Human Rights

Can online activism change the world?

Can the Internet and its endless opportunities for communication, debate, information, and knowledge give a voice to those who go un-heard in regards to social and political change? and how can its beneficial resources be used by those who do not have access to the Internet?

Andiswa Hala, Jonathan Dockney, Mary Fawzi, Nkosikhona Swartbooi

Opinion | 17 April 2013

“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

The poorest of the poor: The Karretjie Mense of the Great Karoo

In and around Colesberg, a small historical town on the N1 mid-way between Cape Town and Johannesburg, I met a group of impoverished sheep shearers living in abject poverty, surviving in tiny tin shacks on the verges of public roads. Only recently, in the last 15 years, have they become a settled, sedentary people.

Timothy Gabb

News | 6 February 2013

Are the lights coming back on in Khayelitsha?

Broken streetlights in Khayelitsha are at the centre of a debate between civil society activists, Premier Helen Zille, Mayor Patricia De Lille and several councillors responsible for wards along Lansdowne Road.

Nokubonga Yawa, Mihle Pike and GroundUp Staff

News | 30 January 2013

Man loses use of hand at work, but can’t get compensated

A Zimbabwean man, Farai Chawasema, who lost all use of his hand in an injury at work on 29 November last year, is accusing his employer, Patrick Pieterse, of Pat's Engineering and a medical practitioner, Ajmal Ikram, of Melomed Gatesville Medical Centre, of failing to get him workman's compensation.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 30 January 2013

Cash Paymaster Services go on strike - company accused of racism

GroundUp journalist Mihle Pike received a call this morning that employees at Cash Paymaster Services had gone on strike. She went to see what was going on. Here is her account.

Mihle Pike

News | 23 January 2013

Government deregisters thousands of non-profit organisations without warning

The NPO Directorate, which is part of the Department of Social Development, has deregistered about 50 000 non-profit organsations (NPOs) who it has deemed as non-compliant. This is according to Inyathelo, a Cape Town based organisation that assists NPOs.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 January 2013

Premier’s excuses leave the lights off

Last week GroundUp and the Cape Times published Doron Isaacs's detailed account of his repeated but unsuccessful attempts to have authorities repair dysfunctional streetlights in Khayelitsha.

Gavin Silber

Opinion | 23 January 2013