The silver lining to those dark clouds of global turmoil
As another year draws to a close, the advice usually attributed to the Italian revolutionary, Antonio Gramsci constantly comes to mind: exercise pessimism of the intellect, but optimism of the will. I must admit that it has become a great deal easier over recent months to exercise pessimism of the intellect — and increasingly difficult to exercise optimism of the will to do something about changing things, domestically or globally.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 22 December 2014
Ebola, Lwandle and large fish: 2014 in photos
This was the year after Madiba died. We reported many tragic stories and breaches of human rights. But we also showed moments of happiness, beauty and dignity. Here is some of the best GroundUp photography and reporting of 2014.
GroundUp Staff
News | 22 December 2014
Phumeza’s chance to hear again
A fundraising campaign has sprung up to pay for cochlear implants that would help former drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) patient and current activist Phumeza Tisile regain her hearing.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 19 December 2014
Township residents complain about festive season noise
Some townships residents are fed up with the noise from parties and street bashes that escalate at this time of the year.
Pharie Sefali
News | 19 December 2014
What immigrants do in the holidays when it’s too expensive to travel home
Taurai Mari is from Zimbabwe, but he will be spending the December holidays in Cape Town. He has saved money to visit the city’s tourist destinations.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 19 December 2014
Farewell to a lovable revolutionary
Sadie Forman (1929-2014) one of the most unconventional, interesting and lovable fighters in the South African anti-apartheid movement, died on the morning of 11 December, aged 85. She spent the last years of her life with her daughter, Sara, in Lewes, in the East Sussex county of England. Her funeral will be held on 23 December.
Terry Bell
News | 19 December 2014
Hope Street carpenter shut down
When it is late at night and Cape Town’s streets are quiet, Mark Philander’s faint hammering at his pavement workshop on Hope Street can still be heard.
Daneel Knoetze
Feature | 18 December 2014
Problems and prejudice face Nigerians in Cape Town
After two months in Cape Town, Oscar (name changed), 40, has decided to go back to Nigeria. Like many of his compatriots, he is tired of the work permit problems and the way Nigerians are treated in South Africa.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 18 December 2014
Time for an economic alternative
The old ideas about economics are not working and we are in an unstable period, where alternative ideas should be considered, tested and grown, writes Sofie Geerts.
Dr Sofie Geerts
Opinion | 18 December 2014