West Coast mine boss must go, say staff
A gyrocopter overflying the embattled MSR Tormin mine near the remote West Coast town of Vredendal was shot at last month, according to a witness who reported the alleged incident to the local police.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 6 November 2015
Mining company “lied” to its shareholders
Representatives of the Amadiba community in the Eastern Cape have accused Australian company Mineral Commodities, part owner of the Tormin mine on the West Coast, of lying to its shareholders.
GroundUp Staff with AmaBhungane
News | 6 November 2015
Westlake residents demand better policing
Around 150 residents of Westlake township protested outside Kirstenhof police station today. They said the police were 'turning a blind eye' to crime in their community. They demanded the Kirstenhof station commander be removed for being unresponsive and that a satellite police station be established in the township. The community pledged their total co-operation with the police.
GroundUp Staff
News | 5 November 2015
No more segregation say District Six’s oldest evictees
Lead by two of District Six’s oldest surviving evictees, communities from across the Cape Flats marched on the mayor’s offices on Wednesday. They demanded a dignified return to the city for families forcibly removed during apartheid.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 5 November 2015
In photos: Police and protesters clash at University of Johannesburg
Despite what appeared to be a promising joint statement yesterday morning by University of Johannesburg (UJ) management and trade union Nehawu, tension escalated through the day on campus, culminating in police using force to disperse demonstrators.
Photos and text by Juliette Garms
News | 5 November 2015
Rugby is for girls too
No matter that they lack proper equipment and they train on a coarse field rife with thorns, the Iqhayiya High Schools Girls’ Rugby team from Khayelitsha have plenty of spirit. And the school has been nominated in the Developing School Team of the Year category for the 2015 SA Sports Awards to be announced in Gauteng on 22 November.
Siyavuya Khaya
News | 4 November 2015
Social grants: Pensioners complain about deductions for airtime
Edendale pensioner Phumzile Khumalo receives a social grant of R1,410 every month. Since last year, she says, airtime has been deducted from her account every month - without her permission.
Ntombi Mbomvu
News | 4 November 2015
SA vaccines get a shot in the arm
The $20-million partnership between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and South Africa's Biovac Institute was “the beginning of the establishment of vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the continent”, science and technology minister Naledi Pandor told GroundUp.
Sarah Wild
News | 4 November 2015
UWC students and rector reach late night deal
An agreement was reached at UWC late last night after a seven hour meeting between Rector Tyrone Pretorius, the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and #FeesMustFall. The agreement includes the university’s commitments on a range of issues including free education, outstanding debt, registration fees and outsourcing.
Ashleigh Furlong
News | 4 November 2015