Society

Dismissed trucking company employee fights back

Johannes Chakuvinga lodged complaints of assault and unfair dismissal against Stikland company GSP Trucking in May with the industry bargaining council. Under the impression the company was closing, Chakuvinga was persuaded in July to settle for R5,750. But the company has not closed, and he wants to re-open his complaint.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 20 August 2015

New township hotspot for gays and lesbians

Gays and lesbians in the townships don’t have to travel to town and other suburbs for entertainment. The vibe and the chillaz are brought to them in a full bucket by Bambeke NgeNtanjana Entertainment in their own Kasi (township).

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 August 2015

Living permanently disabled after violent rape

A 43-year-old woman who was raped, and stabbed three times in her spine has been left disabled, paralyzed in her right arm and left leg, and unable to speak.

Pharie Sefali

News | 17 August 2015

Shortage of local heroes: temporary care volunteers needed

Over the past month, the Western Cape Department of Social Development [DSD] in Athlone has been searching for temporary care volunteers to be trained to house and care for vulnerable children who have either been removed from their homes by a social worker. This can happen for various reasons such as behavioural problems, becoming orphaned or parental neglect and abandonment.

Barbara Maregele

News | 17 August 2015

Trending hairstyles in the township

From the German cut to the razor cut and from dreadlocks to braids, men and women in Cape Town’s townships have plenty of imagination when it comes to trending hairstyles.

Photos by Masixole FeniText by Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 14 August 2015

Community steps in to help family with epilepsy

Residents in Khayelitsha came out in their numbers at the weekend to celebrate the donation of a wheelchair and food parcel to a father and daughter who have epilepsy.

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 August 2015

Early childhood development: the children can’t wait

Scientists, economists, policy makers and child-rights advocates agree: there is growing scientific evidence that investment in early childhood development is the most cost-effective route to the sustainable development of children and their communities.

Patricia Martin

Opinion | 7 August 2015

Perhaps it’s time you cleaned your tackies?

Because two brothers hated getting their sneakers dirty and could not bear wearing dirty shoes, they came up with the unique idea of opening a tackie laundry.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 27 July 2015

Separation of powers: Have the courts crossed the line?

This is an abridged version of the speech Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke delivered at the University of the Western Cape on Friday, 17 July.

Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke

Opinion | 24 July 2015

21 at 21: The coming of age of a nation

In their newly released book, 21 at 21: The Coming of Age of a Nation, Melanie Verwoerd and Sonwabiso Ngcowa write that the term ‘born free’ is highly contested. ‘Many young people refuse to be labelled in this way, not least because of the level of poverty they still experience. As one ‘born free’ put it to us, “How can we be called born free when we live like this?”’

Melanie Verwoerd and Sonwabiso Ngcowa

News | 16 July 2015

Best friends have scales, wings and tails.

Photographer Masixole Feni has done a series of portraits of people and their pets and animals in Cape Town's townships. He found some surprising friendships.

Masixole Feni

News | 15 July 2015

I’m a lesbian sangoma from Nyanga

I was raised in a township that is known for its murders, rapes, hate crimes and robberies. Nyanga molded me with a strong personality, but has left me with challenges that will forever be rubbed in my face by those who see my sexuality as satanic.

Pharie Sefali

Opinion | 9 July 2015

GroundUp readers to the rescue of Sibhozo brothers

Generous GroundUp readers have made sure the Sibhozo brothers of Site C Taiwan informal settlement in Khayelitsha have enough to eat every day.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 11 June 2015

Urgent need to decriminalise sex work

If sex work was accepted as legitimate and legalised, much of the violence and abuse that sex workers face would be eliminated.

Savannah Russo. Photographs by Eric Miller.

Opinion | 2 June 2015

Shooting hoops through stereotypes: Philippi’s women basketball players

Even though Philippi female basketball player, Ziyanda Tyefi says the sport is still viewed as a male sport, she loves it and she cannot see herself playing anything else but it.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 26 May 2015

How you can help the Sibhozo brothers

Last week we published the story of the Sibhozo brothers. Many readers asked how they could help. Here is how.

GroundUp Staff

News | 30 April 2015