Government

Workers say Metrorail endangers their livelihoods and lives

Every morning at the TCI Apparel factory in Epping, shop steward Mymoena Williams writes down the names of the textile workers who arrive late. In this notebook are entire pages filled with employees being late for the same reason: the trains.

Joy Shan

News | 30 June 2014

The social catastrophe that threatens South Africa

The South African economy is facing a rocky period. But don’t blame the platinum strike or the union or workers involved. That labour dispute was a symptom, not the cause, of problems that had developed outside of the control of the workers.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 30 June 2014

Protests at State of the Nation address

Over 50 protesters huddled behind barricades outside parliament on 17 June before President Jacob Zuma arrived to deliver the State of the Nation address that opened South Africa’s fifth parliament.

Lara Sokoloff

News | 18 June 2014

Miserable day for people who lost homes, but baby rumoured to be dead is alive

It’s cold and raining in Cape Town tonight. Ice particles formed on the ground outside the Nomzamo Community Hall in Strand where hundreds of residents, whose homes were demolished over the last two days, are sheltering.

Pharie Sefali and GroundUp staff

News | 4 June 2014

Videos from Strand demolitions

Here are two short video clips from the demolitions of people's homes that took place in Strand yesterday.

Adam Armstrong

News | 4 June 2014

Accusations fly as Strand homes demolished

“The law is the law” said a spokesman for the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL) yesterday as hundreds were left homeless in the rain after the demolition of their shacks on SANRAL-owned land near Strand.

Barbara Maregele and Adam Armstrong

Feature | 4 June 2014

Community desperate as their homes are demolished

Hundreds of people were left homeless at Nomzamo settlement in Strand on Tuesday. Shacks were smashed down while their owners watched.

Pharie Sefali and Adam Armstrong

News | 4 June 2014

Myths about the election

From a perusal of social media and certain sections of the commentariat (on both the Left and Right) one wouldn’t know that an intelligent South African electorate just handed the ANC a convincing victory in an overwhelming peaceful, free, fair and democratic election.

Gilad Isaacs

Opinion | 14 May 2014

City boots refuse removal contractor

The removal of waste at informal settlements across Cape Town will soon be conducted by new contractors.

Barbara Maregele

Feature | 14 May 2014

Expert witness: SAPS must be held accountable for how they spend their budget

Police oversight should be extended to include how SAPS spends their budget. This was the testimony of Sean Tait, coordinator of the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry this morning.

Adam Armstrong

News | 13 May 2014

R100 a week for water - prepaid water meters forced on Parow residents

Tenants in Victoria Court, who are mostly immigrants, are unhappy with the prepaid water system installed without their knowledge in April. They say they never signed a new rental agreement or agreed to pay for water on top of their rent.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 9 May 2014

Police clash with high-school students in Cape Town - province agrees to demands

Education authorities have agreed to address students' demands after about 300 students from Sizimisele Technical High School in Khayelitsha tried to protest yesterday in the city centre, complaining of a lack of teachers. The protest was blocked by a heavy police presence.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 7 May 2014

No ANC at discussion on gay rights

Political parties participated in a discussion yesterday at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) constituency after 20 years of democracy.

Dumisani Dabadini

News | 24 April 2014

Pastor leads march through “hell”

Under a banner that read “Welcome to Hell - SA Townships” Pastor Xola Skosana of the Way of Life Church led a march through Khayelitsha on Easter weekend. For the fourth year, the pastor carried a wooden cross.

Bulelani Ngovi

News | 20 April 2014

Elections: more views from people on the street

In our on-going series of interviews with the public, GroundUp asks if people intend to vote, for which party, and why.

Dumisani Dabadini

News | 17 April 2014

SJC “delighted” at progress of Khayelitsha Commission

The Social Justice Coalition is “delighted” at the progress of the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into policing, said the coalition’s Joel Bregman.

Adam Armstrong

News | 16 April 2014