The week in political activism
This week we have reports from Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), SECTION27, Medecins Sans Frontieres, SERI, the residents of Slovo Park, Lawyers for Human Rights, Wits Justice Project and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Compiled by Brent Meersman
News | 6 February 2014
South Africa’s water wars
Ma Gladys Mphepho hovers over a pot on a two plate cooker in her shack in Papamani, an informal settlement outside of Grahamstown. “We do not have dignity,” she says, stirring the rice, flavoured with beef stock, that is her family’s Sunday lunch. “We do not know what it means to have dignity. Forget about any question of dignity,” says Mphepho.
Mandy de Waal
News | 5 February 2014
Police oversight bodies failing
For three days, the Khayelitsha Commission has heard from various bodies responsible for oversight and cooperation with the police. Their testimonies have not inspired confidence.
Adam Armstrong
News | 5 February 2014
Less than 2km of Upington street paved after a year
An expanded public works project in Upington to pave three streets of 1.8km is incomplete a year later and no account can be given of the project by the Department of Public Works, the local municipality, or the responsible councillor.
Selby Nomnganga
News | 5 February 2014
Disturbing video of “street justice” given to Commission
A disturbing video taken with a cell phone shows a man being beaten up brutally in Khayelitsha. It was placed in evidence at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry yesterday.
GroundUp Staff
News | 5 February 2014
Police accused of extortion
The Khayelitsha Commission has heard testimony about refugees and their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
Adam Armstrong
News | 5 February 2014
Untitled: an extract from Kgebetli Moele’s latest novel
Kgebetli Moele burst on to the literary scene with Room 207 (Kwela, 2006). That success was followed by The Book of the Dead (2009), a deeply shocking novel whose protagonist deliberately sets out to infect as many people as he possibly can with HIV.
Kgebetli Moele
News | 4 February 2014
Home Affairs uses “sad and bad” court ruling against refugees
The hopes of thousands of asylum seekers in the Western Cape have been dashed by Director General (DG) of Home Affairs (DHA) Mkuseli Apleni.
Brent Meersman
News | 4 February 2014