Society

Maverick and the Dockrats: Where is the al-Qaeda link?

One month ago the Daily Maverick published an article by De Wet Potgieter headlined "Al Qaeda is alive and well in South Africa." A second part was promised, but has still not been published.

Yael Even Or and Camila Osorio

Opinion | 17 June 2013

Plumber who cycles to his clients

While many South Africans are enduring overcrowded taxis or ever-increasing rail fares on their daily commute, Wilfred “Jack” Delekile, a 60 year old plumber from Khayelitsha, is cycling to and from his work.

Bonga Magazi

News | 13 June 2013

What kind of boy are you?

‘Are you a boy or a girl?’ ‘Go outside and play with other boys and throw that doll away. Who bought it?’ My father shouts at me as he finds me playing with the cheap fashion doll which I secretly brought with my lunch money after months of saving.

Luckyboy Mkhondwane

Opinion | 5 June 2013

The People’s Paper: Reflections on another world, not so long ago

The offices of a community newspaper were burned to the ground in October 1985. It was situated opposite the Grand Parade and next to Cape Town’s historic City Hall. A few weeks earlier three of the newspaper’s employees were taken into detention by apartheid security police who swooped on their homes in the dead of night, armed to the teeth.

Mansoor Jaffer

News | 5 June 2013

Controversial youth website dodges censorship

“Outoilet” is an Afrikaans word meaning “old toilet”, but it also refers to a cellphone chat site, aimed mainly at Cape Flats youth. Its URLs are blocked by several service providers, but the site frequently re-emerges with different URLs.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 22 May 2013

Get Up, Stand Up, Fight like Lerato

On Friday Judge Phalatsi ordered that 13-year old Lerato Radebe be immediately readmitted to her school in Welkom. Every morning since 26 February Lerato was removed from her classroom and marched to the staff-room where she was made to spend the school day sitting idly. This was done because Lerato, whose family is Rastafarian, wears dreadlocks in her hair.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 20 May 2013

“˜Prodigal daughters’ speak out at Franschoek literary festival

The exile experience of women in the liberation movements — a largely neglected aspect of recent South African history — will feature this year at the Franschhoek Literary Festival in a discussion involving the octogenarian feminist writer, Lauretta Ngcobo.

Terry Bell

News | 16 May 2013

Interview with Lauren Beukes

Cape Town-based writer Lauren Beukes won the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel Zoo City. Her new novel, The Shining Girls, is receiving rave reviews and is set to make best-seller lists around the world. Marcus Low talked to her about her writing and about the links between speculative fiction and real-world social issues.

Marcus Low

News | 15 May 2013

Creating the Cape Cultural Collective

The Cape Cultural Collective (CCC) is as strange and unusual as it is interesting and inspirational. It began in 2007 when a small group of anti-apartheid activists, musicians, and poets decided to start a movement promoting social change in communities through artistic projects. Since then, it has grown into a large network of talented performers discussing important South African issues through song, dance, poetry, or whatever art engages and entertains their audiences.

Margo Fortune

News | 8 May 2013

How do you look after an autistic child when you live in a shack?

“I have to tie his leg to the couch. If I don’t he wanders away and I have to run around the whole of RR section in search of him, giving people a description of him and asking if anyone has seen a boy resembling my son.”

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 24 April 2013

The grant that changed my life

South Africa's social grant system is sometimes criticised as financially unsustainable and fueling dependency, but people such as Maureen Philander from Delft provide an example of how social assistance can transform lives. She shares her story with us.

Maureen Philander

Opinion | 6 March 2013

Legal and illegal drag racing in Cape Town

Police say they are taking steps to combat illegal drag racing activities in light of the growing popularity of the dangerous sport.

Janine Fortuin

News | 20 February 2013

Khayelitsha Coffee

Every morning officials at the Khayelitsha Court, taxi drivers, teachers and other people on their way to work get their freshly brewed cup of hot coffee from three enterprising young men with a logo, premises and honest graft. Maintaining a small business is hard work but these guys are making their "Department of Coffee" a going concern.

Neo Sithole

News | 20 February 2013

Ex-gang member turns life around

Suzanne, 25 years old of Kalksteen, is an ex-gang member and drug addict who is now inspiring young women in her community.

Margo Fortune

News | 20 February 2013

Refuge for homeless boys opening in D-section Khayelitsha

A new refuge has opened in Khayelitsha D-section that will accommodate young homeless boys in and around Cape Town.

Mihle Pike

News | 13 February 2013

Ocean View man explains how he lives “Off the grid”

Ricardo Fortune explains how he has freed himself of Eskom and gone off the grid to power his house.

Janine Fortuin and Neo Sithole

News | 13 February 2013