Unity after Madiba?
After the departure of Nelson Mandela, where is this unity we talk about? On the day of Tata's memorial the world was watching. It was a day where South Africans from different backgrounds, through the rain, walked, drove, took buses, trains and taxis to Soccer City to witness the memorial of an African hero.
Axolile Notywala
Opinion | 12 December 2013
Hatched the day before Madiba’s release: a born-free speaks
I was born the day before Madiba's release from prison. Most of what I know about him I was told by my parents or I learnt at school. I never met him. Nevertheless, the way he shared his life made it feel as if I knew him personally.
Nwabisa Pondoyi
Opinion | 12 December 2013
If the boo fits …
In his 2004 Nelson Mandela lecture Desmond Tutu bravely suggested that an “uncritical, sycophantic, obsequious conformity” constituted a threat to democracy in South Africa. He said that “too many are foolhardy and opt for silence to become voting cattle for the party.”
Doron Isaacs
Opinion | 12 December 2013
Humbug Dr Survè
Iqbal Survè, whose company Sekunjalo now owns Independent Newspapers, is not merely a profoundly disingenuous man. He has shown that he's willing to use his newly acquired media empire to support his disingenuity.
Nathan Geffen, GroundUp Editor
Opinion | 11 December 2013
Zimbabwean kids detained after being smuggled into SA
The parents and relatives of six Zimbabwean children and five adults have found themselves helpless after malaichas (their smugglers) were arrested for human trafficking.
Tariro Washinyira
News | 11 December 2013
Fears of surge in Manenberg gang violence
Some Manenberg residents are worried that gang violence has started again in their area, with two people allegedly shot and killed on Saturday.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 11 December 2013
Improvement in Khayelitsha street lights
On the evening of 2 December 2013, Groundup staff visited Lansdowne Road in Khayelitsha to assess the state of street lights in the area. We counted 29 lights that were not functional. Overall, it appears that the state of street lights has improved since our last report on the issue in August 2013.
Jonathan Dockney
News | 11 December 2013
Apartheid proponent comes to Madiba’s Memorial
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial decision not to attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral and to send Yuli Edelstein who is the current Speaker of the Knesset and a settler, is not only disgraceful, but has sent a clear message to the world that Netanyahu is a “leader” of the worst kind.
Shuaib Manjra
Opinion | 11 December 2013
Police throw victim in jail with perpetrators
Talent Chikwanha alleges he was brutalized by police officers on 29 November when they mistook him for a criminal. He was in fact the victim of an ATM robbery at Fairview, Grassy Park.
Nwabisa Pondoyi and Tariro Washinyira
News | 11 December 2013