives uncompromising response from vice-chancellor

In a strongly worded response to a memorandum received from the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Progressive Youth Alliance at the Durban University of Technology, vice-chancellor Ahmed Bawa has written that it is "outrageous, preposterous and a deep violation of our National Constitution and every human rights principle" for these organisations to have demanded the deregistration of Jewish students.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 11 February 2015