What 2014 may hold for SA and the labour movement

Given the potentially highly volatile social, political and economic situation in South Africa today it would be foolhardy to forecast in any detail how the country and its people — let alone the labour movement — will fare in 2014.

Terry Bell - Inside Labour

Opinion | 22 January 2014

Khayelitsha Commision of Inquiry

News | 22 January 2014

Pharma vultures

News | 22 January 2014

The week in political activism

This week, we cover the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, what’s happening in education and the patent wars.

Brent Meersman and GroundUp Staff

News | 22 January 2014

Penumbra: an extract from Songeziwe Mahlangu’s debut novel

Penumbra arose out of Songeziwe Mahlangu’s MA in Creative Writing at Rhodes University. Set in Cape Town, it is the story of a restless young graduate, Mangaliso Zolo, working at an alienating office job for a large corporate insurance company. He suffers from mental illness, most probably schizophrenia, and the reader follows him on the chaotic journey of his mind for several days through the university southern suburbs.

Songeziwe Mahlangu

News | 22 January 2014

Khayelitsha refuse collectors angry at working conditions

Since starting in November, some Khayelitsha refuse collectors say they still haven’t received uniforms or protective gear to wear while doing their jobs. Their employer says it is all lies.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 22 January 2014

SASSA fails to pay grants on time in Gugulethu and Mitchell’s Plain

There is a large backlog in social grant payments at South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) branches in Gugulethu and Mitchell's Plain. Beneficiaries who have not received their grants in months are accusing the state agency of incompetence.

Pharie Sefali

News | 22 January 2014

Home Affairs violates court order - man arrested despite effort to be lawful

A 21-year-old Somali man, Ibrahim Abdulkhadir from Malmesbury, was turned away from the Cape Town Refugee Reception Offices (RRO) on 5 July 2012 and denied an opportunity to collect his asylum document and legalise his stay in the country.

Tariro Washinyira

Feature | 22 January 2014

Commission tours police stations and crime hotspot

It was a scorching hot day in Khayelitsha today, as the Commission of Inquiry into policing, led by Justice Kate O'Regan and Advocate Vusi Pikoli, got underway.

Adam Armstrong

Brief | 22 January 2014