Human Rights
Militarisation and depoliticisation in South Africa today
One of the striking features of South African politics in recent years is its re-militarisation - a tendency for political issues to be addressed or resolved by force. This is part of a wider problem of violence suffusing South African society in general - that people, especially men, vent their anger with violence rather than discuss what has caused them to be annoyed in areas unrelated to politics, for example so-called “road rage”.
Raymond Suttner
Opinion | 2 December 2014
Eviction by the back door
Shackdwellers from the original settlement in Marikana, Philippi, are celebrating a court interdict which will protect them from being arbitrarily evicted “through the back door”. Interdicts secured by landowners and municipalities are supposed to prohibit further settlement. Yet they are often so vague that they allow for people who have already settled to be removed.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 1 December 2014
Khayelitsha police, community and activists find ways to tackle crime
The police, civil society and Khayelitsha community activists are beginning to work together to give effect to the commission of inquiry into policing's recommendations. Here's an update on progress so far, and plans for next year.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 28 November 2014
Massive march to Parliament to demand Shabangu does more to end violence
“No more lip services, we want action. No more boardroom activism, no more!” shouted thousands of activists as they marched to parliament today.
Thembela Ntongana
News | 27 November 2014
Police fire rubber bullets in city centre
A man was injured when police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of about a thousand asylum seekers earlier today at the Home Affairs Temporary Refugee Centre on Cape Town’s foreshore. Witnesses say that a nine-month-old baby was also injured.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 27 November 2014
Organisations allege dreadful conditions at Pollsmoor awaiting trial facility
Lack of mattresses, a leaking roof, lack of hot water and insufficient access to medical treatment: Pollsmoor’s facility for awaiting trial prisoners has been slammed by civil society organisations for what they call “several concerns regarding conditions of detention at the facility.”
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 27 November 2014
“You see yourself vanishing and you think: I’m going to die”
Andaleeb Rinquest remembers the moment she accepted, with certainty, the imminence of her own death.
Daneel Knoetze
Feature | 26 November 2014
Sentence hearing for Angy Peter begins
This week, witnesses began testifying in the sentencing hearing of Angy Peter, Isaac Mbadu, Azola Dayimani and Christopher Dina.
Johnnie Isaac
News | 25 November 2014
Dead man left to “cook” in sun for hours
Mahlubandile Mdingi lay dead for seven hours on a street corner in Bardale extension, Mfuleni, before the health department’s pathology services took his body away.
Johnnie Isaac and GroundUp staff
News | 25 November 2014