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
UCT and transformation: Part one
Is the University of Cape Town (UCT) transforming? What does transformation mean? In a series of articles GroundUp provides the key facts and arguments on the main points of contention facing South Africa’s oldest tertiary institution.
GroundUp Staff
Feature | 9 April 2015
Looting in Khayelitsha: EFF blamed but denies involvement
There was chaos in Khayelitsha on Wednesday with battles between police and residents occupying land, and shops being looted. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Khayelitsha have distanced themselves from the looting, but residents say it was led by people wearing EFF T-shirts and berets.
Text by Nombulelo Damba. Photos by Masixole Feni.
Feature | 9 April 2015
Sanitation: SJC’s analysis is faulty
The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has asked the Mayor for a plan to deal with sanitation in informal settlements. We have a plan – one that has already been and continues to be implemented as part of this administration’s commitment to making this a city that delivers services to all our residents. Perhaps that is why so many people flock here from other parts of the country every year. After all, no one packs up their family and leaves their hometown for a worse life!
Ian Neilson
Opinion | 8 April 2015
Long wait for Motsepe money
Khayelitsha residents who applied for funds from the Khayelitsha Motsepe Foundation in 2013 might have to wait months for the money, says the head of the Motsepe Foundation in the Western Cape, Steve Mashalane.
Nombulelo Damba
Feature | 8 April 2015
Workers at Groote Schuur allege illegal pay deductions
A manager at cleaning company Pronto Kleen has been charged with fraud after allegedly inflating employees’ working hours and claiming the extra money for herself.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 8 April 2015
We’re being targeted, say homeless
Homeless people in Observatory, Woodstock and Bellville have complained about a wave of law enforcement operations against them in the last two months.
Ian Broughton
Feature | 8 April 2015
Khayelitsha residents occupy children’s playgrounds
Anger and frustration was written on the faces of All Stars football players when a group of TR Informal Settlement residents allegedly led by Economic Freedom Fighters took over their playgrounds on Tuesday morning.
Nombulelo Damba
News | 7 April 2015
Cash-strapped touch rugby team needs funds for World Cup
Just three weeks ahead of the World Cup in Australia, members of the national men’s touch rugby team are still scrambling to raise enough money to fund their trip. Most of the players are from the Bo-Kaap.
Barbara Maregele
News | 7 April 2015