Government

An alternative to more chaos and destruction?

The promises and the policies, the personalities elected, even the potential political
punch-ups at Mangaung are basically irrelevant.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 19 December 2012

Ridiculous complexity of housing in South Africa

Millions of South Africans at the end of apartheid dreamed of living in a house one day. This was the hope offered by the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Eighteen years later there has been progress. The Department of Housing says that over 3 million houses have been built sheltering over 13 million people. But there is a terribly long way to go.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 21 November 2012

Showdown over police inquiry

On 22 August, in response to a call made in November 2011 from several social justice organisations, Premier Helen Zille established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged police inefficiency and a breakdown in relations between police and communities in Khayelitsha. The commission is being chaired by former Constitutional Court judge, Kate O'Regan and Advocate Vusi Pikoli.

Tessa Gooding

News | 7 November 2012

It’s still dark in Khayelitsha

Earlier this year, GroundUp published a story on the issue of street lights not working on Lansdowne Road in Khayelitsha.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 12 September 2012

Five years and still no street lights on N2 Gateway

Delft ward councillor Michael Sandile Toko is in charge of ward 20 which includes Voorbrug, Eindhoven and Delft South. His duties include bringing services and projects provided by the City of Cape Town to the people of these areas.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 12 September 2012

Picking up the pieces left by a corrupt councillor

Umrhabulo Triangle is the name of ward 96 in Makhaza Khayelitsha. Former ward councilor, Thabile Maxon Ludidi, had to step down when he faced corruption charges. Now 34-year old Councillor, Danile Khatshwa, is having to pick up the pieces.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 12 September 2012

Khayelitsha Councillor: City ignores my community

The councillor for a major ward in Khayelitsha says the city is ignoring the real needs of his community.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 5 September 2012

Athlone councillor finds ways to counter violence and drug use

Some parts of Athlone have serious violence and drug problems. We interviewed the ward councillor for these areas to find out what's being done about it.

Margo Fortune

News | 5 September 2012

Marinovich on Marikana and journalism

GroundUp interviewed investigative journalist Greg Marinovich, who has published shocking findings about the deaths of miners at Marikana.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

News | 4 September 2012

Behind the political posturing and defensiveness are people with genuine unfilled needs

None of the big political parties are showing the kind of leadership that is needed when it comes to housing.

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 29 August 2012

Service delivery failures: we need leadership not opportunists

I live in a house in Nyanga township in Cape Town. But before 1994 I lived in Nyanga Bush in a tent, then a plastic shack, then a corrugated iron shack.

Vuyiseka Dubula

Opinion | 8 August 2012

My Vote Counts campaign launched

This past Saturday, 28 July, saw the launch of the ‘My Vote Counts’ campaign. The event took place at the District Six Museum in Cape Town and was attended by more than 40 social activists, all of whom participated in their personal capacities. The occasion was marked by speeches from veteran activist Zackie Achmat, director of Cape Town-based social justice organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi, and well-known cartoonist Jonathan ‘Zapiro’ Shapiro.

Fritz Schoon

Opinion | 1 August 2012

Gay and lesbian activists protest Holomisa’s call for review

Last Wednesday, gay and lesbian rights organisations handed a memorandum to the ANC Western Cape representative, Songezo Mjongile.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 July 2012

Of transitions, nonsense and historical distortions

“What the country now needs is growth with social justice. And this will require the state to play a major role in creating the conditions and dictating the policy direction of economic growth.”

Terry Bell

Opinion | 4 July 2012

White youth as part of a larger community

This is a speech given by journalist Waldimar Pelser at an Ndifuna Ukwazi seminar on 16 June.

Waldimar Pelser

Opinion | 27 June 2012

Political advisors must stay away from tenders

The authors argue that the recent findings by the Public Protector on the Western Cape Communications tender are not a storm in a teacup.

Fatima Hassan and Greg Solik

Opinion | 27 June 2012