SAPS twice as lethal as US police

In a feature titled The Counted, The Guardian is keeping track of the number of people killed by police action in the United States. “US police kill more in days than other countries do in years,” says The Guardian. We wondered how the police in South Africa compare.

GroundUp Staff

Analysis | 10 June 2015

Fireworks at AIDS conference

Benny Malakoane, MEC for Health in the Free State, came under fire while sitting in the audience at the opening of the 7th South African AIDS Conference in Durban on Tuesday evening. Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) chairperson, Nkhensani Mavasa, delivering one of the opening speeches, called for him to be dismissed.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 10 June 2015

Should Blikkiesdorp move, or the airport?

Apparently, it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “You fail to plan, and you plan to fail.” This axiom was repeated to me by a Blikkiesdorp community member.

Alison Tilley

Opinion | 9 June 2015

Iris House provides free, community-based care for special needs children

South Africa's first Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Association will be launched later this year, according to the founder of Iris House Children's Hospice Sue van der Linde.

Barbara Maregele

News | 9 June 2015

Coping with chronic epilepsy while living in a shack: one family’s story

Siphokazi Rululu (14) and her father, Ayanda Qhara, both suffer from chronic epilepsy. Her mother leaves for work in a restaurant chain kitchen at 6am and returns at 7pm four-days a week. Siphokazi’s sister, who is seven years old, must sometimes care for her family during these times.

Pharie Sefali

News | 9 June 2015

Gun shots any time of day in Manenberg

This past weekend in gang-plagued Manenberg, a number of shootings took place once again in what community members refer to as one of those “worse weekends”.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 8 June 2015

De Waal Drive tenants mobilise against potential evictions

The De Waal Drive tenants’ campaign to resist relocation to Pelican Park is gaining momentum. This weekend signatures from most tenants to ratify their elected committee were gathered, and yesterday the committee had a strategic session with the South Road Families Association (SRFA).

Daneel Knoetze

Opinion | 8 June 2015

Burundians burnt out in Lower Crossroads

It is almost a week since violence between Marikana and Lower Crossroads residents in Cape Town erupted leaving a trail of destruction. Four Burundians, bystanders caught up in the devastation, are now struggling to pick up their lives.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 8 June 2015

Cape Town’s all blind gospel group

After struggling for 14 years to get a recording deal, three blind performers from Cape Town will finally launch their CD next month.The three call themselves Treasured Voices. They sing gospel jazz. They say when they sing, people forget that they are blind.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 8 June 2015