Crime

Too many bad apples: IPID report reveals unacceptable levels of criminality within the police

Over the past year, people filed 6 728 cases of criminal and professional misconduct against police officers with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). This number represents 4.3% of active police officers (officers employed in terms of the SAPS Act).

Craig Oosthuizen

News | 9 October 2013

Khayelitsha residents on the O’Regan/Pikoli Commission

The O'Regan/Pikoli Commision of Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha is to go ahead after a Constitutional Court ruling last week. GroundUp went to the streets of Khayelitsha to gauge people’s reaction to the ruling.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

Opinion | 9 October 2013

The People versus the Minister of Police

Yesterday, the Constitutional Court dismissed a request by the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa and others to hear a direct appeal against the appointment of the O’Regan/Pikoli Commission of Inquiry.

Jacques van Heerden

Opinion | 2 October 2013

Zimbabwean man dies in Langebaan police cells

A Zimbabwean family has accused the police of negligence and human rights abuses after 29-year-old Arthur Padzakashamba died in custody in the Langebaan police cells. The family alleges that he was arrested when reporting a domestic violence case against his estranged wife after she had allegedly stabbed him on 6 September 2013.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 September 2013

How to become a murderer in Nyanga

Sipho [name changed] is 18 years old and a hardened gangster. He has lived his whole life in Nyanga, the Cape Town township with the highest rate of murder in the country.

Pharie Sefali

News | 22 September 2013

SJC Civil Disobedience matter postponed

The matter against the twenty-one Social Justice Coalition (SJC) activists, who took part in a civil disobedience action last week, has been postponed to 23 October 2013. The 21 activists appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

Brief | 18 September 2013

Gang violence, not just Manenberg

Township residents are complaining that murders in the townships are not being taken seriously with media and political attention focusing on the Cape Flats.

Pharie Sefali

News | 18 September 2013

“I don’t see myself living anywhere but Manenberg”

Roegchanda Pascoe and her younger brother have watched through the window of their home as rival gangs fought with each other day in and day out. But Pascoe says she doesn’t see herself living anywhere but Manenberg.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 18 September 2013

Civil society organisations visit gang stricken Manenberg

Members of various civil society organisations led a solidarity visit to gang stricken Manenberg to monitor the situation and to lend a helping hand to the community.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 11 September 2013

Millions for Western Cape substance abuse programmes

The Department of Social Development in the Western Cape has increased this years annual budget for interventions to address substance abuse to R87-million.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

News | 11 September 2013

Taxi associations fight over routes

Two taxi drivers from the Delft Taxi Association were shot dead during the course of last week in a shooting spree between taxi drivers from Delft, Nyanga and Khayelitsha over ownership of certain routes.

Pharie Sefali

News | 11 September 2013

The case for decriminalising the use of drugs

Drug abuse harms the individual, their family, community and country. As the drug trade increased globally, to save people from themselves, in 1970, US president Richard Nixon launched the “war on drugs”.

JP van Niekerk

Opinion | 9 September 2013

Police receiving sensitivity training

Hundreds gathered in Gugulethu last week when Deputy Minister of Police Makhotsho Maggie Sotyu addressed the relationship between the police, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community and sex workers.

Pharie Sefali

News | 3 September 2013

Activist harrased by police receives bail

An activist who has been trying to hold the police accountable in Khayelitsha appears to be a victim of police harassment. Social Justice Coalition (SJC) activist Angy Peter has been released on R2 000 bail and her case for kidnapping and attempted murder postponed for further investigation.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 28 August 2013

Unsolved deaths in police custody

In December 2011, residents of Nyanga were furious when they heard about the death of Kwezi Mbatsha in police custody.

Pharie Sefali

News | 28 August 2013

UWC students assaulted on their way home from university bar

Campus Protection Services at the University of Western Cape (UWC), Bellville campus, has been accused of negligence by five students after they were were assaulted in the early hours of 11 August by three men. The students -- four female, who have declined to be named for safety reasons, and one male, Sipho* (name changed) -- were returning to their residences from the Barn, a university bar.

Tariro Washinyira and Thuliswa Martins

News | 28 August 2013