Government

Marikana: reminders of a massacre

Three years ago on this day, the police shot dead 34 miners at Marikana. Here are some of the articles we've published since then that, sadly, remain current and relevant.

GroundUp Staff

Analysis | 16 August 2015

City cannot continue to ignore the crisis at Wolwerivier

There is a deepening crisis of overcrowding, joblessness, insecurity and general destitution at Wolwerivier relocation camp. The community have explained their experiences, along with a call for engagement and support, in writing to the City of Cape Town. Their letter was ignored.

Daneel Knoetze

Opinion | 14 August 2015

Over 7,000 people live on the streets of Cape Town

More than 7,000 people are homeless in Cape Town and a large percentage of them are male. This is according to the City of Cape Town's Social Development and Early Childhood Development Directorate's survey.

Bernard Chiguvare and Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 6 August 2015

“Sex work should not cost me my life”

On a wet and windy Tuesday morning on the corner of Oak and Main roads in Kenilworth, people gathered to sing and dance on the pavement, many in bright orange T-shirts with the words, 'Sex work should not cost me my life' written across their fronts.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 5 August 2015

The worst spokesman in government?

Because GroundUp is currently based in Cape Town, many of our stories deal with difficult issues for the local government here. Yet despite the often harsh criticisms of the City of Cape Town that appear on our website, the City’s media department nearly always responds to our queries professionally. The same goes for the South African Police Service.

GroundUp Staff

News | 4 August 2015

Lost belongings after evictions: a chaotic blame game

A year after their eviction from land owned by the SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL), some Lwandle residents say their possessions were never returned to them. But SANRAL says the goods were placed under the control of a community leader, and the agency is not to blame if residents did not get their belongings back.

GroundUp staff

News | 31 July 2015

SACP’s flag is palest pink

Unity and cohesion remain the slogans for the ANC-led alliance as the three partners echo the claim of last week’s Cosatu special national congress that such togetherness has been assured. It hasn’t. But, with the infighting having gone overwhelmingly in favour of the executive, there are hurried attempts to create a facade of unity as the lobbying continues.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 27 July 2015

City and Blikkiesdorp residents fail to see eye-to-eye

“Residents of Blikkiesdorp do not trust the City [of Cape Town government],” says a Blikkiesdorp leader, Jerome Daniels. A meeting on Thursday night highlighted the ongoing tensions between this community and the City.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 27 July 2015

Separation of powers: Have the courts crossed the line?

This is an abridged version of the speech Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke delivered at the University of the Western Cape on Friday, 17 July.

Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke

Opinion | 24 July 2015

Why selection of next Concourt judge is a big deal

The Judicial Service Commission is interviewing four candidates for the Constitutional Court today and tomorrow (9 and 10 July). Alison Tilley of the Open Democracy Advice Centre explains why this week's process matters so much.

Alison Tilley

Opinion | 9 July 2015

Is Operation Fiela to be extended?

Operation Fiela was instituted in May for two months in response to xenophobic violence in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) carry out its raids.

Mariska Morris

News | 7 July 2015

Close down deadly tavern, demand protesters

Over 200 young people in Khayelitsha marched to Harare Police at 11am today (6 July 2015) to demand the closure of Osi’s Place, a local tavern.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 6 July 2015

Is it the end for popular Cape Town circus?

As part of the City of Cape Town's plans to rationalise municipal facilities, the South African National Circus School (SAN Circus) will have to vacate their premises in Observatory, after their lease was terminated before it was set to expire.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 3 July 2015

Disturbing court judgment ignores our rights

On 23 June the Pretoria High Court struck from the roll an application by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) that tried to put an urgent end to Operation Fiela. Lara Wallis explains why this is deeply concerning.

Lara Wallis

Opinion | 1 July 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

Court to decide if Operation Fiela is constitutional

Is Operation Fiela lawful? Judge Jan Hiemstra in the North Gauteng High Court will hear argument today from Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) that it isn’t.

GroundUp Staff

News | 23 June 2015