GroundUp: South African news that matters

Months in prison without a bail hearing

If you are arrested in South Africa, even if you are innocent, expect to spend months and maybe years in prison before being released. The law says that if you are arrested you should appear before a court within 48 hours or be released. The courts have also ruled that bail hearings are urgent. Yet the police, prosecutors, magistrates and judges often ignore these rights.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 28 November 2012

Musical talent lives on the steet

Frieda Darvel, 27 years old from Kensington lives on the streets of Cape Town. Her singing voice has landed her an opportunity with a Swedish Gospel choir.

Margo Fortune

News | 28 November 2012

Vigil against information bill

Right2Know held a candlelight vigil outside Parliament on 22 November in protest against the Protection of State Information Bill.

Kate Stegeman and GroundUp Staff

Brief | 28 November 2012

Anger builds as mother searches for her son

16 December will mark three years since Siyamthanda Mndayi, an Ocean View boy with Down’s syndrome went missing from his home. His distraught mother has not given up hope of finding him.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 28 November 2012

Waldorf school to open in Masiphumele

Siyakhula Waldorf Primary School will open in Masiphumele township near Fish Hoek, Cape Town, in January 2014.

Tessa Gooding

News | 28 November 2012

Marikana, farms and forestry

There are none so blind as those that will not see. It is a saying popularised more
than 300 years ago and it has had marked resonance following the bloody events at
Marikana and the more recent upheavals among the fruit and wine farms of the
Western Cape.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 28 November 2012