Sewage is spilling into Cofimvaba River
Villagers and livestock have been drinking from rancid river water
Brief | 16 February 2026
Court stops shacks from being built on District Six
State-owned land is reserved for land claims that will take several years to process
Text by Matthew Hirsch. Photos by Ashraf Hendricks.
News | 16 February 2026
In photos: Not your usual ballroom dance
“To celebrate queerness in its entirety … is something very special.”
Photo Essay | 14 February 2026
Battle over former Heathfield principal’s return
Western Cape Education Department argues reinstatement would cause “chaos at the school”
Law | 13 February 2026
Unfinished lottery-funded old age home in Mpumalanga is being looted
But National Lotteries Commission says it can’t pay for security
By Raymond Joseph and Joseph Bracken
News | 13 February 2026
80% of NSFAS students are first years
Many students drop out or find alternative funding
Chart by The Outlier. Text by GroundUp Staff.
Charts | 13 February 2026
Activists accuse Anglo of going AWOL
But the company has dismissed the claim that it is leaving South Africa as disinformation
Photo Essay | 13 February 2026
Alarming new Bill tries to “police” non-profit organisations
The Bill proposes fines of up to R1-million and prison terms of up to five years
Opinion | 13 February 2026
SCA rules medical negligence damages must be paid as lump sum
This overturns a high court ruling that the health department would provide treatment at state facilities instead of paying cash damages
Law | 13 February 2026
Photo Essays
Joburg’s old Drill Hall now an arts sanctuary
Once the site of the 1956 Treason Trial and later a prosthetic limb factory, the building has been brought to life with art installations and greenery
Touring Cape Town’s secret underground tunnels
The water flows all year round in the historic canals under the city’s streets
Text by Liezl Human. Photos by Ashraf Hendricks.
Charts
Features
Lesotho’s failed multi-million rand high-altitude sports centre
The decaying Rapokolana facility was built in 2005 but has never been fully operational. It is a missed opportunity for athletes from South Africa and Lesotho.
Ethics company told to pay back Lottery money
ProEthics and its director Dr Janette Minnaar tried to stop us publishing this article
Our Editorials
We should not be playing war games with Iran, Russia and China
Repressive regimes should have no place in our military strategy
Judges should respect press freedom
There have been too many prepublication gag orders in recent times
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Our answers to your questions
- How do I apply for an ID at Home Affairs if my parent's ID is blocked?
- How can I get an ID if I have a fraudulent birth certificate?
- I retired in 2021 and when I tried to claim UIF I was told my claim expired two years ago. Is it possible to still claim my UIF?
- What support and counselling are available for gay and trans (LGBT+) people in Cape Town?
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Selected letters to the editor
Engagement with Iran, Russia and China Is Not Endorsement
The criticism of the Will for Peace 2026 naval exercise conflates moral judgement with strategic re… Read more
School accreditation: It's not easy to find information
It is said parents must verify the school is accredited. This is not easy if information of who to… Read more
Germiston neglected: We need electricity
The is still no changes so I write this to express my concerns about the lack of electricity in our… Read more
Midrand water outage: Water outage in Dawnview Germiston
We have had water outage for six days then the water returns, and the next day it's gone. We are on… Read more
Cape Town underground tunnels: Use of Cape Town's tunnel water
I found this article interesting considering the pressures on our water supply. Is it not worth inv… Read more