Human Rights

Time to find a new way forward

The Bill of Rights is rightly hailed throughout the labour movement and beyond as
perhaps the finest exposition of the desire of the bulk of humanity for a world that
guarantees the maximum level of dignity, equality and freedom for all.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 12 December 2012

What should the state do now that it has lost the Dudley Lee case?

The Constitutional Court gave judgment in the matter between Dudley Lee and the Minister of Correctional Services on 11 December 2012. The court ruled in favour of Lee. Thus, yesterday almost marked the end of Mr Lee’s seven-year journey through three courts; the Cape High Court will still have to determine the amount the state must pay him.

John Stephens

Opinion | 12 December 2012

Township beauty pageants: empowering or sexist?

Township beauty pageants are extremely popular. On Saturday Sexee Simplicities ran a pageant in Du Noon. But are these competitions sexist and demeaning or do they actually empower women?

Mihle Pike and GroundUp staff

News | 5 December 2012

Months in prison without a bail hearing

If you are arrested in South Africa, even if you are innocent, expect to spend months and maybe years in prison before being released. The law says that if you are arrested you should appear before a court within 48 hours or be released. The courts have also ruled that bail hearings are urgent. Yet the police, prosecutors, magistrates and judges often ignore these rights.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 28 November 2012

My Mother’s Black Eye

There is only one thing in this world that infuriates me and that is the abuse of women. I can't stand it. The thought of it unleashes this rage within that makes me want to scream and destroy every man that has ever laid a hand on a woman.

Baldi Lox

Opinion | 28 November 2012

Vigil against information bill

Right2Know held a candlelight vigil outside Parliament on 22 November in protest against the Protection of State Information Bill.

Kate Stegeman and GroundUp Staff

Brief | 28 November 2012

Altercation highlights farm tensions

An argument between a farmer and two employees has spiralled out of control. The story shows the kinds of problems fuelling the current farm tensions in the Western Cape.

Tessa Gooding and Margo Fortune

News | 21 November 2012

Farmer accused of cutting electricity and food credit to break strike

Seventy employees at Leeuwenkuil Farm refused to work for five days until five of their colleagues were reinstated, according to the Commerical Stevedoring Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU).

Tessa Gooding

News | 21 November 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