Sunday Times editor ‘was a spy’

One of the most successful agents of the apartheid state was the editor in chief of the country’s leading Sunday newspaper, the Sunday Times. This claim is contained in a book by veteran journalist John Matisonn to be released this week.

Terry Bell

News | 30 November 2015

One thousand homes destroyed in Masiphumelele fire

Distraught residents wander amongst the ash, corrugated iron, rubble and smoke of Section D in Masiphumelele, a township in Cape Town's south peninsula. In the last few hours, thousands have lost their homes and possessions. Two fire engines stand at the edge of the burnt areas.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 29 November 2015

Can Dunoon overcome its housing problems?

In a dimly-lit room, about 50 people wait to have proof-of-residence documents authorised by Dunoon ward councillor Lubabalo Makeleni.

Steve Kretzmann

Feature | 27 November 2015

Twitter war between activists and City over Wolwerivier

A spat erupted on Twitter this week when Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) director Zackie Achmat accused City of Cape Town’s Benedicta van Minnen of being ‘a liar’ and ‘one who holds black people in contempt’.

Barbara Maregele

News | 27 November 2015

National minimum wage part three: the options

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is hosting a social dialogue between business, labour and other constituencies over setting a national minimum wage (NMW). This is the final installment of a three part series by two University of Cape Town professors.

Nicoli Nattrass and Jeremy Seekings

Analysis | 26 November 2015

What are the financial implications of insourcing at UCT?

On 28 October, University of Cape Town management signed an agreement with NEHAWU (the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union) which commits the university to employ catering, transport, cleaning, security, and maintenance workers who work at UCT but are employed by outside companies. This promise of “insourcing” came in response to longstanding worker demands, and a period of intense protest in which outsourced workers were joined by many students and some UCT staff.

Ben Stanwix

Analysis | 26 November 2015

Survey shows how unsafe Khayelitsha residents feel

Most of the Harare, Khayelitsha, residents who participated in a survey campaign launched by Rape Crisis this week as part of 16 Days of Activism believe that robbery and housebreaking are the main problems in the area.

Barbara Maregele

News | 26 November 2015

Socialism: myths, prejudices and reality

The global economic crisis continues and makes for a widespread and desperate need among the lowly paid, the poor and the hungry for something better to look forward to.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 26 November 2015

Gigaba releases stats on Zimbabwean Special Permit

At a press briefing at Parliament today, Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba released statistics on the Zimbabwe Special Dispensation Permit (ZSP).

Tariro Washinyira

Brief | 25 November 2015