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
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.
By Hancu Louw
News | 30 October 2015
Protesters at Walter Sisulu University demand reinstatement of expelled students
Police used stun grenade and spray guns to disperse a group of about 300 Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students who intended to block Oxford Road with burning tyres.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
Brief | 29 October 2015
Women living in terror plan march in Grahamstown
In the blistering hot conference room of the Masifunde Education and Development Project Trust, 14 women with determined calm put together a statement: 'The police have told us that we must not go ahead with our planned protest at the City Hall on Friday as they cannot guarantee our safety. We cannot and will not back down'. The Voices of the Foreigner’s Wives represent a large number of women still too afraid to leave their homes after the spate of xenophobic violence that shook Grahamstown a week ago.
Hancu Louw
News | 29 October 2015
Fort Hare students vow to continue protests
University of Fort Hare students have vowed to continue with their #FeesMustFall protests after an exchange of letters with Vice-Chancellor Mvuyo Tom.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Siphesihle Matyila
News | 27 October 2015
Xenophobic violence and looting in Grahamstown
About 500 shopkeepers and their family members who have immigrated from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Somalia have been forced to abandon their businesses and flee for their lives after they came under attack from residents in the greater Grahamstown area last week. There were more confirmed cases of looting this morning.
Hancu Louw
Brief | 26 October 2015
Eastern Cape building workers left high and dry
Some 20,000 building workers in the Eastern Cape are not covered by any minimum wage agreement.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and GroundUp staff
News | 21 October 2015
Fire victim’s never-ending wait for a home
Bulelwa Vianne lost her parents, her sister and her brother-in-law in a fire in 2008. She was 18. Local officials promised to rebuild her home. They haven’t kept that promise.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
News | 12 October 2015
The small town whose residents live in fear for their lives
Residents of Busila near Gatyana (Willowvale) say they have lost faith in the police after two houses were set alight by unknown men in the early hours, Tuesday. Since July, four people have been killed and five houses set alight. Residents say police are failing to protect them.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
News | 8 October 2015