Human Rights
“I just want to go back to South Africa. I miss it so much.”
Two Mozambican sisters living in a Child and Youth Care Centre (care centre) since 2007 were deported to their home country in January despite nine years of growing up in South Africa.
Amanda Purtell
News | 17 April 2013
Ending the book famine for the blind
A treaty that has the potential to change the lives of millions of blind people is at risk of being hijacked by publishers who show no sympathy for the difficulties faced by blind people across the world
Marcus Low
Opinion | 10 April 2013
Outspoken activist for gay rights arrested in Zambia
Paul Kasonkomona, a Zambian human rights activist with many years’ experience, was arrested in Lusaka on Sunday for publically supporting the rights of Zambia’s sexual minorities. He was arrested shortly after appearing on an independent television channel, Muvi TV, where he spoke in favour of access to health care for sex workers, prisoners, and sexual minorities.
Jacques van Heerden
News | 10 April 2013
Andile Mngxitama: we need to draw a line in the sand
On the 15th of March Jared Sacks, a journalist and activist, published an article in the Mail & Guardian asking whether or not Steve Biko, the Steve Biko of 1977, would have supported Mamphele Ramphele’s recent political initiative. Some people, including people who had been close to Biko, really liked the piece. Others, including the well-known public commentator Andile Mngxitama, didn’t like it at all.
Zackie Achmat and Richard Pithouse
Opinion | 27 March 2013
Two children killed by illegal connections
Andile Duvane was electrocuted on Wednesday 13 March while playing soccer with his friends. He stepped on open electrical wires outside Metrorail's substation at the RR section in Khayelitsha.
Mary-jane Matsolo
News | 20 March 2013
Apartheid: South Africa’s history, Palestine’s reality?
This is an edited version of remarks made by Doron Isaacs at an event hosted by the UCT Palestine Solidarity Forum for Israel Apartheid Week 2013. The other panelists, who spoke prior to Isaacs, were Professor Andrew Nash and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
Doron Isaacs
Opinion | 15 March 2013
Social Justice Coalition protests community protection from police
On March 11th, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) staged a protest outside of parliament in Cape Town proposing a new memorandum aimed at improving relations between community members and the police that serve them.
Nokubonga Yawa
News | 13 March 2013
Allegations of abuse in clothing factories
Workers in Kwazulu-Natal clothing factories have made allegations of abuse against factory owners in affidavits provided to GroundUp.
Issa Saunders
News | 13 February 2013
Continued existence of shacks is a real scandal
Yet another shack fire has devastated the BM section of Khayelitsha. On New Years morning fires raged through the community, leaving about 4,000 people homeless and killing at least four. The responses from authorities to what has now become a routine occurrence in the area have been mixed.
Ben Fogel
Opinion | 13 February 2013