Society

Langa restaurant on show at Africa’s biggest tourism event

Six years ago, 51-year-old Nomonde Siyaka transformed her family's home in Langa into a two-storey traditional African food restaurant.

Barbara Maregele

News | 16 April 2015

Mbekweni Rasta’s five storey wooden house

A Rastafarian in Mbekweni has spent 20 years building himself a five storey wooden house - and he plans to add two more storeys.

Michael Nkalane

News | 15 April 2015

Defrauded Nyanga man refunded after GroundUp reports his story

After having half his salary deducted every month for over a year to pay for furniture which he did not buy, a Nyanga man has now been refunded.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 15 April 2015

Residents demand clarity on R60 million Langa Junction complex

Management of the R60 million Langa Junction complex has promised to make information available to angry residents who have complained about a lack of transparency in the building and leasing of the 5,000 square metre space.

Pharie Sefali and Nombulelo Damba

News | 14 April 2015

Athlone’s amazing pet hospital

Walking through the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in Bridgetown, Athlone, is like walking through a hospital for humans - bare walls, corridors, operating rooms. Except, that is, for the barking and for the smell of dogs.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 9 April 2015

Riders of the trains

Whiteboy and Tupac are chilling on a bench in New Canada station before their usual high-octane commute to school. Whiteboy, aged 18 and in grade 11 at a former model C school in Jozi, wears a striped T-shirt, shorts and brown suede shoes. He’s smoking Dunhill Courtleigh blends. His “macala” (friend) Tupac is a year younger, with short hair, neat in school rig and black toughees (school shoes) with red laces, high as a kite on weed, with sleepy red eyes. Their excited schoolgirl fans can’t wait to see the action.

Mosa Damane

Feature | 9 April 2015

Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards to be held on 4 April

The Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards seek to recognise Zimbabweans who have excelled in making a positive contribution to the Cape Town community in various ways, including sports, the media, academic prowess, business acumen and in the entertainment world. The awards will be announced at the Cape Town International Conference Centre on 4 April 2015.

Tariro Washinyira

Brief | 3 April 2015

Race transcends class in this country: a response to Seekings and Nattrass

In their article Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass decry that “the racialization of pain serves to reduce injustices and indiginities to race, foreclosing serious consideration of other forms of injustice and indignity”. I don’t know about Seekings and Nattrass but to me as a black person racism is a primary form of injustice and indignity.

Xolela Mangcu

Opinion | 2 April 2015

Prejudice is one of the biggest obstacles for township wheelchair users

Left disabled by a gunshot wound in 2011, Anda Mthulu from Taiwan in Khayelitsha faces much hardship in his township, through both physical and social obstacles.

Text by Kevin Elliott. Photos by Masixole Feni.

Feature | 12 February 2015

Pumping iron in Alexandra

Setting up a public gym can be an expensive business, but chance and hard work conspired to create two bustling fitness outlets in Alexandra near Sandton. And these gyms are not just about looking good: a big part of iKasi Gym’s focus is building strength of character.

Jon Pienaar

Feature | 23 January 2015

Kraaifontein gets its first spray park

Residents of Kraaifontein can now cool off at a spray park opened by mayor Patricia de Lille on Wednesday.

Michael Nkalane

News | 16 January 2015

From hiking to praying: Deer Park’s diversity in photos

Deer Park, which slopes its way from Table Mountain into the City Bowl, provides a fascinating view of Cape Town's diverse cultures. Besides being popular for picnics, cycling and hiking, it is also a source of water for some and where others perform religious activities.

Photos by Masixole Feni. Text by Kevin Elliott.

News | 12 January 2015

New Monwabisi Beach upgrade promised

Plans for the upgrade of Monwabisi Beach will be finalised early this year, says the City of Cape Town.

Mary-Anne Gontsana and Johnnie Isaac

News | 9 January 2015

Ebola, Lwandle and large fish: 2014 in photos

This was the year after Madiba died. We reported many tragic stories and breaches of human rights. But we also showed moments of happiness, beauty and dignity. Here is some of the best GroundUp photography and reporting of 2014.

GroundUp Staff

News | 22 December 2014

Township residents complain about festive season noise

Some townships residents are fed up with the noise from parties and street bashes that escalate at this time of the year.

Pharie Sefali

News | 19 December 2014

Farewell to a lovable revolutionary

Sadie Forman (1929-2014) one of the most unconventional, interesting and lovable fighters in the South African anti-apartheid movement, died on the morning of 11 December, aged 85. She spent the last years of her life with her daughter, Sara, in Lewes, in the East Sussex county of England. Her funeral will be held on 23 December.

Terry Bell

News | 19 December 2014